Samson's Flow

I fully recognize the challenges with extrapolating out small sample sizes, but I wanted to give some context so it doesn't look like i'm just making sh!t up. To your point, it is imperative that we shed the bad contracts in order to continue the team improvement. Shedding bad cap hits can be just as productive as adding good players. I look at Toronto as the most recent example in a long list.

Yes. Pegula can't keep striking out on his GM/coaching hires. This one needs to be a hit.

Awesome. Glad this didn't fall through with the GM change. We need major turnover on our Defense core.

To add to the analysis so that I am not blowing smoke with my initial projections for the young forwards: Nicholas Baptiste: 4pts in 14GP, ATOI only 9:14/gm; extrapolated out to 23.5pts over 82 games. Justin Bailey: 4pts in 32GP, ATOI only 10:38/gm; extrapolated out to 10.25pts over 82 games. William Carrier: 8pts in 41GP, ATOI only 9:00/gm; extrapolated out to 16 pts over 82 games. The above extrapolations are still based on 9-10min/game. If we increase from 9min/gm to ~15min/gm (regular shift) similar to Marcus Foligno's usage (15:28/gm in 2017) I would expect increased production. At the same scoring rates as above, with Foligno's average ice time we get: Nicholas Baptiste: expected 39.4pts playing 15:30/gm Justin Bailey: expected 15.0pts playing 15:30/gm William Carrier: expected 27.6pts playing 15:30/gm the above are very comparable to Moulson/Ennis production for a fraction of the cost. Figures quoted above from http://www.hockey-reference.com

To put it another way: If we gave Baptiste/Bailey/Carrier a full 82 games on the Sabres, I would say they would luck into 25-30 points minimum. I don't think that's stretching it and there is potential for one or more of them to 'get it' and produce more. The last few years, Moulson (81 games in both 2015 & 2016, 21 pts & 32 pts respectively) and/or Ennis (51 games in 2016 for 13 pts, prorated to 21pts over 82 games) have demonstrated that their ceiling over the past few years is that same 20-30pts. The young kids are on entry level cheap contracts, wheras Moulson and Ennis are $5MM in cap space each. Good teams need to maximize the $ per point ratio, especially for replacement level players. It is comparatively okay to overpay a bit for 50+ pt players because they are not as easily replaceable, but the JAG guys need to be optimized in terms of cap space IMO.

Especially if we believe Toro's names and experience doesn't seem to be as big a factor as we originally thought.

#FreeSamson

I'm going to continue to encourage you just so I can get more sweet Emma Stone gifs. :flirt:

But he's a cat. It's what they do.

At least it gives us something to talk about. All of the names he listed are rather inexperienced compared to the board's consensus wish list. Lots of new faces there.

Unfortunately the traditional managers and GM's in the NHL value faceoffs and FO% like you seem to, and as such a guy like Beagle or Dominic Moore get $1MM+ more per year compared to equally skilled players like the Larsson's of the world. My argument is that paying the extra money isn't worth it just for FO% when you are still getting a 20-25pt player. In my roster i'd much rather roll the dice with Baptiste/Bailey/Carrier types and completely exclude Ennis and Moulson from the roster. Short term pains for long term gains. #Swoon :wub:

they are basically statistically insignificant. The analytics crowd look at them the same way as they look at Wins for a starting pitcher in Baseball. They don't drive win probability enough to be meaningful and are more the product of randomness. Exactly. :thumbsup:

this is SOP on signing college FA's. Even the middling ones with Ruhweedl got the 10 game end of year in the NHL to burn a year on the contract. That's how you lure these guys.

Disney/ESPN's Q2 Earnings call is in early May (5/9 IIRC), and these moves are being made in advance of that. Has nothing to do with sports timing and everything to do with shareholder communication and stock price.

Also I think you can organically change the culture by bringing in multiple young players all at once. Let them grow and learn together and bring some new energy to the locker room.

Nothing. I just don't want to watch Ennis or Moulson taking up a spot next year. There's only so many options if that is my goal.

