BillsFan4

I wasn’t saying anything about housley being coach of the year. The only reason I even brought up anything about the records of housley vs Bylsma is because you said that Bylsma went on a 94 point pace in the 2nd half of his first season and that is something housley has not come close to replicating.

That is the one part of the interview that made me cringe a bit. Botterill kind of stumble with his answer. You could tell the way Harrington worded the question that it caught botterill off guard. “It’s a situation where” Botterill is not a very good public speaker to begin with though.... lol Being in games is not the only reason he gave for retaining housley. He gave numerous reasons throughout the interview. But It’s still true, the Sabres have been in almost every game this year and that was not really the case in 2015 or 2016 or 2017. There were games where buffalo didn’t even look like they belonged in the ice with the other team. There were large stretches of games where all they’d do is defend, chip the puck into the neutral zone and go right back to defending again. Or they’d get down by a goal and it was game over. Everyone hanging their heads. I agree that being in games and competing should be the expectation for every single NHl team. It’s a low bar. But sadly, that really was not the reality here in buffalo these past 5 years.So as sad as it is, just being competitive in every game is a step forward. Oh, and BTW I believe housley beat that 2nd half of 2015 point pace the first half of this year. The record from the first half of this season was better than the record from the 2nd half of 2015. They were 22-20 (with 6 OT losses. 50 points) this year and 20-22 (with 7 OT losses. 47pts) the second half of 2015. So the first half of this year was a better point pace if my math is right... It would be a 101 pt. pace vs. a 94 pt. pace.

https://wgr550.radio.com/articles/news/sabres-rodrigues-getting-chance-eichel Rodrigues getting a chance on eichel’s wing. It’ll be 8nterestinf to see if they can rekindle any of that chemistry they had in college.

Here is the full interview with botterill from today - https://wgr550.radio.com/media/audio-channel/02-20-jason-botterill Worth a listen. He addresses a number of questions

Rolston sucked. Personally, I think we should have stuck with Lindy Ruff for the beginning of the rebuild. Players certainly wouldn’t have been running the show with him in charge... As far as housley, as I said before I am undecided on housley. I certainly don’t have the level of passionate hate that many have for him. I think he’s done some good and some bad. Time will tell. I don’t get as worked up over some some of the lineup choices (Sobotka, Scandella for ex) as others. Every coach has their preferred veteran players and every fan has their issues with their coaches player usage and lineup decisions. For example, Babcock rode Matt Hunwick for an entire season in Toronto. He spent 3/4 of the year on the top pairing. He was 2nd on the entire team in ice time per game. Josh Leivo could never get out of babcock’s doghouse and eventually was traded to Vancouver (and is doing pretty decent there). I remember there were issues with Morgan Rielly not getting enough PP time, too. Im not saying I agree with all of housley’s (and Botterill’s, if Harrington is to be believed) lineup choices or line combinations. I don’t. But I can’t remember ever having a coach or GM that I didn’t complain about this stuff. It’s just something I’ve accpeted that I will never fully agree with. As far as the play of the team, I honestly see improvements compared to 2015/16/17. There are obviously still many things that need improvement but some of the areas I’ve noticed improvement - - our breakouts are miles better - entries into the o zone are better - they cycle the puck in the o zone much better - while work still needs to be done, they are also doing a better job creating scoring chances than in previous years, and starting to score more goals on a more consistent basis (again, still work to be done obviously) - they are actually playing an exciting brand of hockey on many night - player buy-in is much better than previous years - they are not hanging their heads and quitting when they get down by a goal or two (most nights, anyway) - they’ve been competitive in almost every game this year - our starts to the game have definitely been improved compared to previous years (remember how common a complaint it was that they “didn’t show up for puck drop”?) I have watched some players making forward progress in their development, too. - Reinhart has taken a big step forward starting in the 2nd half of last season and continuing this season. He is really blossoming into the player we hoped he would be and IMO has really been shining on the 2nd line since housley moved him there. We are seeing him carry the play himself more than I have in any other season. - Eichel has taken a big step forward this year. Whatever was said to him has really had an effect. It’s noticable in everything: from his play on the ice to his on ice demeanor and body language to his post game interviews. He’s playing a 200ft game. The maddening floating around has greatly improved. His body language and on ice/bench demeanor is much better. His interviews are much better. etc etc. - Dahlin is getting better and his big mistakes are showing some improvements - Rodriguez has taken a step forward in his development - Thompson has shown improvement from the beginning of the year - Pilut is improving with every week that passes - even guys who have been here a while like Ristolainen, Bogosian, McCabe are all showing improvements this year. Again, there is obviously still a ton of work to be done, but I do see a general improvement in the team. It just hasn’t been consistent yet. Really, one of their biggest issues this year has been mistakes (a lot of them by young guys, but many are making their share). Just a few poor decisions or momentary lapses in coverage in a game have killed this team. They make a mistake and it ends up in the back of our net. That gives me some hope because I feel like that is an area that can potentially be improved upon without changing coaches. The coaches are continually showing the players their mistakes and working on them (though there’s only so much time they can during the season). I don’t think it’s impossible that it’s an area that we will see slow improvements in. We have seen the improvements show up for periods or entire games. It’s just not consistent yet. and if they can eliminate some of those bigger mistakes and lapses, they will see it show up in the win-loss column IMO. I am am not saying I am sold on housley or Botterill. I still have many questions. I am just pointing out some of the good I see. Honestly, I don’t think the Sabres are at the point where an experienced veteran coach is required to come in and put them over the top. I think they are likely still at least 2 seasons away from that. I think ive also accepted the fact that the rebuild timeline was somewhat reset with the hiring of Botterill. For better or worse he seems to be a patient GM taking a more patient approach at building the roster.

