Scottysabres

I am curious, how many of our current Sabres spent extended development time in Rochester (more than 1 season) that are now on the roster? I would imagine that answer is very telling unto itself.

Agreed. The slot is far to often wide open. I do notice when they are pressured there is very little to no support in board battles down low in the corners or behind the net. The stick check thing is getting old, they need to take the body imo. Also, they collapse to within 3 to 5 feet from our own net before trying to challenge, by then it's to late in most cases.

While not freshly painted, I thought the blue line looked recognizable..... But yea, our defensemen's ability to recognize it while not giving away the puck, well that's a different story.

Picking a couple here or there is subjective at best given the variables that go in to success. Such as chemistry, coaching strategy and role usage to name a few of only the exterior forces on a player. The larger picture of over all draft selections, and I am sure someone here can chart it out, is that the selections we make in 2019, if St. Louis continues on their current path is a couple of mid 1st rdr's and a late one from SJ. None of which, in this draft class from what I've read in any event will be ready next season to step in, so 5 yrs of Reinharts and Eichel's entire early NHL careers thrown away while we wait for draft picks to mature, develop and find the pace of the NHL game? Longer for Risto, Girgs, Larsson, oh yea, I can hear the excitement in their collective draft party get together....... "Look who Bots picked up guys, we'll be in the playoffs by yrs 9 or 10 of my career, oh thank you Buffalo, thank you soooooo much"..........

Because you can absolutely, unequivocally, guarantee all those 1st rd picks are going to turn in to stud depth or main core components of a cup contender? I want what your smoking.

Optimism is good, and in a vacuum that should be the case, there is a catch however, the other teams in the EC that are passing us currently, or close to us, they are going to try and get better as well. Indeed a few of them have already made in-season roster moves to do so. They aren't waiting for draft picks that may or may not pan out 3 yrs + down the road, they're making adjustments and additions/subtractions now. There in lay the problem with waiting and hoping draft picks will save the day.

Some of us are pushing the over 50 area, I can't say I have 10 yrs left honestly, anything can happen up at my age, heart attack, stroke, anything. I'd rather he go get us the immediate help now.

I don't know man. We have four 1st rd picks. Botterill, you have the capital available to improve this team right now. I don't believe selecting all four 1st's and waiting for them to develop is really a winning strategy, by that time Jack will be saying I want out of here, along with a few others. Spend a couple of the 1sts, an A/B prospect and a roster player or 2, change the dynamics of the team. Their are players out there, who can be had, who are worth spending on. For example, I keep bringing up Rickard Rakell, it's been reported anyone on the Ducks can be had outside of Gibson, Rakell's contract is that friendly, he's shown he can produce but is having a down yr as the entire team is, and you have Montour sitting there with him, an RHD no less. Bury Pominville, he's done. It's over. If no one will take him sit him. Trade Sobotka, someone will take a flyer on him. Trade Scandella, yes, someone will pay for him believe it or not.

is there a trade freeze during the all star break?

Okposo looks despondent. He point blank talked about the playoff situation. Hard not to like him personally.

Then someone needs to sit down with Botterill and be the adult in the conversation. Unless he's willing to use those 1st rd picks in trades, we're in for more "suffering". This team has a real player talent and player chemistry problem.

Schalacked by the Oilers, beat the Flames in a tight battle game then drop one to the Canucks with massively catastrophic defensive zone play by our defensemen. And here everyone was worried about Calgary. Oh the irony......

Unreal just how often these past 6 years this has happened to this team. The 9ld standing around watching giving no support to your team mates defense. Works never time.

That was all on Pilut, he had full control with time.

Pilut deserves to sit. WTF kid? Mistake after mistake after mistake.

Ok, secondary scoring has showed up, come on Jack, Jeff and Samson, time to earn your keep.

The defense cannot keep backing up giving opponents the slot.

Would be so nice to see Sobotka, Pominville and Okposo's names not on that line up right now.

I'm assuming more are coming to enhance Rochester, if indeed he intends to move a couple of players up. Again, based on his comment of expecting "some" help from Rochester. Scared me at the end there.

Russia is the enemy, to bad certain citizens sold 20% of our nations uranium supply to help them build bad stuff and sell it to bad people themselves.

Well, looks like the Amerks are trying to give this game away.

When Botterill stated he expects help from Rochester in the 2nd half of the season, I am hoping he was referring to Nylander and Olofsson, they are looking good, real good. Edit: Maybe some of these AHL trades like Bailey being moved out are in preparation for that. Hard to say, but possible.

WOW! OLOFSSON, AGAIN! What a shot...……..kid is looking real good.

Redmond has tied the Amerks franchise record for goals by a defenseman in a season...………….Congrats Redmond.

Olofsson, sniper!