7+6=13

There's just something so non transparent about this process that just feels fixed. Very strange process and then an even more weird presentation.

Unless you're joking - to think the Pegula's leadership traits good or bad had anything to do with this is pretty obnoxious.

I guess my posts would suggest I should be on the PR team.

Count me in the optimist category. We've lost most trades, most moves and signings did not work, goalie situation is below average and no answer unless the young kid develops in a couple years. Nearly every hockey related move has not been a good one. Developing players to come up and contribute is almost non existent. Moral of the team is horrible except they seem to really like the coach, but the reason it's so bad is the team as it's filled out sucks. If I'm the Pegula's I gut the whole thing too. I'd be asking myself why I'm paying all these people for such terrible performance too. It's broken and gutting it is the first step. How they rebuild it is something we don't have answers to but I'm sure glad it's happening. Everyone talks about cost savings - I'm sure all those salaries combined won't equal paying JBot to not work for us. So they've proven once again they aren't afraid to absorb contracts to make the team better. I respect them for doing that with both organizations. Some changes they've made obviously haven't been good - but they've proven that they'll not allow a GM or Coach to stay that extra year when it's not working.

The thing I respect about the Pegula's is they don't let a coach or GM stay that extra year when it's not working. They've eaten millions of dollars to pay people not to work for them. I appreciate their commitment to get the organizations right. Of course bad hires have been made but let's at least recognize there hasn't been a single incorrect firing yet either.

Thinking owners won't be and shouldn't be involved in the decision to give or not give massive contracts with term is pretty ridiculous IMO.

I'm just saying being out at the end of something is when the psychology makes sense - not at the start. I don't think there's a fan that doesn't understand exactly where you're at but today is at least a day of opportunity if nothing else. Let's see what this new guy / set up does.

IMO, wrong time to be out.

Good grief, where do these thoughts come from?

I'm proud of Jack for publicly making these comments. IMO, it's part of leadership from a player. He's in a position to put pressure on the front office and he did so. He without calling out specific players is demanding more from the team. JBot appears unqualified to make the right changes but he's now been given clear direction from the players leader.

I wouldn't trade Eichel for 2 Dahlin's.

Doritos

If we were a goalie away from doing something significant - I'd be ok with taking a shot at a former excellent one. Or if the other scenario was our future goalie was a year away - then I'd be interested. We're in neither situation so I'm not eating cap so we can't afford to get forwards for leadership.

I'll just contemplate on how where not having the opportunity to drop in the standings and increase our % at a top pick. hahaha

I think that's exactly what he meant and why it's so disturbing. The right GM and coach have relationships with most if not all the player agents and need to sell a vision and how their clients specific role (hopefully bigger and better will have in that vision. Of course it's a massive challenge to do that but when better than now with more money and this many players not under contract. It's why Botterill must go. He's already telling is he'll be careful in FA and press towards signing our own. Yikes!!!

I hear what your saying and anyone would have to be an idiot to think you'd get true transparency from an interview. However, he doesn't have to say things like I mentioned above in addition to "you have to be careful of signing players on July 1st in free agency and Buffalo has always had a better opportunity to sign their own players. It's the reason we brought in Simmonds right now." That's just down right scary. Say, we're not good enough and I we should be better than our record. We have a lot of work to do to determine if this group can get the job done and I'm disappointed how we're playing. This is an important off season and we'll make the tough decisions as we owe it to the players we see giving more effort than others. The expectations aren't being met. There's absolutely nothing inappropriate about saying that. The players and owner should hear him say it.

Oh yeah he was acting like things are right on track. He's comfortable with the defenseman here now and just need to work on depth up front. Is this dude serious? We're a defensive mess with 4th liners playing in the top 6-9. He thinks we just need depth up front? Wow

Botterill has to go and I wish RK could. We don't have to completely start over but with the additional cap space, RFA's and UFA's theres an opportunity for a different team to be built. I want Botterill no where near those decisions.

Love the Sabres too and am looking forward to the game as others have said. Listened to the Botterill interview on WGR just now. He's getting hard to listen to for me. I know there's nothing to really say but when he says "It's a situation where ...." it's like nails on the chalkboard.

Duh, can't believe I just did that. My bad, haha. How embarrassing.

Honestly not trying to be smart but why was Joker a good get? Nylander is out performing him in terms of points and has more than twice the goals in 5 less games. I think we lost on that one too without the privy of what they'll be. Maybe potential with Joker being younger?

I think it was. IMO, a legit NHL scorer is something I'm good with paying for. What they are doing with him and the players he's put around him are shameful.

If I"m TP, this news would incline me to fire JBot. I wouldn't want him in charge of even more money based on his inability to evaluate players. His only claim to fame is Skinner, IMO and he's allowing the HC to under utilize him. He's botched nearly every other decision he's made. This would give a new GM an opportunity to build the team the way he wants. More cap and there's a lot of players not signed. If you allow JBot to fill in these spots with current or new players and spend the additional cap - it makes it that much harder on the new guy.

I think if we go to 7 years he'll sign.

There's so much wrong with how we're playing since the loss to the AVS. Maybe the best, in terms of quality, I've seen us play this year. Coaching has to be part of it. This team needs their ass kicked.