I have said the same thing for years. I feel we need that well respected and accomplished veteran. I feel that’s been an issue for years. I always think back to a quote eichel gave in 2016. He said “if you are not performing (on the ice), who’s going to follow you?”. (There was speculation at the time that he was referring to josh gorges, a vocal veteran “leader”, but I’m not sure if that’s true). Buffalo hasn’t had that type of veteran since the rebuild started... Gionta was probably the closest, but he was so far past his prime. ROR was meant to be that leader but as he said himself, he wasn’t equipped to handle a leadership role in Buffalo. Everyone else has pretty much much just been washed up veterans or bottom 6/bottom pair type players. Botterill has done done a little better, bringing in guys like Skinner and Sheary but more are obviously needed. Really though, The young guys have pretty much had the run of things since the rebuild started.... that’s what happens when you trade away every decent veteran player in the team in the span of a couple/few years and force young guys into the lineup that aren’t fully ready. It also totally destroyed any trace of a winning culture that was once here. It can be extremely hard to pull out of that and rebuild that winning culture (look at Edmonton. Even a well respected veteran cup winning coach like Ken Hitchcock is at his wits end trying to change the culture in Edmonton. We’d is he actually almost quit a few weeks ago).; There actually aren’t many teams (I can think of) that tanked as hard and as fast as buffalo did. The Penguins for Mario Lemieux (and iirc it took them until Lemieux’s 7th year to make the playoffs). But There are teams that have gone through full rebuilds like us and it took them many years to pull out of it. Our timeline is actually pretty similar so far when comparing to teams that went complete rebuild, not just retooled. Im not as convinced as others that bringing in a new coach is going to just suddenly fix these player problems. We have seen the same player fragility issues continue to pop up with 2 different coaches and more than a half dozen assistant coaches. A coach can’t play the game for the players. Bylsma didn’t have those issues as head coach of Pittsburgh. Housley had no issue getting the all-star Nashville defense to follow his instruction. In fact, they revered him. When does the blame get turned to the players? And To be fair, those fragility issues do seem to have improved this year. It’s obviously still an issue and has been starting to pop up a bit more recently but I feel that we have seen legitimate improvement this season. They aren’t just quitting when they get down by a goal or two. They usually battle right to the end of a game.

I think he said about 3 times how he won’t play in the NFL no more unless his money is guaranteed. I guess that answers the question of whether or not he will play on his current contract...

https://wgr550.radio.com/articles/news/sabres-okposo-not-feeling-right-so-hes-back-buffalo Summary: Scandella downgraded to week-to-week and placed on injured reserve to make room for Casey Nelson. Both Bogosian and Ristolainen missed practice. Housley said it was more of a maintenance day but they will know more tomorrow on both. And Okposo was in NJ and skated Sunday morning, but something wasn’t feeling right so he was sent back to buffalo. I hope it’s just playing it safe. I was worried after that knock out punch, with the severe concussion issues/complications he’s had. Buffalo only has 12 forwards with them on the trip, so they may look to call up someone.

