darksabre

I have been arguing this for months now. The team was playing better hockey before the streak than during it. And they haven't recovered because Pominville playing anywhere but the first line makes him completely useless.

This is....fixed up?

Schenn would intrigue me as a Berglund replacement.

This thread makes me feel drunk

If I had to guess, Philly or St. Louis.

https://twitter.com/JoeYerdon/status/1082323129706401792

Along with the abysmal power play production.

I attribute little value to making the playoffs this season, especially if it comes at a large cost. The Bills made the playoffs last year even though they shouldn't have and it doesn't seem to have helped them at all... I'm not interested in throwing away the future of this team just to make the playoffs this year with a squad that can't score a power play goal to save its life. I want Botterill to build this team right. So that they go to the playoffs many years in a row once they finally do get there.

He hasn't addressed it yet. That's the only argument you're able to make right now. That you don't like that he hasn't addressed it yet. I don't really know what you want other than for JBots to be a magician who can just materialize the deal he wants out of a hat. Thank you.

A couple of middling trades happen and you think Botterill is missing the boat? Step off the ledge man.

Right. And I think if you were to ask players and GMs about each other, each would deflect and say it's their job to do the best they can for the team. GMs aren't going to start wars with their players because they have bad nights, and players aren't likely sitting around wondering why their GM isn't pulling off huge trades all the time. Both parties know that the other's job isn't easy. I doubt the players are giving much thought to what Botterill is/isn't doing to fill the Berglund hole. They likely believe they can win without Bergs and they're going to work on making that happen. And if they are, for some reason, fretting about what Botterill is doing, I would advise them to perhaps consider spending that time figuring out how to score on the power play...

You're better than these bad assumptions. How do you know he's sitting on his hands? How do you know he isn't working the phones to try to get something done?

Correct.

These "call to action" threads are always funny to me because they operate under the assumption that the GM is just sitting around playing Words With Friends on his phone. Botterill is likely doing the work every day. He has something to prove after all. I have no doubt he's on the phone and talking to his scouts and his coaches. I'm sure he would love to make a bunch of changes. "Do something Darcy!" was funny because of how long he was here and how much we knew about his tendencies to be too patient. His comments about "letting the market set" were probably scrutinized more than they should have been, but they reinforced the concept of Darcy. Botterill? I would hope we're not at "Do something Bottsie!" yet.

Okay, but what team is giving up a middle six center right now? Most teams with players we would want for that role are still eyeing the playoffs. They aren't selling yet. We're stuck waiting because Berglund left us hanging.

I couldn't have said it any better. There have been good things so far this season, but I don't know if there are enough levers available for Botts to pull right now to make significant upgrades. Like you said, I expect if there are moves that make sense, he will make them. But I suspect those moves aren't abundantly floating around. And you have to figure it's a seller's market right now too. As someone who is regularly accused of being impatient, I'm struggling to see a way Botterill can really do what needs to be done right this second. Wanting him to do something is great. But the reality is that there likely isn't much to be done at the moment.

I'd really like the Sabres to figure the power play out. They should really be able to make it work and I'm miffed that it doesn't. Even if you don't have the talent depth to win 5v5 you should at least be able to capitalize on the PP. I think if they were to figure it out the rest of their game would come along with it. It is, to me, the canary in the coal mine with respect to the coaching staff.

The whole team's passing was pretty bad tonight. Too bad given Ullmark played a good game.

Skinner better stop shooting or Sabrespace is going to get mad.

It was a trailer park boys reference.

I think, yet again, people have duped themselves into unrealistic expectations. That's not really my problem except that this place is filled with bad takes and is basically unreadable because of it. I didn't have a problem with what Casey did there. I'd have liked a goal, but it was an opportunity in a game that has lacked them. Maybe the team could work to generate a few more of those so that I don't have to read page after page of garbage posts.

He was certainly trying to. Apparently that's a problem though. Never miss a shot Casey. In fact, never shoot. This forum demands perfection.

Sure bud.

Or maybe Rask swallows the puck and there is no rebound and everyone is cursing Casey for not trying to score. I expect better from this forum.