Cascade Youth

And owners who not only are willing to spend $$ but also give a TON of runway...

Sorry but I’m not buying the “it’s Buffalo, no one wants to come here” take. There is no reason why an experienced front office exec wouldn’t come here.

He’s just out of his depth.

Good stuff here. The Pegulas have an addiction to rookie GMs. And they’re rookie owners, ones who had no background in professional sports - they weren’t professional athletes and their parents weren’t team owners. As a result they have no time-tested standards to which they hold and evaluate their rookie GMs. The results (both franchises) have therefore been entirely predictable. Sabres fans are paying the price for Botts learning on the job. He is failing at his job and, barring an unforeseen turn in his approach and the on-ice results, I expect him to lose his job between now and July. Within the next five years, I further expect we’ll have to suffer through Tim Graham depth pieces in The Athletic about how Botts is at peace and thriving in his new role as GM or Asst. GM in some other city, sorry that it didn’t work out in Buffalo but oh isn’t it great that he has learned his lessons the hard way about sitting on his hands for too long and over-focusing on culture instead of talent and has now gotten over his fear of trying to win. Etc. As long as the Pegulas continue to allow their sports teams to act as developmental organizations for sports executives, I fear that those organizations will continue to act as developmental environments for players as well. Players will continue to leave Buffalo half-broken and go on to thrive elsewhere and give intimate interviews reflecting on how fighting through the dysfunction in Buffalo allowed them to grow mentally and made them better people and players, etc. Regier wasn’t kidding about the suffering that was coming.

Couple of quick thoughts: Am I the only one who really liked Vesey’s game last night? Dahlin is exhausted - now I think I understand why he’s struggling so much the past month, for whatever reason he seems to be worn out already. Not sure if it’s his offseason conditioning or he’s hurt or something else, but his skating legs finally died on him mid-game last night and I assume that’s why he was pulled. I’m actually encouraged by that turn of events because it’s a better explanation than other, more concerning factors... but it’s also odd. Finally: Asplund sure looked like he belongs. Liked his two-way game a LOT.

I suspect the backup plan for 2020-21 is to move Krueger up to GM and let him hire a coach. Botts is a goner if they skid yet again.

How do you take that penalty at that time

Maybe the worst power play of the worst period I’ve ever seen and that’s really saying something with this franchise. Sell the team Terry.

This team is unwatchable. All of the Pegulas’ teams. Buffalo sports is just the worst.

I said “materially” and I mean within the last five years. Doesn’t have to be players who have been here five full years. Who has this organization improved?

Dahlin clearly is thinking too much out there - he is questioning his instincts and playing tentatively as a result. I put that largely on the coaches. They’ve stripped him of his uptempo instinctual play.

Here’s a question: how many Sabres players, over the past five years, have materially improved their games? McCabe, maybe Reino (maybe). Any others? Organizational development under JBotts and the coaches he’s hired has been a real weak spot.

He’s just not a mentally tough person. That’s a hard thing to learn to be, especially when life doesn’t incentivize or challenge you to be a tougher person. I’m starting to wonder whether they need to think about moving on from him - if you can get 3-4 first round picks or a couple of lesser (but grittier, mentally tougher) stars, it might be time to at least begin having that conversation. Jack wants to win badly but he doesn’t seem to have the internal fortitude to lead himself or others through tough times or situations. I guess he’s been spoiled for too long, or something. Mental toughness comes from suffering humility and adversity and resolving to push through it. Has Jack ever had to do that? He moped through the post-tank era... And then there’s Dahlin, who is playing with zero confidence. Night after night he makes terrible plays that would get any other young player exiled to the press box or the AHL. At some point something is going to have to break with him because he’s spiraling. Can he just play his way out of it on a declining team under pressure to win? I’m not so sure. And finally there’s Mitts. I keep hearing “Mitts will be fine.” Ok... at what point in his career does it become fair to question whether the player will ever put it together? Now he’s a winger on a line which barely plays - so he’s been demoted. He makes one great defensive hustle play in an overtime and the media hypes it up - but that’s basically the only memorable play he’s made since he got here, aside from a few nifty shootout goals. I’m not the expert some of you are, but I watch the guy and I don’t see an NHL-caliber player. Vesey is the only guy willing to get his nose dirty on the boards. That’s what I see at least. He’s not the issue. In fact I might try him on Jack’s line instead of VO, since Jack doesn’t feel like competing defensively anymore and VO is strictly a sniper.

Jack Eichel lacks mental toughness.

Jack has basically taken a month off from playing defense. This is his game now.

I really have no idea what Dahlin is doing. His poor instincts are concerning me.

Does Rasmus Dahlin suck at the sport of hockey?

There goes the differential. Dahlin has a looooong way to go.

I expect Erod to be part of any trade package.

I guess I’m the only one who thought the Sabres clearly looked like the better team. Dominated for long stretches and had much better scoring chances. Arizona got by on a fluke goal and some crosssbar doinks. Jack was a bit too amped tonight but the team looked good to me. Except for Mythlestadt who really needs to show up soon if he’s going to have an NHL career. The amount of runway fans give that guy is insane to me. Also, Erod is terrible. Also, Dahlin is missing easy passes and can’t even get his shot on net. You all let me know when it’s ok to be concerned.

Mythlestadt

How the hell

Last night to me just looked like your typical Blysma-coached game - the middle of the ice was crowded, Jack was doubled or tripled and the more talented team eventually prevailed in a slog fest. Boring hockey that Blysma’s system forces upon NHL fans. Whatever

^^this^^

Really? They were HORRIBLE. They lost every battle. Eichel played like he barely cared. Hutton seemed to be in a fugue state.