jame

Cool. That would’ve been an equally poor decision on housley’s part

Phil agreed with you

That’s true. The context of not only the game, but the season is also important. Hutton is coming his two best games of 2019, if the Sabres have even a sliver of hope, it rests on him getting hot again... raking him for the play of his teammates was a stupid move by Housley who showed his tool box is empty

Yes way Ted

That is a really ***** goalie pull Housley...

Typical

Sheary was in good position to watch that goal

Yes. I think everyone is in agreement on the incredibly successful system that a high quality coach implemented to ensure his young, talent deficient team could be successful and learn how to win. My point is nothing was preventing Botts from hiring good coaches who know how to build a young team... other than Botts himself. or another way of putting it, is that the circumstances of Lehner success this year are not an excuse for Botts

I'm logging off so you guys can get back on track.

Wildcard made very clear how he interpreted the bold text.... it is not a strawman. You're trying to downplay his response. Just as you came to his defense when another poster called out his behavior. 1. What's wrong with asking questions to clarify someone's position? 2. What's wrong with challenging someone's position with logic? 3 and 4. Yea... total snarky sarcasm, but @LGR4GM has stated he is perfectly comfortable with this level of sarcasm.

Fedun is playing regular minutes for a playoff team... it's a situation where Botts does a poor job of managing the edges of a roster... it's been the same story two years in a row.

What little jab? I'm literally proof reading posts trying to make sure not a single thing can be interpreted as offensive, mean, dickish, whatever.... and some folks are still upset because i used bold text? And inferred something offensive from that?

We could've had those guys next year... we're supposed to take one of these seasons seriously sooner or later right?

Do you miss the days of not having replacement level depth... and instead having Tennyson, Falk, etc (EDIT: Crap this is the type of sarcasm that gets me in trouble... lets see if my edit clears Reality, Botts gave away two replacement level NHL defensemen in Beaulieu and Fedun for 6th and 7th rounders. It's not a great look. Botts has demonstrated for 2 straight years that he lacks an appreciation for the "roster fringe". Last season, he put together a god awful 1/3 of the roster (I've said before, 1/3 of his roster is not in the NHL today). And throughout the year as replacement level talent passed through waivers he did nothing. Now he's giving that level away for fringe draft picks. It's a small thing... but it's real. Agreed. I fault the initial hiring, not a lack of firing. Agree on Lehner as well. My position is the change of scenery that a good GM should've identified, should've led to him going on waivers to Rochester. We either lose him on wiavers (doubtful) and we are in the same place today... or the change of scenery works, and we reap the benefits. Just more small ball Botts fails

Agreed across the board. I think the strategy for the forward core will be similar to what SJ has done, transitioning Joe and Pavs down the lineup as Couture, Hertl, etc take over. Sure, if the opportunity comes to rid themselves of Perry or Kesler they'll take that opportunity.... My main argument was to counter the position that Anaheim was doing a tear down. They are absolutely not doing that.

Are you saying Botts was prevented from hiring a better coach?

You could've stuck with "fair point. Good post" but you just had to find something to be offended by/angry about.. to the point that bold text is what you're left standing behind. I hope the mods can see that it's not all me.

I would've preferred being a playoff team

Careful... they are really serious about this type of stuff here. I don't want you to get banned. Sorry the use of the bold format offended you.

Both. He did the worst of all options. Got rid of a controlled asset for nothing. Seriously, he got UFA value for an RFA. It's not the first time... hopefully Beaulieu doesn't go on to be a Norris contender lol (Lehner)

You're acting like the trading of a 24 year old defensemen indicates that they've completely changed their plan? 1. They signed a 28 year old pending UFA to a 5 year extension... 5 days ago. (Silfverberg). I mean that alone should be enough to sink your argument right? Instead of going to the trade market to get a 1st or prospects for Silfverberg... they re-signed him 2. Here is a list of the prime aged talent and long term deals they have: Rakell (25), Gibson (25), Lindholm (25), Kase (23), Fowler (27), Silfverberg (28), Manson (27). Do you honestly think they are going to tear down? Please note, that the attempted removal of Kesler and Perry is not a tear down in and of itself. 3. What the above is meant to illustrate is that Anaheim has already identified it's new core, they don't need a tear down to build one. The fact is that they identified that Montour was not part of that core. We can debate the reasons for that.... for sure, that's all subjective. But Anaheim has given zero indication they are doing a tear down.

Do you guys get warnings from the mods for stuff like this? Just curious. Yea, Par Lindholm is a pending UFA. If Winnipeg was willing to give away Petan for a 13th forward rental, then Botts should've been able to get him.

I mean, PH certainly could've done a better job. Scandella stayed in the lineup beyond his effectiveness. Not to mention Scandella does not fit Housley's system at all, while Beaulieu with all his flaws, does.

It's all relative right? A good GM would've done some more to ensure Beaulieu got some deserved ice time. I would've qualified Beaulieu... because it would've maintained the depth from which to trade Scandella or McCabe, trades that would've potentially provided more impactful returns.

Man..... Toronto gets Nic Petan from Winnipeg for Par Lindholm. Botts sucks... that would've been a great return for Beaulieu