Sabre fans seemed to begin the season with the belief that a coaching change was all they needed to compete for a playoff spot. Many blamed Bylsma and his coaching style for stifling the offense. While that may be true, they are slowly finding out that the real problem lay in the roster that GMTM "built" and the problems that Jason Botteril faces trying to rectify his mistakes.
GMTM tried to cut corners on his rebuild. He signed veterans like Matt Moulson, Josh Gorges and Brian Gionta. He traded for guys like Hudson Fasching, Nick DeLauriers, Justin Falk and Zach Bogosian. He squandered first and second round picks like they were Monopoly money. Two second round picks and McNabb for Deslauriers and Fasching, a second for Gorges, a first rounder in the Kane/Bogosian deal along with former picks Myers, Stanford,Armia and Lemieux. A first rounder for Lehner, a second rounder thrown into the O'Reilly deal along with a prospect and two former 1st rounders. A second and a third along with former #1 pick Pysyk for Kulikov and a second.
Canadian dinosaur GMTM followed the rest of the dinosaurs at Central Scouting by drafting "smart and crafty Canadian" Sam Reinhardt instead of fast and skilled Europeans Draisaitl, William Nylander, Nicholas Ehlers or David Pasternak- all of whom are much better NHL players than Reinhardt.
A look at our lineup shows lack of speed. The game has changed. Big, grinding wingers are no longer effective in today's NHL. Speed is what today's game is about. Just look at the Pittsburgh Penguins as a perfect example. Yes they have Crosby and Malkin. They also have guys like Guentzel, Sharry and Rust who were third round picks or I drafted free agents. None are 6' and none weigh 200 lbs. they are small and fast. Each had terrific years last year. That's what third lines in today's NHL are supposed to look like. Guys who can forcheck successfully due to their speed and can score due to their skills. Look at Tampa. They have guys like Kucherov, Palat, Tyler Johnson. None were 1st rounders but all compete, score and produce. Every team has its Joe Pavelski: a guy who was drafted late or signed as a free agent who becomes a star or at least a very good player. The last guy drafted by the Sabres after the second round who you could say became a star was Ryan Miller in 1999. That is an absolute joke!!!
we are left with a team who paid way too much for marginal players. I love Ryan O'Reilly but I am sorry, we gave up four
players and a second round pick AND pay him $7.5 million a year. He is a solid 20 goal and 30-35 assist guy. That's NOT a $7.5 million dollar guy. Same with Okposo. $6 million for a 20-25 goal guy who is slow. These are guys we are stuck with long term who were acquired by GMTM and whom are basically unreadable due to their contracts. Combine that with the $5.5 million to Bogosian, $5M to Moulson and $3.5M to Gorges and you are in salary cap jail.
Toronto did it right. They kept their picks. They didn't trade for old vets to try to rush the rebuild. Look at them now. Matthews, Nylander, JVR, Kadri, Brown, Hyman, Komorov, Marner, Rielly, Carrick and more. You have guys in their farm system who would play 3rd line roles here in Buffalo that can't crack their lineup. All are FAST AND YOUNG. WE ARE SLOW AND OLD.
Botteril and Housley need time to rectify the sins of Murray. It is not a quick fix. It may take longer than it should just because of the dead weight that they've been forced to carry. It's a rebuild, no matter how they phrase it. Maybe next year with Nylander, Middlestet, Guhle in the lineup things will improve. Not this year though. We were sold a bag of goods when GMTM was hired. We loved the way he spoke: direct answers. He was the antithesis of Darcy. As the old saying goes: be careful of what you ask for as you just might get it. We got it: a fraud.
