freester

That was terrible positioning by Hutton, and yes it was Hutton’s fault.

Hutton sucks. He was a mediocre signing. I’m really concerned that JB is in over his head.

No some type of injury. Although it may be in preparation for a trade.

I’m convinced ROR asked for a trade last year after he saw what a shitshow the team was l with an incompetent first time coach and a first time GM trading away one of his best players in Kane for very little. Now Skinner is seeing the same thing unfortunately and the future looks bleak. While I love the Pegulas and I have never criticized them for anything, they have hired too many first timers at GM and Coach.

I think Skinner is gone. If I’m him I have no confidence in JB or PH. Skinner is doing everything he can but he just saw the team get rid of 2 of its top players (Kane and ROR). They have no impact players in Rochester ready to play in the NHL. Other than being close to home, why should he resign? He will get huge money from many teams that are ready to contend. The Sabres are a shitshow and Skinner knows it.

Yes I think we are looking at the following scenarios either: 1. He signs 8 year 78 million which is way too much or 2. Leaves as UFA I don't see a scenario where he gets traded at deadline for significant compensation due to his NMC

I think JB may have made a mistake with the bridge deal for Sam. When his contract is up, he is going to get huge money 8-9 million per year. With the cap going up he could get Eichel money in 3 years

I think drafting Nylander really set us back.. We absolutely need another top 6 winger and unfortunately he has shown very little. I don't JB trades our first round picks but I would not be shocked if he moved someone like Bogo or Risto or Nylander or Ghule. I think in a year Kane's contract will look like a deal.

I would like to dump Sobotka's contract as well. I'm not expecting the first round picks from the trades to have any significant impact on the Sabres for 3-4 years. I do not think JB will make a major trade either in the offseason or at the deadline. Hopeful some guys from Rochester can have an impact next year or JB can find another rental like Skinner in the offseason.

I agree with not dwelling on past mistakes. However the returns on the deals for Kane and ROR have been mediocre. Going forward I would like to see Skinner resigned but hopefully the money won't be insane. I would like to unload Scandella, Beauleu, Pomminstein and Hunwick at the deadline for picks. I'm not expecting much of a return. I'm worried that very little else will be done and we will go into next year with esssentially the same players.

We could easily have fit all 3 under the cap. There would be no Sobotka, Sheary, and Hunwick. Hiring a first time head coach was the other critical error.

We need both Kane and Skinner not one or the other. Oh well no use dwelling in the past but Botteril’s 3 biggest moves have been questionable at best. As a GM he is in Doug Whaley territory.

I feel like the trades were ill advised. The returns were not great and draft picks who won’t have an impact for years. We could have easily afforded Kane and ROR. I think with a better coach and adding Skinner and Dahlin to last years team, we would be a strong contender now.

I know its unrealistic but if sabres are not in playoff race at trade deadline then we should trade Skinner and resign him as a free agent. This would allow us to accumulate more assets to shorten the rebuild.

Agree with this statement as clearly talent is the problem. I was responding to the poster who was impressed by the fact the Okposa was 3rd on the team in hits. Unfortunately devoid of talent for 6 million a year...

This is indicative of an extremely wimpy team. Besides Ristolainen and Bogo, is there anyone else who hits?

I like Okposo for his leadership and character unfortunately he seems reluctant to go to the net. He is not much of a physical presence despite his size. He plays a soft perimeter game.

Very reasonable approach, but assuming JBot wants some additional scoring to supplement big 3, its definitely a problem but the Seattle expansion draft would be another option to dump the contract but we would have to give up assets.

How much do people want Duchenne as our #2 center? if you think he is very good, he certainly fills a major need. To sign him and Skinner would require moving Okposo. Would you trade with Ottawa now for an extended Duchenne (assume 7yr 49) for Okposa, Guhle and a number 1? Feel free to make modifications that you think Ottawa would accept.

I would love to see the Sabres extend Skinner and sign Matt Duchenne in free agency. To do this they would have to free up some cap space. What would we have to give someone like Arizona to take Okposa? I'm thinking Ghule and a first round pick.

I don't think JBOTS moves any of the first round picks. I also don't think he has any interest in adding any veterans older than 30 with significant contracts, unless we can rid ourselves of the contracts of Okposa or Sobotka. Unfortunately Casey Mittlestaat is going to take a few years to develop..

No one wants Toews salary. Thats why they would have to take cap dumps like Okposa and Sobotka to make the deal work.

Had Kane not had his few off the ice incidents, and had Bogo been healthy, the trade would have been a huge win for us.

I’ll give you the contracts are comparable, the difference is the Jets are competing now for a cup and he’s an important piece whereas we’re nowhere near ready to compete (2-3 years away) and Okposos contract is just an albatross preventing us from acquiring talent to compete.

I think Chevy is one of best GMs around. I think Tyler Myers gets moved. They’ll be fine. They don’t have any Okposo contracts on the books