Quoting: delneggs
Lets look at it another way, from a Ranger fan point of view (and could be any team's fan other than Buffalo). Jack has been with Buffalo for 6 years now. He has put up impressive individual numbers but the team has not seen 1 playoff game in those 6 years. Since 2013, the HIGHEST they have picked in the 1st round is 8th overall. 2013 they picked 8th (Ristolainen) and 17th (Zadorov). 2014 they picked 2nd (Reinhart). 2015 they picked 2nd (Eichel). 2016 they picked 8th (Nylander). 2017 they picked 8th (Middelstat). 2018 they picked 1st (Dahlin). 2019 they picked 7th (Cousins). 2020 they picked 8th (Quinn), and of course they just picked 1st overall again. There are some pretty good players in those picks along with Jack, yet they can't even make the playoffs 1 year. On top of that, they have signed some pretty good players along the way, and still can't ever make the playoffs. I guess part of the failure can be placed on coaching and ownership, but at what point do they players bear responsibility for such underachieving? At what point does the captain of the team get some of the blame for failure every year? Players have been fleeing Buffalo the past few years like its a prison break.....there has to be some reason for that, no? Individually, Jack seems to do well, but as a captain and leader of his team, not so much in my opinion. Add to that a serious spinal issue at age 24 and a $10/million a year cap hit for 5 more years and you have to say, why do we want this guy? Yeah, he has talent, but he isn't healthy at the moment and he isn't a leader or proven winner at the NHL level. You want the equivalent of 4 first rounders for him.....ummmm....no thanks is all I can say. I wish the kid well, and I hope his neck issue heals, but until it does, I wouldn't trade a bag of pucks for him.
I find nothing wrong with your evaluation.
Four different GM's, seven different HC
ONE owner!
Eight year ago Tim Murray sold the farm to bring in players other teams wanted to trade away.
We all know about Evander Kane.
He had to know about Lehner's mental problems since Tim was with the Sens just the previous year.
O'Reilly comes to town and immediately drove his truck into a Tim Horton's and runs away from the scene of the accident.
Four years ago Botterill became GM.
IMO he made great moves to change the culture.
He brought in Wilson and Nolan, each had two rings; and Scandella, Beaulieu, Pominville, Pouliot all had playoff experience.
Half way through the season Nolan says there is not any accountability on the team.
At the end of the season O'Reilly says he lost his love of the game before the season started.
Kane is traded at the deadline, O'Reilly at the end of the season, Lehner was never qualified and left.
So Kane is now facing serious charges, Lehner is with his third team and O'Reilly was lucky that Binnington joined the Blues in January.
BTW the Blues were in last place up until January, that trade was looking really good half way through the season as the Sabres were in first place.
On the other hand, Jack was very lazy until O'Reilly was traded away.
He played no defense, did not fight for pucks, and was typically the last forward back on defense.
After O'Reilly was traded, I noticed a
HUGE change in his play.
It did not help the team, one can conclude as you are, there are serious problems with the organization.
IMO Karmanos, the new assistant to the GM is already making a big difference.
He certainly received good value for Reinhart and Ristolainen.
You disagree, but I think he will receive value for Eichel as well.
I will not be surprised if Olofsson is traded as well as he is the same age as Ristolainen.
Finally, as to the draft picks, they suck.
Reinhart when Draisaitl was taken next, same with Nylander over Sergachev two year later.
With great draft positions one would think they would have a better prospect pool.
As I said, I do not disagree with anything you said.
The culture is very bad and IMO is comes from the top.
EDIT:
Four different Captains as well.
Everyone in Buffalo cried the BLUES when StL won the cup, but O'Reilly NEVER led the Sabres out of the basement.