dudacek

Their top 3 are #6, 9 and 18 right now in NHL scoring among D — #1, 7, and 25 in ES scoring. Buffalo's 3rd-highest-scoring defenceman would be #1 on 21 teams. There's been a good amount of fancystat dumping around here on Byram's relative SA%. His actual SA% is a fraction over 50%, as is Power's. Dahlin is over 57% Their issues has been making the big mistake, especially Power, but that kind of offence from the backline is rare and something to build an identity around.

Sometimes it's OK to actually look at real goals for and against — the things that actually win hockey games. Byram is +9 for the season. He has 11 points, all of them at even strength — top 5 among all NHL D in even-strength points. Since Oct. 31 — roughly when he was elevated to the 1st pair, this is his stat line: Trust your eyes, like Lindy does. Can you imagine this D corps right now with Jokiharju and Samuelsson eating Byram's minutes? Byram was brought in to be a top 4 defenceman and so far he's delivered. Meanwhile Mittelstadt: 6/10/16/-11 has 8 points at even strength and wins 41.2% of his faceoffs McLeod: 5/6/11/+7 kills penalties and wins 52% of his faceoffs Way early to judge overall, but initial returns on Byram and McLeod for Mitts and Savoie have given the Sabres exactly what I hoped it would.

(Picks jaw up off the floor.)

Are you a Seinfeld fan?

Some more silly preseason Q&A, should you care to indulge: Name something you feel strongly is going to happen in the #Sabrehood this year? Tage Thompson will rebound nicely, to the tune of around 40 goals and a point per game. What is something you think a lot of Sabres fans will be surprised by? How effective this defence corps will be playing Lindy Ruff hockey What worries you most about the coming season? The possibility that UPL regresses hard and they wait too long to hand the reins over to Levi What are you most excited about? Watching Cozens/Quinn/Benson play hockey the way it is meant to be played And what hot take would you be willing to put money on this year? Rasmus Dahlin will be a Norris Trophy finalist

1) Sabres point total? 81 2) Will the Sabres makes the playoffs? No 3) Sabres leading goal scorer? Peterka 33 4) Sabres leader in total points? Dahlin 62 5) Sabres MVP? Dahlin 6) Sabres ROY? N/A No rookie will play more than 20 games 7) Best off-season acquisition Malenstyn won't score much, but he will be respected for his effort and hitting 8.) Worst off-season acquisition? Zucker will be in and out of the lineup and fail to score 15 goals 9) Biggest surprise? (positive or negative) Jack Quinn will fail to score 25 goals 10) Breakout player? Peterka. He and Benson will be the only player to post career numbers, though neither will be much higher than this year 11) Will any Sabres players or coaches finish as finalists (win?) for any major awards such as the Norris or Selke? No 12) Unsung Hero? Jokiharju will again lead the team in plus/minus, but will be traded to a playoff team at the deadline 13) Who will be the first Sabre traded away this season? Reimer will be claimed on waivers, if that counts 14) Will KA make any in-season acquisitions before the deadline? LOL 15) Will the Sabres be buyers or sellers at the deadline? Say goodbye to Greenway and Joker. Zucker won't get any takers 16) Other Bold prediction? {Such as KA gets fired mid-season ;)} Bo Byram requests a trade 17) Any other thoughts? Fat, unemployed bald men who live with their parents don't approach strange women

Sorry if this was already discussed and I missed it, but the Athletic is reporting Dylan Cozens came in to camp 12 pounds heavier this year. If he kept his speed, that’s got to help in the role he’s being asked to play. With the additions of Lafferty and McLeod, is there a team with more size and speed up the middle than Sabres? Not a rhetorical question: we know all 4 are over 6’2 and among the top 20 per cent of NHL skaters.

Craig Rivet says the Sabres should easily get 45 wins and with “a bit of swagger” could really take off. Stable goaltending, best defence corps in 15 years, loves the rebuilt bottom six and team speed, and thinks Lindy is exactly what these players need.

The Östlund take is interesting. From what I saw in the preseason, he does seem to be a better skater, passer and playmaker than Kulich.

Do you think that also means they are the 4 looming cuts to get to 23?

No, you’re right Dan. Jeff Skinner is the devil.

If I remember correctly, one was the breakthrough Carolina squad after they traded Skinner. Who was the other?

I can’t choose. Benson has most battle and hockey IQ and JJ the most raw skill. Quinn is a close 2nd in both categories. I will be shocked if all 3 don’t have long careers as at least top 6 wingers. Any of them can be more than that.

This I would tend to agree with.

Ah, I've found when people react unexpectedly it often is a result of poorly chosen words. In this case, the phrase I used was "with excellence", not "of excellence". Easy to read over, or misinterpret even if read correctly. i should have written "Johnson is the only departure who had any sort of track record of playing with excellent players on an excellent team."