7+6=13

That's just lazy.

Who's hyping him? If you think it's fellow Sabres fans then you have a small complaint. IMO, he's under hyped because injury has not allowed him to post the points for national exposure and most importantly because our TEAM has been less than awful. He got screwed and there's small minded Sabre fans that need the national attention on him to help them believe he's really that good. It's an inferiority complex. Take this mega contracted hyped player off our roster and see what you have.

That's because you didn't reference the crazy part. Why? That he's in critical year 4 and we're approaching disappointment territory is not only crazy but it diminishes hockey acumen significantly if you believe that.

This is a pretty crazy post. It's amazing how some fans don't appreciate the talent, work ethic and production of Eichel. Yes, he needs to work on understanding what effect his expression has on his teammates. He's one of the premier players in the NHL and he needs to give them the feeling they can get on his back and he'll carry them. Especially when things aren't going perfect in a given period, game or stretch of games. Well that's not all his fault either - he's had laughable line mates. Seems to me it's critical fans appreciate the difficulty a 19, 20 and 21 year old great player would have with an organization that screwed up his first 3 years. It's as much or more the organizations fault. He just needs to have a healthy season and he'll get the recognition of being the super star he is. Couple that with some maturity and look out.

Oh wow, I did not know that. Thanks

You "watch" The Instigators and One Bills Live? I honestly didn't know it was available in video.

I like this post and feel nearly identical about E Rod. This kid has earned my respect. On a team that was clearly lacking effort at times, I never saw that out of E Rod. He hustled as if it mattered, when it often didn't, but it did to him. You can win with these kinds of players on your team filling their roles.

Straight up we get a 5th but if we add a 6th they give us a 3rd? How does that work?

Bogo never said: I'm ready, I know you've heard that before but this time I really mean it.

Nice post and I agree.

I think the players care who their captain is. Lets say the players voted and it was 13 votes for player A - 6 votes for player B - and 1 vote for player C. So they add up the votes and go with player A. What do the players that voted for player B and C do? So it's probably just as accepted/respected if the coaches observe and make the pick.

I'm sorry but I just can't believe we say these kinds of things as a fan base. "Spoiled young talent"? That's crazy talk. He's a hard working, young guy that has skills some of the best players can't practice hard enough to have. You don't build around veterans - you build around stars. We have one and probably two. Of course Eichel needs to grow up - he's 21. So what? If you can guess what went on, then lets guess. How do you know ROR didn't like Bylsma's system because it fit him better being a slower player? Then he got pissed because Eichel just played his puck possession game and subsequently was part of the reason Dan was fired? Then ROR didn't like that Eichel got a north and south GM and coach - so he thought of him as a spoiled young talent? How about that for a guess? Anyone think ROR didn't like the direction the team was heading because he knew it wasn't being built around him? I mean, c'mon.

Thank you dudacek. I've posted this same sentiment a few times and no one responded. Not that I care about that but what's really happening is being largely ignored. We finally have a GM that has been a first hand witness and participant on how to properly run an organization. Not only has he seen it and was a major part of the Wilkes development but he understands how to build once you have a couple of stars. Let's not forget the reason JBot saw the Sabres job as an incredible opportunity is because of Eichel and when we won the lottery - he must have felt even more secure in his convictions. This team is going to be really good because of Eichel and Dahlin. The pressure is off the organization because now the young prospects just need to be good not stars.

Bylsma was definitely the better coach - for the team we had. Dump and chase all game long and sit back on defense. It produced more because it better suites the players we had. JBot and Housley have a North and South, puck possession philosophy which is the exact opposite of the talent we had the last several years. The personnel will be changed out until that system can be realized. It's part of why ROR had to go.

It seems to me ROR did not understand the situation. As the older player I'd expect him to know what Eichel means to the Sabres and act accordingly. Eichel separate from that needed/needs time to develop as a person and player. If ROR couldn't accept those terms than he needed to go.

