Derrico

I think you go bpa no matter what. Saying that I would love to add another high end centre. I’m confident in mitts long term future and I like the idea of asplund and Davidson but you cannot have too many good young centre prospects. Who knows what RK sees, maybe he wants to move mitts to the wing ala Reinhart. I would place preference to centre over wing but again, just go bpa.

There’s always one guy who is ranked outside the top 15 or 20 in May and end up being a top 7 or 8 pick. Newhook is that guy isn’t he? Literally never heard the name until a couple of weeks ago and now the name keeps showing up in top 10 rankings.

I'm very hopeful that Montour will get that status in the next year or two. You beat me to it NS but yes, Montour too.

To your first paragraph - yes he was ‘gifted’ skinner due to circumstances but he still got it done. I realize skinner had alot of say in where he went but I’m sure there were more destinations than just Buffalo and Jason got it done. I don’t think this should just be completely discounted. To your next paragraph you already gave the answer. I think the Pegula’s wanted ROR gone. Period. It came to light that his brother was sabotaging one of the Sabres first round picks. TPegs threw ROR a bone by signing his brother to a ludicrous AHL deal. Then his brother turns around and messes with nylander (read up on it if you don’t know details). Then ROR comes out publically crying about losing his love for the game. There is no doubt in my mind TPegs said ***** you I want him and his brother gone. Think about it, it was highly rumoured Carolina would have offered more if Sabres waited to pay the bonus. Trade gets done with mediocre return because Pegula said I’m not writing another cheque to him. Maybe it’s out there the sabres are VERY eager to trade him before the bonus payment. Cash strapped teams like Carolina are out and others are lowballing as they know the sabres deadline is imposing. Long winded way of saying I’m pissed off with the ROR trade but I really don’t think it’s all Jason’s fault. He was in a really tough spot imo. Next point. Home town discounts very rarely ever happen anymore. Toronto is the ‘hockey Mecca’ of the world and nylander, Matthews and soon to be marner are sticking it to the leafs and there are no home town discounts. That’s a huge market and a winning team. If no home town discounts are happening there then I doubt it’s anywhere outside of a couple tax friendly states. So I’m not concerned about hometown discounts. Big mistake in this point unless I’m wrong after next year Montour is an RFA not a UFA. Buffalo completely controls his rights unless there’s a (never happen) offer sheet. Also why is he not the right partner for RD? I thought he looked pretty good playing with him at the end of last year. I would love seeing them paired together next season. To the last point I would disagree in that Montour was and is a very nice add. The only reason he isn’t getting more praise around here is because the team went into the crapper which included way more reasons than Montour. This was a very saught after prospect. I think your criminally underrating Montour and he will be one of our biggest surprises this year. Living in the gta I listen to a lot of leaf radio and they had been fantasizing about trading for this guy for the past three years now. I’ve spoke with many leaf fans who can’t believe all we gave up was an incredibly late first and a good but not great prospect. I think in 3 years you will rethink Jason’s ability to evaluate talent. Especially considering the potential in the past two drafts.

No I like this discussion. I get the feeling, based on communication issues of past coaches and Ralph’s previous experience that he will have much more of a voice when deciding on acquisitions and other player personnel. Then again, that’s how this thing should be run. Get some super smart people and have them work together to fix this thing. Check your ***** ego at the door if you have a problem. This team needs to find a way to start winning now and I have no interest in hearing people getting butt hurt. Someone had posted a few days ago video of Krueger giving a bit of a speech to the majority of sabres employees. Is it typical for a coach to engage day to day employees in that setting? I think Krueger will be much more involved in working with Jason to bring in the right players. More so than any other predecessor thus far. Don’t think that is a bad thing at all.

***** me

Pi's 'Anaheim' source or Jeremy White's 'super secret' source the least reliable?

Outside of OV or some of the elite it's pretty tough to AVERAGE 30 goals a year over the next 6 seasons. One injury that lasts more than 20 games and that's likely not happening.

Hey man, I know I'm sure ready to start watching this team win. We better not be going half in half out. Botts has to have a big offseason. We can't waste even one year on this Skinner deal. I'm on board with Skinner the player but I will never be convinced that an 8 year deal to a 27 year old is a great idea.

What if the 'Because Buffalo' comes when he's eating up $9 mil in cap space over the last 2 years scoring 15 goals and 28 points?

