Jason Botterill Discussion Part 5

[Aladyyn]

He had great excuses before. No GM not even captain hindsight Jame was fixing this team the last two years. But now the cap problems are over and he needs to make commitments.

All he managed to do is make both the roster and the prospect pool worse. Great f***ing job.

 

[lauraP]

Burn him

 

[Bologna 1]

Anyone blaming Krueger. Give your head a shake

 

[Dirty Dog]

No, talent is the number 1 problem. Instead of finding contributing pieces, let alone core pieces, he's spent 3 summers punting and has been unable to fill in anything, even with the gift of the lottery win for Dahlin.

It is incredible the few spots in the lineup he has filled with long term solutions since his tenure began. Dahlin at LD, Pilut at LD, Joker at RD, Skinner at LW, Olofsson at LW (maybe montour at RD, maybe)....and that is about it (and virtually none of those were him actively doing anything). Meanwhile, he has actually created holes that previously had long term solutions.

 

[kirby11]

I'll check back in here when this dingus has been sacked. Gonna go watch 05-06 highlights til then.

 

[Sabre Dance]

Anyone blaming Krueger. Give your head a shake

Why isn't Krueger part of the problem?

 

[Chainshot]

It is incredible the few spots in the lineup he has filled with long term solutions since his tenure began. Dahlin at LD, Pilut at LD, Joker at RD, Skinner at LW, Olofsson at LW (maybe montour at RD, maybe)....and that is about it (and virtually none of those were him actively doing anything). Meanwhile, he has actually created holes that previously had long term solutions.

Looking at Montour's impacts, I don't think he's a long-term solution. Skinner was also a gift - two teams he'd accept a deal to and one of those had no cap space. The great humor in all of that is the contract they gave Skinner and how that's going to handicap them so very soon.

 

[Aladyyn]

Anyone blaming Krueger. Give your head a shake

He's certainly not the problem, but so far nothing suggests he's part of the solution either.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Why isn't Krueger part of the problem?

The team is so poorly constructed, we are the only team in hockey that can't ice 12 f***ing forwards. And even though there isn't a full lineup of forwards, about half of them fart around the ice....not because they aren't coached properly, but because they are not good at hockey.

That is why.

 

[BuffaloGooner]

The saddest part about this year is Botterill is 100% not getting fired. They’re going to give this big headed fool another full season. There is more intelligence in the loaf of bread in my cupboard than this slug.

 

[DolanPlsGoSabres]

I'll check back in here when this dingus has been sacked. Gonna go watch 05-06 highlights til then.

I'll give you some highlights! (From a little bit before 05-06)

 

[Bendium]

Percentages that this team fires Botterill at the conclusion of the season?

Less than 10%. The Pegulas are not hands off and have been involved in discussing options, concepts, trade possibilities etc. Jason discussed the cap situation from the very start and will just finally be starting to clear some of it now. They will go through this off season and into next season before he is in trouble. If we are struggling by the midpoint next year then I would expect a change, but not now.

 

[Sabre Dance]

The team is so poorly constructed, we are the only team in hockey that can't ice 12 ****ing forwards. And even though there isn't a full lineup of forwards, about half of them fart around the ice....not because they aren't coached properly, but because they are not good at hockey.

That is why.

It's been an ongoing issue that continues with Krueger. We haven't hired a real NHL coach since firing Ruff. It's just a fact. That's where our dysfunction beings and ends.

I guess we could say it's been the GM as well. We need to try to get people experienced.

 

[Chainshot]

Are you really using hindsight to judge a prospect pool from 3 years ago? That's the kind of mental gymnastics you gotta use to somehow convince yourself Botterill isn't horribly incapable?

And if the idea is to leave out the lottery picks from then, then the one thing buoying the current list per Wheeler's article is a lottery pick, then a whole lot of meh.

 

[sabremike]

Also "maybe a little bit of a stretch" may be a bit of an understatement.

"UFC Legend CM Punk"

 

[Buffaloed]

Less than 10%. The Pegulas are not hands off and have been involved in discussing options, concepts, trade possibilities etc. Jason discussed the cap situation from the very start and will just finally be starting to clear some of it now. They will go through this off season and into next season before he is in trouble. If we are struggling by the midpoint next year then I would expect a change, but not now.

That was my impression until I read Tim Graham's article last June.

The Satchel: Tim Graham answers your questions on Mogilny's...

