Curt

I don’t think he is getting a pass at all. Are there people out there defending the move or even people saying that Botterill has done a very good job?

Skinner scored 40 goals last season. He is not having a good season, but he also has played with a combination of Johansson, Larsson at C, and Sheary, Sobotka on the opposite wing. That’s not a recipe for offensive fireworks. He is notably streaky though, so hopefully he gets hot soon here.

I don’t see the multiple resets. What was the 1st reset? There were changes, of course, and there was a shift to a skill over heavy type of team, but it was all fringe guys who where changed out. All he did was make a couple small trades and sign a couple low end FAs to fill out the roster. Scandella/Pommer for Foligno/Ennis was the big move. That’s not a reset. He didn’t move any big pieces. I agree that they took year 1 to evaluate. Then the reset came. Moving out the bigger pieces who they didn’t see as good fits. Kane, ROR, Lehner. And bringing in pieces that they though were. Skinner, Hutton, Sheary, Thompson, Berglund. That was the “reset”. I wouldn’t call firing Housley a reset either. It was just firing a coach who wasn’t working. The roster wasn’t changed much.

What do you mean by this? What does it mean to “handle the workload”? You mean that they get injured?

What gives you this impression?

I think you are misinterpreting the stated argument here. I believe his meaning was - If the president does something because it is in the public interest, but that thing also, just by coincidence, happens to help get him re-elected, that is not an impeachable offense. The meaning of that statement is NOT to say that the president can do things purely to help himself politically, if he thinks it’s in the country’s best interest that he is re-elected. Its still kind of a stupid argument in my opinion. They have totally switched from saying “This never happened”, to now saying “Well, it did happen, but it was actually a good thing.”

The past 6 seasons, number of goalies with 60+ starts: 8, 11, 10, 11, 9, 8 Compared to 2008-2012: 13, 10, 13, 13, 13 And if you go back farther, the change gets more extreme, but hockey reference doesn’t list starts that far back, so I don’t have exact numbers. So, it looks like it’s a bit more than I thought. Generally around 9-10, not 5. This season, most teams have 30-32 games remaining. I doubt that any goalie will start more than 26-27 of those. 11 goalies have 35+ starts so far, so the end of season number this year will probably be in that 8-11 range again. I guess it’s not as much as I thought, but there is a trend towards starting the starter fewer games and having a more even split between the starter-backup. I don’t believe that this is due to a sudden shortage in talented goalies. It’s because teams have figured out that their goalies actually perform better in games if they are used a little less.

I see the mistakes, I do, and “he’s only 19” doesn’t help Buffalo win more games today, it’s true. Im not going to site statistics, but I will say that I think that Dahlin IS special and superior......to other 19 year old defensemen. I try to look at things within their context. For example, when Denis Potvin was Dahlin’s age, he had yet to even play an NHL game.

Hmm, I saw what you are describing for the first 15-20 games this season, but not since then. He has been much better. I think he had some growing pains with Kreuger, who I think has really tried to not force him into a role/situations where he will be overwhelmed. Im adding a video that shows a definite “flash of brilliance” to lighten your spirit. I also picked this one because it highlights Dahlin keeping the puck in and handling the puck at the offensive blue line, something I thing he has done a really good job of this season. https://m.youtube.com/watch?index=193&v=Z4qE9i58VI8&list=PLtmx7jgnGtPlPJxvATGcAwvXQvbvvwk0-

I think they want to make as much money as possible in all markets, but who knows, maybe dollars from Buffalo are worth less or something.

Holy crap! You mean to tell me that the Nordiques traded Lindros and won a Cup 5 years later after the team relocated into another country halfway across the continent. Where do we sign up for this super awesome future of the Austin, TX Sabres?

The things you are saying here make it sound like you are agreeing with me, but you are phrasing it in a way that says you disagree. What are you arguing? The Buffalo Sabres are making less money and you think the league is all smiles about that?

In the sense of being substance over style, yes. They are only kinda similar though. Lundell seems like a no doubt C, good defensively at C in a pro league, has a good shot, probably not as good of a passer, is a stronger guy at the same age. Just my take.

Disagree. They want everyone to make money. It’s a business with 32 franchise locations. They don’t want one of their 32 locations to go into a downward spiral into oblivion. It will cost them money. Its like saying that McDonalds doesn’t care about the restaurants in Buffalo because restaurants in some other locations have more customers. They want to make more money everywhere! At all of their locations!

Thank you Crusader. I know Pronman tends to really value guys with fancy puck skills and super high end skating, right? So I’m not surprised that he rates Lundell a little low. I agree with Pronman’s breakdown, but value the player more. Skating is fine, but won’t wow you. Puck skills are decent, but nothing too fancy. He has good size/strength, but isn’t overly physical. However, his hockey IQ is excellent and it lets all his other skills play up.

I don’t think the NHL wants any team to completely suck for a decade straight. It’s bad for business. They want parity, with every fan base excited that their team has a shot at the playoffs every year, so they buy tickets, buy merchandise, buy streaming services............. Why would the NHL be feeling warm and fuzzy that Buffalo hockey fans are at their wits end?

We are talking about the League Office, not the other teams’ GMs.

Pretty much. If, before next season, they added two top-6 (2nd line) forwards to play with Eichel, Reinhart, Skinner, and Olofsson then the forwards would be in good shape. The bottom 6 could be made up of Johansson, Cozens, Larsson, Okposo, then some combination of Sheary, Vesey, Girgensons, Lazar, Asplund, or FA signings. It would be a very solid group. And yes, a goalie too.

No one even said that he was a 2C. Just that he is a useful forward. He is. I’d call him a middle 6 W who can play so C if you really need him to.

I don’t think anyone from the league sets ultimatums for owners, the commissioner works for the owners after all. However, I could honestly see Terry asking people within the league for suggestions and being advised that getting an experienced President of Hockey Ops may be helpful. I wouldn’t be opposed to it.

I think a number of bottom 6 UFAs could be back next season. Wouldn’t be surprised to see any of Larsson, Girgensons, Sheary, Vesey, Lazar (but not all of them) back next season. I don’t think a lot of new faces would necessarily lead to a sluggish start anyway. Everyone started with a new system under Krueger, and they played alright to open the season.

I would add Anton Lundell to that “High End Prospect” group. Do you know where Pronman had him, or what he said about him?

If they trade Eichel or Dahlin in the next few years, I’ll legit switch teams too.

Frolik. Pomminstein has zero goals this season

I think they need another goalie, plus more forward talent. There are legitimately only 4 top 6 forwards on the team.