nfreeman

I’m kinda surprised it’s Ocho. And I think it’s because JBott and Howie are well aware that Sparkles has stunk in the 2nd half of back to backs.

Randall — that is interesting and good work, as always. I generally agree that at a lower level, goals will fluctuate a fair amount — so a guy like Reino can easily score 22 one year and 18 the next. As for your list, I think it’s pretty easy to cherry-pick quite a few guys from the goal scoring list who are better players (for the past 3 years) than their counterparts on the assist list: 4.) Tarasenko over Thornton 5.) Marchand over Getzlaf 6.) Kucherov over Kuznetsov 7.) Forsberg over Wheeler 11.) Pavelski over Johansen 13.) Tavares over Panarin GA — that is good historical data about Reino’s slow starts, but your statement about Eichel is straight #HammyMath.

Do we really need the word "conflate?" Not just in this thread, but in life? Isn't it just inherently annoying?

Because goals are more important than assists and his goal production dropped by over 25% from Y1 to Y2 -- and because his goals and points look like they are going to fall off a cliff this year. Now, if you're right and he turns it around and gets back to, say, 21-25-46 -- then yes, I can see him getting $4MM x 4 years or thereabouts. But if he continues to be ineffective and ends up at, say, 13-19-32? JBott isn't going to give him a fat contract just because he's a former high draft pick.

Whenever speed/quickness is an element in a 1-on-1 battle, which is frequently, Reino loses the battle.

I could see them re-upping Lehner on a similar 1-year deal, but not a long-term deal. That would be wasteful and unnecessary and not a JBott-type move.

Not for a top-6 forward. Well below average.

Lehner is restricted after this season. There is no need to give him a big contract. Reino is also restricted, has been completely ineffective this year and has trended downward since his rookie year. He's not getting $4MM per year.

What? There is NFW that either of those 2 gets that much unless there is a dramatic turnaround. Reino will probably get a bridge deal at a much lower AAV and Lehner will probably be gone.

...said no one on SabreSpace, ever. (but I'd like to see him back and coached by Howie too.)

Interesting theory. I too would like to know those #s. Now that is some PhD level work right there. Gracias.

Something something Bylsma long passes something freedom.

What isn’t right yet, but what I think is gonna get there, is the power play.

Is it OK to make a similar statement about other sports and their predominant racial composition?

Correct. This one probably wasn't needed either though. Well, I suspect you already knew this, but the problem, if there is one, arises in how and how often the narrative is pushed.

So with Zemgus, that means: Kane-Eichel-Okposo Reinhart-ROR-Pominville Zemgus-Pouliot-Bailey Moulson/Nolan-Larsson-Griffith/Nolan OK -- I'm interested. KO's new spot could work, and Howie may have decided to give it to him as a reward for better play (which may have been invisible to the naked eye, but Howie did praise KO's play vs the Bruins).

It kinda depends on the assumption as to how good Cody would've been in the alternate scenario IMHO. If we're asking whether the Sabres would've tanked if he'd turned into, say, Toews or Kopitar -- then probably not, as a player that good would've likely elevated the team to the point where mgmt wouldn't have felt like it needed to tank. (Although years of poor drafting and roster construction might've come home to roost anyway -- so who knows.)

I too am looking forward to seeing what ERod can do.

No one is trading for Moulson!

Go on...

I wanted to like the Deuce, but I bailed on episode 1 after 35 minutes and there is a good chance I am out for good.

This stinks.

Of course we need more time to evaluate.

I think the distaste many have for TT is mostly attributable to: - being brought in by previous failed regime - as QB, being accountable for hugely disappointing failure of prior regime - inarguable repeated failures to bring team back from 4th-quarter deficits - poor #nonfancystats ranking of team's passing offense under TT I don't think the above reasoning is sound, and as I've said before, I'm a fan of TT's, but it's not like the desire to find someone else is from outer space. In any case, I think TT is winning some people over so far this year.

So is Fedun banged up, or did Howie not like what he saw? Also, it looks like the Sabres are going to 2 d-men on the PP in response to the SHG epidemic.