Well I hope this leads to a very busy offseason for Botts. Don't want to cut corners but the time to start winning has very much arrived. Skinner probably has about 4-5 good years and we have to take advantage of that. We need Dahlin, Mitts and Montour taking big steps but have to add big time from outside. We need a second line centre and another two top to middle 6 wingers at the least. Another Dman would be nice too.

Earn it.

When has this happened since Drury/Briere? I know it has, but more regularly than other franchises? Should add I am also sick of overpaying for good but not great players. I realize Skinner is better but we are still paying for overpaying Okposo and just finished overpaying Molson. This is after overpaying Ehroff, Leino.......way more players we've thrown that extra $1.5 mil to than refused to pay the extra $1.5 IMO. Edit - Should also add that if you look around the league at teams in cap hell it's usually because they've overpaid their middle of the road players. Again, please don't quote me saying I think Skinner is middle of the road because I realize he isn't. I just want to make sure there's money available when Dahlin comes up and this team is hopefully in a position to make a real run.

Ya I think this draft will make it difficult to judge this theory as well. There are several, very viable non-CHL players who would be a good pick at 7. You're right, for this draft about the only way we know is if a guy like Byram is sitting there at 7 and Botts passes (which is unlikely to happen). Again, oustside the first round I don't mind Botts approach. The AHL/CHL agreement limits the control you have on the prospect. Considering after say pick 50 it's a complete crapshoot anyways then I have no problem slanting away from the CHL unless you are taking a clearly inferior player (which I don't think is happening). Pick 7, I really can't see this playing much of a roll as you're expecting whoever it is to make the Sabres by year D2 or D3. Nylander is the exception, not the rule when it comes to top 10 picks. You have to assume he will be playing in the NHL by the start of D3 or something has gone wrong.

This is fair. Again, my comments were not directed just at you as this seems to be a narrative. I'm just saying that the strategy has some merit with non top 10 picks but I'll be shocked if it's even a factor at all when picking who you think will be the best player at 7OA. As mentioned, Botts himself is Canadian and he's had extensive work with Hockey Canada. It's just been a coincidence our last two first rounders played outside of the CHL.

Not only is he Canadian but he friggen works with HOCKEY CANADA.

There's no proof Botts has the bolded as any major evaluation factor in the first round. No Dahlin and Mitts didn't play in the CHL but I bet if they did it would have been the same pick. Dahlin would be the pick if he played on the moon. In the 2018 draft Mitts was one of 2 or 3 obvious selections based on the 'experts.' Later round picks, it does make sense to lean slightly in favor of NCAA as you do have basically an extra year of evaluation. These time periods really matter for guys taken outside the first round. There's also the ability to sign them earlier to the AHL. If we're discuss picking number 7 overall I would be shocked if Botts cared at all about playing in the CHL. Whoever is selected at 7 will be more of a sure thing and the extra year at the end should not matter either way. In fact I'm really hoping he takes a CHL player at 7 so this narrative can go away (not directing this at you). For picks starting even at 30/31 then yes, CHL will probably knock guys down a peg or two.

I could be wrong but I think to Modo it was basically Gronberg or bust.

Didn't someone report yesterday almost the exact same thing except it was in the Sabres court right now?

And now Jason never interacts with the fans again...

I would jump all over this as a buy low candidate.

Yep agreed. This also goes with the narrative I've heard that the English Premiere League uses this kind of technology at an advanced level. I've also heard some rumblings from past management (including Botts) who praised the Sabres analytics department. I was unsure of the hire at first but I'm getting on board. He seems like a natural leader and maybe a great fit for the organization today. This young teams needs a true leader personality as a coach and someone that can effectively maximize the analytic department that is already established. He checks both boxes in spades. Let's surround him with some assistants that thrive with x's and o's and this could turn into something special. I've been fooled before so I'll wait for actual results but as of June 5th let's go!

Yep. And the job was essentially offered to tippet but based on salary structure and timing of everything I think it’s clear to see botts had Krueger ranked higher than tippet. Again, disproving this source has any accurate knowledge of the way things are operating. Also like to say that I LOVE reading the latest rumours etc but I’m very impressed how little info is leaking out of the sabres now of days.

You will have to excuse him. He’s been fasting for awhile now ? @New Scotland (NS) - just a couple more days of Ramadan. Almost there!