The way I see next year if I was a new coach coming in would be to identify the centers that will be anchoring their lines and build a line around complementary players to their style. Ditch this silly "pairs" model that Bylsma tried to implement, and provide attack-minded definition around the center's playing style. The clear centers to me are: A) Eichel B) O'Reilly C) Reinhart D) Larsson After that you think of the remaining forwards/complimentary players you have and assign them to the centers to compliment their strengths and fill in their weaknesses. I don't care too much about Line #1 vs Line #3 comparisons, as I am looking at a top 9 playing an attacking role w/ similar style, and the bottom 3 playing responsible defensively. The reamining forwards as of right now are: Veterans: Okposo, Kane, Girgensons, Foligno Up & Coming Youth: Nylander, Carrier, Bailey, Baptiste Extras Not Making my LT Plans: Ennis, Moulson, Deslauriers Given the above 8 forwards, I would assign them as such: A) Eichel -- Nylander and Baptiste; Pure scoring line with speed, and gives Eichel a finisher in Nylander and speed to keep up with Baptiste (unless Bailey is the faster one, they get mixed up in my mind). I realize this line is very young, but can grow together. Potential for a FA addition here, someone like Oshie? B) O'Reilly -- Okposo and Carrier; this line will get some tougher assignments and as such has a defensive lean, while still having a scorer (Okposo) and a strong forechecker (Carrier) C) Reinhart -- Kane and Bailey; Kane provides a forecheck and puck carrying presence for Reinhart, and Bailey can grow into a role here. D) Larsson -- Girgensons and Foligno; I think Girgs and Foligno are known quantities at this point, and fit well complimenting Larsson. Obviously hoping for some additions to fill in the top 9 wings, as this version is very prospect heavy. On defense, just adding Guhle and Antipin, reviving old Bogo with new coaching/scheme and removing UFA Kulikov changes things around. I think we need a 3rd pairing guy to pair with Guhle, but that's found in FA. McCabe-Ristolainen Antipin-Bogosian Guhle-_______ Gorges Get to it new GM.

And even that market is being saturated by sport-specific networks. If a fan wants baseball highlights they can go to MLB Network, and no longer need to watch Sportscenter for an hour +, they can get what they want in a more targeted format.

Article on the Labatt House HQ move. https://www.buffalorising.com/2017/04/john-labatt-project-comes-to-former-hi-temp-building/ Also, is there any doubt that with PSE's investment in the cobblestone district that the new Bills stadium will go downtown in Cobblestone/Perry Projects area? :flirt:

I think Liger is saying that despite some AGM's being promoted or poached, there are still tons of seemingly average re-treads that get hired every 3-5 years. Heck, even guys like Mike Gillis who was a tire-fire in Vancouver has been linked, as well as Brian Burke who couldn't leave Toronto fast enough. It's convenient and easy for owners to see that someone has done the job before and hire them for their vacancy, regardless of how good they were at said role.

To me he checks both the 'experience' box in that he has been in hockey for 25+ years and assistant GM for a while, as well as the 'young/progressive' box that will bring some new ideas to the organization. The fact that he was interested in the job when we hired Murray gives me added enthusiasm that he would want the job and be dedicated to making the Sabres a winner.

Bwahahaha. :thumbsup:

My first choice is still Fenton, but I wouldn't be opposed to Treliving, Botterill or Brisebois, with Dubas as a dark horse analytics candidate. I don't think he has enough experience for Terry to trust he can run the show and communicate/run an effective front office. I'm rooting for the Nashville takeover with Fenton GM / Housley HC combo. Plus Fenton really wanted to be our GM back in 2013, so I would assume the interest is still there. http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/predators-paul-fenton-very-interested-in-sabres-gm-job

There's no room for 50 goal scorers on the Sabres. :nana: Just had to revive that classic SS meme.

I am actually not too upset with any of the choices that have been linked to the sabres thus far. Whenever a coach/GM search occurs, there is usually one candidate that is a clear "NO" for me that hangs on long enough to make me nervous and wonder what the FO is thinking. I would be okay with any of the GM candidates listed so far.