It's not fun - I wish it was here already too. It's critical that we stay focused on what we have. Jack Eichel is a freak of nature and does things most players can't practice hard enough to do. It appears Dahlin is that type of player as well. You take your time when they're this young and make sure they can win throughout their entire career. This is not something to trifle with. That goes for ROR too. I'm not sure I can think of a better GM to handle this situation than JBot coming from one of the elite organizations in all of sports - and on top, one that had two super stars to handle. Does anyone know how to take two superstars and build a pipeline and handle the cap so they can have an opportunity to win their entire career? JBot: "I do" There's actually fans that are envisioning Eichel and Dahlin hating each other. I mean it's psychotic what's going on around here.

I absolutely love what Botterill is doing. I'm shocked at how some of us are reacting to be honest. There's veteran fans whom I respect greatly that are actually angry that more attention is being paid to the future than to win now - as if winning now was an option he chose against. That's the philosophy that's made us one of the more unsuccessful organizations - try to win now with a pile of crap and nothing coming through the organization. Sign free agents to more than their worth and trade away futures so it looks like we're trying to win. The insanity has to stop and Botterill is here to do it. This team he inherited was putrid, lacking of high end skill (beyond a couple players) and most of all heart. That stops now! We had to be almost completed gutted from Rochester to the big club - even to the point of eliminating it's current structure of failed leadership by it's best players. Kane didn't even hear from the Sabres on an extension. Lehner - bye and ROR shipped off. There's a new standard. Smart decisions needed to be made with our young players abroad and he's made them. This isn't a win next year situation - it's a you can't win next season. You sure as heck can compete to another level and he's brought in some players to aid in that while he builds from within. I'm not sure why we're so up in arms as a fan base - especially when he's doing exactly what he said he would do. "The type of team that I would like to create here will be, in conjunction with the head coach that we bring in, is a team that plays a high tempo" "To me, the goal of the organization needs to be year in and year out, competing at a high level, and one of those years you break through." “From a free agent standpoint, we will be involved with free agency. But I am a firm believer that you can’t build a team just through free agency, it has to come from within our organization.”

Agreed. I think this is largely because we didn't have the middle of the team filled out with NHL players. We had to dissipate our most talented players because of how weak we were in the middle of the lineup. The middle is being addressed and I think the whole will be better. Not to mention we stock piled futures and picks while doing it.

Perfectly said. I the same sentiment last night but didn't say it nearly as well.

We shouldn't be doing things to get better today. It's all about tomorrow because that's where we are as an organization. Our best players will be great tomorrow not today. Eichel is ready now and I hate that he has to wait but the vets on this team grossly let him down.

That's exactly right.

JBot getting pissed in February said everything to me. He knew this team needed new leadership and he is making changes. I like it. What an absolutely awful team to watch last year. Slow and not competing is unacceptable. Starting over is the right decision especially when our best player is not even 22. The future looks so bright I'm really surprised at some of the veteran posters on here.

For the first time in several years I feel like we're moving in a positive direction. I'm glad Lehner, Kane and ROR are no longer voices being heard in our locker room. We're loaded with prospects and brought in some NHL players to help the young stars take over. They're from successful organizations and I think they'll help.

Kane and ROR are very good proven NHL producers but they're not leaders that young good players can learn from. On teams where they won't be expected to be leaders and just produce - they'll do fine in that role. We needed them to lead and play well and they failed to lead - they likely had negative effects. Obviously we knew Kane wasn't a leader but I think most of us expected ROR to be one. Lehner, IMO, was a head case and I'm glad he's gone. Maybe JBot knows Sheary and these new vets can bring a different attitude while this team builds it's lineup through it's very young prospects. We're going to be very good folks - it's just going to take time. While we wait it's important the young guys develop leadership skills while playing with vets that know how to play the right way. Fresh team, new attitude, a ton of viable prospects, 3 -1st round picks and I'm happy where we're headed. I hated our team the last two years - I hated it. I didn't want to build upon it - I wanted a totally different roster and we're getting it.

I just don't think he should do a ton more. We're in a complete rebuild and the young players we're relying on besides Eichel aren't ready to be built around. Right now we just have no idea what we have in the B prospects group. I guess I just don't know what I would expect JBot to do - we don't know what we need, yet or I should say we know what we need we just don't know what will be solved by young talent. The needs are too many to satisfy in free agency - so I'd rather the vision be more clear.