I mean, they traded for Montour (at the deadline)...?

You are absolutely correct. BUF should've tried to upgrade to make it to the playoffs, especially since there's so many key areas that need to be addressed, including 2C, 2LW, 3LW, 1LD, 1RD, and 1G (or SG). There were probably players available at the TDL that could've fulfilled those needs, including Kinkaid, Hayes, Johansson, Granlund, Stone, Duchene, Dzingel.

they were out of a playoff spot, when he traded for Montour.

if you know the team is bad, why trade away picks?

I don't know, if they were swapping players how much was really available?
Pretty hard to find a 2C mid season, without giving up draft capital and I don't think it was worth it for them to do that.

I just think played well over its head during the 1st half of the season

Hutton isn't good, they have no forward depth and some injury issues

I think when you look at this lineup in hindsight.....it’s a ****ing miracle this team was in this playoff spot.
This is an atrocious lineup.

When you look at what they have now, one year later, Montour, Kahun, Simmonds, Johansson, Miller, and Jokiharju, that’s pretty significant. And they will have Dylan Cozens and the potential top 7 pick in play for next season and you never know, maybe Mittelstadt finally breaks out.

There’s no question the Sabres will add more peices in the off-season.

Thank you.
While Botterill has made many errors, Scandella for Frolik, Vesey did not turn out well, Housley should have been given one more year.
The prospect pool is much better than it was 3 years ago and that is with Dahlin and Jokiharju both under 20 are not part of the prospects.
Miller at 27 is the oldest defenseman and that is the age when defensemen start to be really good.
With Reinhart, Eichel, Olofsson and Skinner set among the top 6, I think we will see at one of Mittelstadt, Thompson, Cozens or Kahun in the top 6.
Sign a free agent to complete the top 2 lines, get a healthy Hutton, continue to develop Dahlin and Jokiharju and who knows.
The future is bright, it is always best to not rush into a rebuild.

@AFOX10900
@pharrow
@KakkoForMauriceRichardAward
Why does it take AGM who follow other teams to recognize the improvements made over the last 2 years.
Everyone in Buffalo thinks O'Reilly led us to playoffs and it was terrible to break up a Stanley Cup winning team.
Thank you so much for your voices of reason.