I think your trying to hard to be wound up over nothing. The following is direct quoting from Botts after he gets done talking about how different players can play different positions.
“We understand we can have the high end scorers. Jack, Sam, Jeff all proved that last year. But we have to have 4 lines that can contribute. And in the middle of August I can’t tell you exactly how the lineups are going to be. But we feel we have at least given Ralph different opportunities and different options for once the season starts.”
Who can play more than one position was pretty much just throwing out examples and didn’t really mean much.
EDIT: I wanted to hear a follow up question to these comments asking ..... Was not using that flexibility part of why Phil was fired? Because it sounds like it was.
I wouldn't say I'm wound up over this interview, it's a pointless radio interview in August, and Botts is the living embodiment of GM-speak. I'm pretty numb to hockey interviews in general, but especially during this time of year. Hell last year he talked about not needing to trade ROR right before he shipped him out the door, so his mentioning of Sobotka doesn't even move the needle for me (other than the reactionary cringing from hearing his name)
The thing that I find annoying is that Botts mentioned Sam as a possibility at center during his first summer on the job, and now he almost never mentions him among his players with position flexibility. This after seeing him get a few weeks worth of run at the pivot with poor teammates, while the entire team was struggling with chemistry and a new system. He briefly mentioned Sam as a possible center when Jack got hurt, but then that was never even tried.
I just want someone in the media to grill him hard on the subject once and for all so we can put it to bed:
1. Sam was briefly tried at center without a complimentary speed/size/scoring element on his wings, while the team was adapting to Phil and getting to know each other, is this the period that was used to evaluate him at center or is there more to it?
2. Young centers are sometimes developed on the wing before moving back to center, why haven't you tried that/will you try it out this year?
3. Sam's strengths & skillset (IQ, puck distributor) seem ideal for the center position, what is your evaluation (are there things holding him back - faceoffs, quickness)?
4. Has Sam told you he prefers the wing as opposed to the center position?
