Dr. Lecter
06-16-2017, 09:41 AM
As Jason Botterill soaked in another Stanley Cup victory, he noted that building a winner isn’t easy.
Rebuilding a winner is even harder. Sabres fans can attest to that.
The potholes that Darcy Regier forecast in 2013 still jolt Buffalo. Organizational depth is a major problem. The defense is subpar. The most potent scorer is also the most likely to be traded.
It’s a lot to fix in one day, but the assignment is to give it a try.
It has been 10 years since The Buffalo News first issued its “GM for a Day” column. In 2007, the Sabres were on the downswing. Technically, they are again. Buffalo finished farther away from a playoff spot this season than it did last year.
There’s excitement, however. Botterill brings three Cup rings and a master’s degree to the general manager job. The fans wanted Phil Housley as coach, and the most prolific defenseman in team history is behind the bench. Jack Eichel and Ryan O’Reilly are a potent one-two punch at center.
But as the Pittsburgh Penguins showed, teams need to keep moving or get left behind. The Sabres stayed stagnant for too long. They need significant upgrades if they want to halt their playoff skid at six years.
Botterill has all summer to improve every aspect of the team. Given our limited time, we’ll focus on a few major issues:
*What to do with Evander Kane.
*Improving the defense.
*Building four lines.
*Adding for the future.
*Choosing a captain.
None of those are easy, but here we go.
SO LONG, EVANDER
For 60 minutes on game days, no one in Buffalo gives more than Kane. He hits. He scores. He snarls. Blessed with size and speed, Kane is the prototypical power forward teams covet.
Let those who covet make an offer. He’s being traded.
The 25-year-old is entering the final season of his contract. Nearly every player looks forward to free agency. That has to go quadruple for someone who was stranded in Winnipeg four years longer than he wanted to be. Kane is months away from picking where he wants to go.
The thought of losing a valuable asset for nothing is reason enough to make the move. Toss in the other issues – off-ice transgressions, poor practice habits, attitude – and it’s time to deal.
http://buffalonews.com/2017/06/16/sabres-gm-day-time-make-hard-choices/
Interesting ideas
I do agree with making Eichel captain for the reasons stated. Give it to the kid and let him go
Rebuilding a winner is even harder. Sabres fans can attest to that.
The potholes that Darcy Regier forecast in 2013 still jolt Buffalo. Organizational depth is a major problem. The defense is subpar. The most potent scorer is also the most likely to be traded.
It’s a lot to fix in one day, but the assignment is to give it a try.
It has been 10 years since The Buffalo News first issued its “GM for a Day” column. In 2007, the Sabres were on the downswing. Technically, they are again. Buffalo finished farther away from a playoff spot this season than it did last year.
There’s excitement, however. Botterill brings three Cup rings and a master’s degree to the general manager job. The fans wanted Phil Housley as coach, and the most prolific defenseman in team history is behind the bench. Jack Eichel and Ryan O’Reilly are a potent one-two punch at center.
But as the Pittsburgh Penguins showed, teams need to keep moving or get left behind. The Sabres stayed stagnant for too long. They need significant upgrades if they want to halt their playoff skid at six years.
Botterill has all summer to improve every aspect of the team. Given our limited time, we’ll focus on a few major issues:
*What to do with Evander Kane.
*Improving the defense.
*Building four lines.
*Adding for the future.
*Choosing a captain.
None of those are easy, but here we go.
SO LONG, EVANDER
For 60 minutes on game days, no one in Buffalo gives more than Kane. He hits. He scores. He snarls. Blessed with size and speed, Kane is the prototypical power forward teams covet.
Let those who covet make an offer. He’s being traded.
The 25-year-old is entering the final season of his contract. Nearly every player looks forward to free agency. That has to go quadruple for someone who was stranded in Winnipeg four years longer than he wanted to be. Kane is months away from picking where he wants to go.
The thought of losing a valuable asset for nothing is reason enough to make the move. Toss in the other issues – off-ice transgressions, poor practice habits, attitude – and it’s time to deal.
http://buffalonews.com/2017/06/16/sabres-gm-day-time-make-hard-choices/
Interesting ideas
I do agree with making Eichel captain for the reasons stated. Give it to the kid and let him go