That doesnt make sense.

Why are you trolling a former gm when the current guy has done less with more? I mean, i get that you arent a sabres fan but why bother?

You forgot to add a first, second and third going to Edmonton.



Murray inherited a team with one of the best prospect pool, 8 picks in the first 2 rounds over his first 2 years as GM. with a Hall of Fame GK (f one follows the full trade he turn Miller into Lehner), and several decent but older player that could have been flipped for picks or prospects. Murray drafted poorly (only 2 NHL players from 3 drafts, took Reinhart when Draisaitl was taken next, took Nylander when Sergachev was taken next but worse could have traded down to take friend of the Pegula family Chychrun), traded worse (Pysyk for Kulikov, 2nd for Gorges, McNabb and 2 seconds for Fasching and Deslauriers, a first for OTT 3rd string GK, missed moving Stewart for 2 seconds, missed moving Moulson for a first, traded for other teams unwanted assets, etc.), buggered the cap (Ennis for 5 years at over $4KK, Moulson for 5 years at $5KK, Okposo for 6 years at $6kk essentially 1/5 of dead cap). Botterill took over a last place team with no future and no extra picks. He restocked the prospect pool, added picks, added talent (Skinner, Sheary, Pilut most notable). To what Tim Murray are you referring, it could not possible be the one who destroyed the rebuild by rushing it (imagine if he had not rushed the rebuild and had a chance at Matthews or Laine in 2016 to add to Eichel and Reinhart).

If anybody tells you they had draisitl or pastrnak ahead of reinhart, they are lying to you. The only question was whether florida would take reinhart at 1, and whether we would take ekblad or bennett at 2 if they did. I have no idea why he took nylander, that was terrible. Three pieces that he "overpaid" for- ror, kane, and lehner are having all star seasons- albeit with other teams. They were sold for pennies on the dollar or given away.

First, let me preference this by reminding you that out of 3 Murray drafts the Sabres have 2 NHL players (Botterill has 2 NHL players in just 2 drafts), during that same period only 3 teams have less and they all had poorer draft positions.
Second, you are ignoring the "terrible" trades, "terrible" contracts, "terrible" team for which Murray is responsible and Botterill has to clean up.
Third, LOL, when Murray picked Reinhart my son and I both questioned the pick, I am not lying to you. We agree the Nylander pick was terrible and passing over friend of the family Chychrun IMO was the final nail in the coffin.
Fourth, last year more than half of the posts indicated Kane would be traded for a 2nd due to his off ice issues. If appears he cleaned up his act in San Jose but he did not do it here.
Fifth, you are comparing the O'Reilly playing in STL to the return Buffalo got for him, he did not do it here in Buffalo and after his amazing start of 20 pts in 14 games he has settled down to his typical pt per season production. I would have been happy with a bucket of pucks to get him off of the team last year.
Six, O'Reilly was actually less valuable last year than the year that Murray traded for him (who wants to trade for a player who does not love "playing" hockey), if you compare the trades, Botterill did very well: Berglund = Grigorenko, Thompson = Kulikov, 2nd = Compher, 1st - Sobotka > 2nd + McGinn pretty even certainly not pennies on the dollar.
Seventh, O'Reilly never elevated the team play here in Buffalo, he was not responsible for his activities off the ice and seemed to bring the rest of the team down while he was more concerned about his personal success than the team's.
Eighth, Botterill was left an empty closet of prospects ranked near the bottom of the league when he inherited the last place team. Murray was given one of the best prospect pools with a boat load of picks and players to trade to add picks. The team finished last in the league with O'Reilly, Kane and Lehner with 22 games left in the schedule this team already has 2 more pts than last year.
Ninth, which prognosticator would have thought a team that has 3 first year defensemen, a life time back up GK and a first year GK, a first year #2 center would be competing for a playoff spot?
Tenth, let's see if we can get Mitch Korn from the Islanders and I think you will see a HUGE improvement in our goal tending (speaking of Lehner, Murray knew Lehner had to deal with demons but never addressed them while he was GM).
Finally, let's see what next year brings before we want to flay our GM. If you pine for the days of Murray, you may need to check the results. As an after thought, the Amerks finished last every year Murray was GM complaining that he was left a poor prospect pool and declaring the team would be better once his draft picks starting playing there. Under Botterill the team made the playoffs his first year, and is first in its division as I write this. I should qualify this that the only significant Murray contributor to this teams success is Olofsson, Botterill built the Amerks, give him time he will build the Sabres.

I stopped reading at botterill did well. Lol. See you at the parade i guess.