Die Hard

Thank God. Lottery ticket time.... I hope we have a good candidate in mind.

Botterill has had some swings and misses, for sure. But he’s also had some successes too. Turning around the Amerks, Skinner grade, you might even throw Montour in there.... but not giving credit for Dhalin. I know Terry respects the hell out of him (former Penguin) and likes the constant communication. So I think that’s enough to keep him safe. I could go either way... I’m inclined to keep him myself. But Housley is unemployable. It’s disgusting how bad this team has been. Total points, goal differential, 5-on-5, Power play, secondary scoring, goaltending, lack of win streaks, regulation wins, line combos, last line changes, last-minute first-minute goals against.

It reads more like Friedman’s thoughts.

If Botterill doesn’t want a coaching change.... then Botterill has to go too. 2 straight years of ‘unintentional’ tanks? The first season they did nothing.... under the guise of ‘assessment.’ We basically just threw another year away for ‘locker room’ culture!!! I guess a good culture means being a good soldier.... being willing to accept losing gracefully and not questioning leadership. First season, Housley insinuating the players didn’t show up in shape. This offseason, they build up relationships and showed up in good physical condition. And what’s that actually accomplished? If Housley is back next season.... I will have lost complete faith in the Sabres/Pegulas.

Weren’t the Bulls a senior-laden team this year too? Are they expected to lose a large chunk of the roster now? So it’s likely that they’ll be rebuilding.... good time to leave (as a coach).

Can Ulmark go down for the playoffs once the Sabres are done?

I don’t know that for certain. I know many people believe it though. As a Redskins fan, attendance this year was atrocious and embarrassing. The fans are beyond outraged, they’re apathetic. The Skins won their season opener this past year (dominated).... and returned home to play the Colts in their home opener. The stadium was half empty and half of the filled seats were Colts fans. Colts fans!!!! They don’t travel like Steelers/Packers. It never got any better through the year, it got worse. Even when they were 6-3 and going into divisional games. I’ve seen it bad before.... right before we hired Gibbs and also Jim Zorn. But this level is unprecedented. And yet, Snyder continues to tune out the fans and media. Believing that he knows better than anyone else. Trumpeting a message that they’re close... At this point, fans are hoping Snyder just moves the team. And the city can start over as an expansion. That’s how bad it is. I didn’t think it could get as bad as last year. And now I know it’s going to get even worse this year. So I’m not sure what the breaking point is any more.

I don’t think that it’s an either/or (Scandella or Falk) situation. ? I’m not sure... but $4M/year seems pretty expensive for a good 5th defenceman. I’m willing to be wrong on that ?

Isn’t this par for the course? Has he ever had a season when he hasn’t missed a significant portion due to injury?

Right. But my thinking is that O’Reilly was worth a late 1st rounder plus a prospect... PLUS the salary cap dump of his contract. That’s typically what I see the standard when teams make moves for a big-name player. Either it’s a big name (and contract) for a similar player/contract on another team. Or it’s a pick and prospects for a big name/contract. Taking 2 assets like like Sobotka/Berglund makes no sense. Unless it was to save paying O’Reilly’s $7M bonus.... but then we took back even more money than that in the arrangement.

I forgot about the bonus payment. Something like $7M right? Isn’t that what both Sobotka/Berglund make in salary combined anyways? However, their contracts had longer term. So in order to save $7M today.... he was willing to pay $21M+ over 3 years?? Does that make sense?

Running down a dream? ?

Are you sure? O’Reilly wasn’t worth a late 1st and a prospect (Tage) himself? I would hope so ? Instead, the Sabres devalued the asset by taking on 2 poor assets with bad contracts. I would think a team would give up a first or an asset to get rid of bad contract(s)... let alone get a 2C in return. Isnt that what the Sabres gave up for Montour? A late first and prospect for a top 4 defenseman? Why the hell didn’t we throw in Okposo as a salary dump?!?! ?

I think we have a great first line. There’s A LOT of parts there to make lines 3-4 really dangerous and deep. Great foundation., But I think we’re missing an entire 2nd line..... not just a 2C. But can that be done this offseason?

Wouldn’t it be unfortunate... if we traded for Skinner, rented him for just 1 season, and it’s only his performance that prevented us from drafting 1st overall (Hughes). Which kinda stunts the rebuild even longer?!

It’s actually written “with”, not win ? So my original reply is upheld. ?

Didnt the Bills have a playoff game 2 years ago.... lost to the Jaguars?

I don't disagree with you. Those are all logical points. And I'm not THAT much of an NHL nut to know which teams can currently afford that salary. But what I do know.... is that team's always find a way. How the Leafs cleared all those terrible contracts a few years ago was mind-numbing. But I've been a fan of professional sports for 10+ years. And the one constant I always see is bloated contracts... based on history (more than projection) for older players that produced in the past.... or maxing out every year based on that player's best statistical year. Let's be honest..... Jack didn't deserve $10/year up to this point. Giving it to him had a lot of nuance to it... but always in the player's favor. Especially when it comes to Free Agency. And 40-goal scorers... regardless of how... are a rare commodity in this league now. Somebody is going to over-pay.... there's hardly ever good value contracts any longer.

If you forego the extra year... and pick up the extra $1M/year in the contract (which is the difference between $8M and $9M)... then the total overall contract could be the same amount (minus a year). Would Skinner care? He played himself into this contract. He wanted to the audition going into this contract year... and his best bet was to go to a Buffalo team that was a cellar dweller and get guaranteed first-line play with a bonafide center. I think that was his motivation.... than caring for the actual franchise ? And I think at this point in his career.... once he gets the contract he wants (maxes out), I don't think he cares who's paying it - regardless of what team he wants to play for, who he'll be playing with. And I think as a 45-goal scorer.... teams would make room if they had to. Seems like we're the only team that can't seem to unload any contracts.

I understand that. I would anticipate that. But the implications of that outcome would be to the detriment of the team. Because if that's truly the case.... then Skinner has ALL the leverage in contract negotiations. It handcuffs the team.... and that contract will inevitably be an albatross that we ALL resent in a few years, at our own doing. I remember hearing on WGR that a source said that Skinner wanted $9.5M/year to skip FA. If that's true... I don't recall any numbers I've read on this board higher than $8. Maybe $8.5. But if Skinner is hardlining... and it's $9.5 or nothing.... is that a firm no?!

That forward grouping is brutal. It really exposes this team’s depth outside of Jack. That defensive grouping is pretty damn solid though. Let’s hope the Sabres can sneak out a victory as underdogs.

It’s a home game. The Sabres are a very strong home team. The team will come out blazing tonight.

Is that the Harry Potter version of our logo? ?

Barrasso was my first NHL idol — Jeremy Roenek my second. My first pro sports team jersey - kind of a big deal. I had a very hard time letting go - considered switching allegiance - when he got traded to the Penguins. I still followed Pittsburgh with my peripheral vision.... and when they won a few cups in was hard not to feel like I missed out. But I don’t recall the 5-hole stuff. That’s kinda funny though.

The guy apparently has a dark cloud following him around. I wonder if he ever ponders if it’s just him. Its like Kevin Love. Good player (stats-wise) on crappy teams.... but missing the ingredient to raise the team performance. It took Lebron James to overcome his misfortune, and he was still widely criticized for being an anchor for those Cavs teams.