Pittsburgh won earlier today. I think Buffalo’s playoff hopes are done anyway, but they absolutely have to win tonight if they want any chance at keeping up with the teams ahead of them (I don’t see it, outside of Pittsburgh they are all playing excellent hockey). Oh, and St. Louis won their 10th straight today. We will definitely get their 1st this year. It’s not going to be quite as high as we hoped though.

Yeah it’ll be interesting to see if there are any call ups after the trade deadline. If there are call-ups before that, I think they will be sent back down, at least on paper, by the trade deadline. They have to be on the AHL roster at the trade deadline in order to be eligible for the AHL playoffs. I feel like Rochester had a legit shot at making a playoff run this year. I wonder if Botterill could (and/or would) “send down” (meaning a paper transaction, not for real) Mittelstadt, Thompson, and Dahlin at the trade deadline, in order to make them eligible for the AHL playoffs. Imagine a Rochester playoff team with those 3! Plus Pilut and Smith... (though I’d much prefer buffalo just make the playoffs themselves)

Amerks are back in 1st place in the north, and their record is currently the 4th best in the entire AHL.

I don’t see any possible way that they are going to make someone who wants to buy cannabis at the store turn in the guns. That would be almost impossible. This isn’t a subject I have researched but as far as the laws you are mentioning, I believe you may be talking about a federal law that bans felons from owning guns. Not low level drug users with drug violations or misdemeanors, only if it’s a felony drug conviction. And I believe it applies to all felonies, not just drug related ones. Also, IIRC, I believe there may be something about if guns are present with illegal drug sales but I’m not sure. Those laws wouldn’t apply to legal sales though, or small legal purchases from a store. I believe there is also a law that if you have an illegal cannabis grow plus guns that you can recieve additional, steeper charges. But again, I don’t see how that would really apply to legal, licensed cannabis businesses. I may be wrong but I don’t know of any law that bans people with lower level drug convictions from having guns. In fact, I have a friend in NY state who has a drug conviction and still owns (legal) guns.

Also, I have not followed this abortion thing closely either. But here is what I found with another quick search. here is a link that lays out everything in the new abortion bill. https://www.factcheck.org/2019/02/addressing-new-yorks-new-abortion-law/ As far as post birth abortions - Just to be clear, I am not trying to debate abortion or its morality in any way. I am Just looking at what the new law says.

I haven’t been following this whole legalization thing that closely but from what I could find with a quick search I couldn’t find anything about gun control being linked to the marijuana legalization. The only thing I really saw about new gun control was a “red flag” bill Cuomo wants to introduce that would prevent those who show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from buying guns. Here are the links I found laying out legalization: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/weed-new-york-governor-andrew-cuomo-legalize-780577/ And here are a couple more that cover legalization and/or what you need to know about thr state budget: https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/politics/albany/2019/01/15/new-york-state-budget-what-you-need-know/2582045002/ https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/politics/state-of-the-state-gov-cuomo-pushes-marijuana-legalization-new-gun-laws/1704260559 Here is the entire 2019 agenda. https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-outlines-2019-justice-agenda-time-now This is the only part I could find pertaining to any type of gun control -

https://buffalonews.com/2019/02/16/buffalo-sabres-new-jersey-devils-jason-pominville-phil-housley-conor-sheary-nhl-news/ good article by Lance Lysowski on the Buffalo News. I’ve enjoyed reading/following his work so far.

Noacls was not totally wrong if I am looking at everything correctly. I believe you are thinking of Dareus’ 2017 cap number when you mention the $5.7M. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/jacksonville-jaguars/marcell-dareus-7718/ Dareus had a $10.1M cap hit in Jacksonville in 2018 and has a $10.585M cap hit for 2019 (if the Jags keep him. $0 if cut, as you mentioned), a $14.6M 2020 cap hit and a $14.65M 20201 cap hit. And remember, that cap hit would have been higher (for 2018, 2019 and 2020) if he had remained with Buffalo. His cap hits in buffalo would have been: https://www.buffalorumblings.com/buffalo-bills-analysis-all-22/2015/9/12/9310199/marcell-dareus-contract-details-buffalo-bills-full-breakdown 2017 - $16.4M 2018 - $16.58M 2019 - $17.9M 2020 - $16M 2021 - $14.65M The Bills did not save much in 2017 and 2018 salary cap space (about $5M in 2017 and $2M in 2018 cap space) but they saved a lot of money owed from 2019-2021. Here is a breakdown of what the Bills saved by trading Dareus: https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2017/10/27/16562802/buffalo-bills-salary-cap-ramifications-for-trading-marcell-dareus-to-jacksonville-jaguars All told, the Bills spent about $47 million on Dareus and saved a little more than that (on what was still due) by trading him. Which is about equal to Star’s contract if he’s here for the entire 5 years (5 years/$51 million). But Star will have on average a $4M to $6M cheaper salary cap hit the whole time. for comparison, Star’s cap hits: 2018- $6.7M 2019- $11.5M 2020- $10.1M 2021- $10.85M 2022- $10.85M Dareus did have a $13M dead cap hit for 2018, if you wanted to include that. So 2018 is really the only year where you could say star cost us more ($6.7M + $13M dead cap vs. $16.58M if Dareus were on the Bills roster).