In fact, Terry Pegula has been increasingly hands-off over the years with both the Sabres and Bills. He hires executives to do those jobs and lets them work without meddling.
Pegula has final say over every personnel move; that is any owner’s prerogative. But insight from those who know insist Pegula provides Sabres GM Jason Botterill and Bills GM Brandon Beane all the latitude and resources they wish

Many folks are upset the Pegulas haven’t installed a hockey or football czar above Botterill or Beane, or haven’t hired another president since Russ Brandon’s firing. I don’t understand why this is a controversial issue. The term “president” isn’t consistently applied throughout sports. A president with one club might be what another team calls its general manager or its vice president of hockey operations. Some presidents handle only the business and carry zero sway on sports decisions. Botterill and Beane are in charge, so there’s no need for a president, no purpose for another layer in between either GM and the Pegulas.

 

[slip]

Many folks are upset the Pegulas haven’t installed a hockey or football czar above Botterill or Beane, or haven’t hired another president since Russ Brandon’s firing. I don’t understand why this is a controversial issue. The term “president” isn’t consistently applied throughout sports. A president with one club might be what another team calls its general manager or its vice president of hockey operations. Some presidents handle only the business and carry zero sway on sports decisions. Botterill and Beane are in charge, so there’s no need for a president, no purpose for another layer in between either GM and the Pegulas.

I think a President pointing out how the lower layer is trash (GM) to the upper layer (Owners) serves a very useful purpose.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Botterill is a great GM and isn’t going anywhere

He has a big offseason ahead of him tho

One day you will witness a great GM, and your mind will be blown.

 

[SabresFan26]

No, talent is the number 1 problem. Instead of finding contributing pieces, let alone core pieces, he's spent 3 summers punting and has been unable to fill in anything, even with the gift of the lottery win for Dahlin.

They're arguing hire a proven winner. We hired Dan Bylsma how did that work without talent on the roster?

 

[joshjull]

Percentages that this team fires Botterill at the conclusion of the season?

I still think it’s zero. Not because that’s the way it should be but he didn’t sound like a guy with anything to worry about in his recent interview.

There was no sense of urgency about the playoffs or feeling he needed to do whatever it took to get there. It was depressing to listen to him talk about waiting to see if this current group could make a push before the deadline. If they did he might get help. If they didn’t he would probably sell.

That comes across to me as someone not worried about having to deal with any consequences for missing the playoffs.

It’s also supremely frustrating that he doesn’t seem to realize the team needed help yesterday to have a shot at the playoffs. That was before Ullmark got hurt.

 

[SabresFan26]

I wasn't in the "fire Botterill" camp but after tonight's game, and the articles that have come out showing the pathetic status of the organizational depth, I'm leaning towards getting rid of him now.

The players he keeps bringing in keep not producing. Under 2 different coaching staffs. It's gotten to the point that his talent evaluations just can't be trusted.

I am waiting until this summer/beginning of next season to cast my vote of confidence. It's not looking good but again, I think everyone should get at least 3-4 years to show progression before getting an extension or termination in the pro sports world as development of drafting/prospects isn't an overnight process.

Again this summer is everything. There are 0 excuses after July 1 for this management team.

 

[SabresFan26]

I still think it’s zero. Not because that’s the way it should be but he didn’t sound like a guy with anything to worry about in his recent interview.

There was no sense of urgency about the playoffs or feeling he needed to do whatever it took to get there. It was depressing to listen to him talk about waiting to see if this current group could make a push before the deadline. If they did he might get help. If they didn’t he would probably sell.

That comes across to me as someone not worried about having to deal with any consequences for missing the playoffs.

It’s also supremely frustrating that he doesn’t seem to realize the team needed help yesterday to have a shot at the playoffs. That was before Ullmark got hurt.

I agree with this. It's almost like the Pegula's are ok and he knows it to be bad for 3 years wasting Jack Eichel. Do they flip the switch and say playoffs or bust next year? I have defended Botterill at times on certain issues but some of the management decisions have been horrible most notably the defensive depth not being moved for forward help. Why is Bogosian not waived or Rodrigues for that matter? We are better with their capspace if they are claimed to go and acquire someone.

Why did we acquire Colin Miller for a 2nd and a 5th (at the time looked like a solid deal) only for him to be a healthy scratch over Bogosian?

 

[joshjull]

Botterill is a great GM and isn’t going anywhere

He has a big offseason ahead of him tho

As someone who has defended Botts over a lot of things and giving him the benefit of the doubt far more than most. I have to ask what on earth makes you think he is a great GM? Because that is an absolutely bonkers assertion.

 

[Aladyyn]

Botterill can under no circumstances be given another off-season. As it stands this project could still be salvaged, but not if he gets another summer to f*** up some more.

 

[truthbluth]

Fire this turd end message.