nfreeman

We also have no idea how JB ranked STL's prospects. It's quite possible Thompson was his #1 (or #2 or #3 or whatever).

Well, if Nylander blooms in ROR's absence and suddenly the Sabres have a legit scoring winger instead of a washout, I'll gladly fight through my shock to add that to the plus side of the ROR trade ledger!

Here's something else about JB: there aren't many big moves he's made that have had enough time to ripen into a state where it's fair to evaluate them. I don't think there's been a big move that has proven to be a failure. Scandella -- good move Mittlestadt -- looks good (this could certainly be categorized as too soon) Housley -- too soon to evaluate Kane trade -- too soon ROR trade -- too soon Fasching trade -- too soon Hutton -- too soon Beaulieu -- we've probably seen enough, but it was a minor move Antipin -- same Chad Johnson -- minor move Pouliot -- minor move Josefsson -- minor move Wilson -- minor move

I assume you mean bottom-6 scoring? Overall the depth in the organization seems much improved in just one year. It's quite reasonable for you to be skeptical of their judgment given last season's debacle. But I think a new GM (and coach) need time to be fairly evaluated. Why would this trade help Nylander? Because ROR is COR's brother, and COR was a DB to Nylander? (Not challenging, just asking.)

Yerdon is a good addition. So far I'm quite happy with The Athletic, btw.

Except that the guys who have both professional experience and physical proximity to the situation clearly determined that getting rid of ROR was needed to improve the team. They made that determination being fully aware of ROR's numbers. Some people create more problems than they solve. I agree with this.

Well, I know you know that the Bills finally made the playoffs, and are finally run by a group of non-bozos, and finally drafted a potential franchise QB. I think the Sabres, too, finally have the right guy running things. TP hasn't delivered results yet, but it's not for lack of trying.

I was actually referring to ROR, not Berglund and Sobotka. In particular, my point was that despite putting up numbers and undeniably doing certain things well, it's quite possible that when everything -- including his effects on his teammates -- is factored in, ROR isn't actually "good."

Regarding the Hall trade -- my recollection is that while there were noises from Edmonton about a shakeup, Hall wasn't openly put up for auction in the same way that ROR was, and when the trade happened, most hockey observers were somewhat blindsided. There is of course no way to know for sure, but I thought the Sabres' roster last year was well above DFL level. In the past 3 seasons, they went from 81 to 78 to 62 points. They came out completely dead too many times to count. Something was very wrong, and it went well beyond having a lousy roster, IMHO. If they hadn't made this or a shakeup change -- which appears to have been your preference -- would you have expected better results next season? Respectfully, you are using stats as a proxy for "good," and while I understand the reasons for doing so, there's more to being a good player than putting up numbers, and there's more to being a bad player than failing to put up numbers. Sometimes there are people at work who appear to be good at their jobs but in reality detract more than they add.

I did and was happy to see it! Welcome back sizzle. Don't be a stranger. It's happening. Liger is starting to come around on this one.

Beat me to it. We'll never know for sure, but I too interpret the end-of-season and post-season events, combined with ROR's previously forcing his way out of Colorado, as ROR asking for a trade.

My 2 cents: - there has been plenty of sky-is-falling hyperbole in here but also plenty of excellent hockey talk. - I think the TBPHD camp — ie those who wouldn’t have traded ROR for this package or really anything less than a socks-knocked-off offer — is well underestimating the impact of chemistry and interpersonal dynamics. It’s not just about the stats. What they’ve had for the past few years has clearly not worked. JB and PH are hockey lifers who were in a far better position than any of us to observe ROR and his impact on the rest of the team. I’m willing to accept their conclusion that they could not continue to have ROR on the team. - there’s also quite a bit of premature judging of Thompson in here, along with declarations that he wasn’t a top prospect for STL. Dobberhockey, an excellent site, had him as their #3 prospect last fall (ahead of Kyrou and Dunn), and I saw a blues fan site that named him this spring as one of their “big 4.” So he certainly could turn into a very good young winger. - Serious question for those unhappy with the trade: assuming this was in fact the best that could be obtained for ROR, and that any trade for a different Sabres core piece would have yielded a similarly disappointing return, would you have wanted to go into next season without having made a major “shakeup” trade?

Hall wasn’t auctioned off in the same way ROR was.

I’m starting to talk myself into liking this signing.

Good post.

Good stuff Derrico.

Outstanding.

Welcome back Hoss! I too do not think the Isles will be interested in a full rebuild -- but I also think, as I've posted previously, that the Sabres are going to get less for ROR than most here will be satisfied with -- so I don't think the Isles will part with their best young players in trade for ROR.

Hutton is 6'1, will turn 33 in December and is from...Thunder Bay, Ontario! So if Hutton is indeed joining, then JBott doesn't hate ALL Canadians -- especially not those who played 4 years of NCAA hockey, like Hutton.

For the record, DiPietro was really good before he got hurt.

I like it. Let her know the priorities right away so there's no misunderstanding.

Congrats Thorny!

Correct.

IMHO Richards was much better than ROR. Richards played with blood and guts, not woe-is-me. I think this is very likely. Well, it might be the acquiror of ROR that needs to clear cap space.

2 more Americans. Did JBott get arrested in the GWN at some point?