He’s doing some “10 questions” thing on twitter right now -

I’m sure that hiring Lou and Trotz played a big part in the Islanders turn around. They are both very well respected long time NHL veterans with tons of credibility (Lou is a hall of fame GM and Trotz just won the Cup) and got complete buy in from every player. But you are not comparing apples and apples IMO. The isles had a down season last year but they just made the playoffs in back to back years a couple seasons ago (2014/15 and 2015/16) and even though they missed in 2016/17 they still had a damn good record (41-29-12 with 94 points, which usually is god enough for the playoffs in many years). They also have more veteran players as well as actual NHL depth on their team. In that same timespan, buffalo had 2 last place finishes, a 5th last finish and an 8th last finish. The NYI aren’t trying to climb out of the same hole Buffalo is. I dont know if some fans fully realize how significant of a tear down/rebuild buffalo did. There aren’t many teams (at least in more recent NHL history) that have torn down a team as quickly as the Sabres did or gutted it as completely. I mean, our talent level was actually less than some expansion teams (there were nights many AHL teams could have kicked the Sabres asses)... Those tank teams set NHL records for how awful their play was.

Also, Georgiev is in net for the NYR, not Lundqvist (thankfully)

I feel like this new regime has done a pretty good job finding talented scouting and personnel execs. We’ve already lost a couple to promotions. Also, on a similar subject, all of the people the Bills interviewed for the GM job (before hiring Beane) are now GMs: Gaine, Gutekunst, Veach, Beane (obviously...lol). If McDermott put that list together, he did a good job identifying future GMs in waiting.

Sounds like there will be no trading Skinner, which is perfectly fine by me. It would be such a crushing blow to the team to trade him, anyway. Just listen to the interview quotes Eichel and others gave about Skinner today... I like our chances of signing him. He’s fit in so perfectly and by all accounts loves it here. Plus we are the only team that can offer 8 years and a spot playing as close to home as he’s going to get (no way Toronto can fit him in). I think the contract gets done as long as Buffalo makes a fair, competitive offer. Botts knows he can’t lose Skinner, and I don’t think Skinner is going to hold buffalo hostage for every penny he can get. Maybe I’m wrong but he doesn’t seem that type. He seems like a team guy to me. He’s constantly crediting his success to Eichel and his teammates. That doesn’t mean he will take a discount. But I don’t think he’s going to be unreasonable, either.

I like this signing a lot after seeing the contract numbers. If he works out, he could be a cheap starter for the next 3 years. If not, there is really nothing lost. Very little dead cap hit. I don’t see the downside here... all in all a pretty good signing, especially for mid February.

Yeah, Paradis or Mitch Morse. Ryan Kalil would be ok too (and Beane is obviously familiar with him). And I want Daryl Williams at T (another carolina guy Beane is familiar with) But I don’t really have my hopes up. Im not sure how many real big names buffalo will go after, and even if they do buffalo isn’t exactly a free agent destination (yet...?). Im hoping this new, state of the art $18M training facility will help their recruiting. It’s supposed to be one of the top 3 in the NFL when finished. That’s pretty damn cool for a small market team.

I think the Bills have a pretty strong culture in place, but here is my question - Do the Bills have anyone in their locker room that could keep AB in check (if need be)? Outside of Shady, the Bills don’t really have any proven, big time star players at the moment (though we obviously hope to have some in the making...). Is there anyone that AB would respect enough to listen to? Could anyone put him in his place if necessary? Is he the type that views himself as a big time star and therefore above the other, less talented players? I have no idea. If Beane and McDermott think the locker room is equipped to handle a “risky” player, then I will trust their judgement. That is one area they’ve earned my trust, for the most part.