LGR4GM

Bergeron retired. We took one of their defenders. I don't think goalies will be enough to make up for that. In fact, I'll predict worse numbers from the goalies in Boston. It doesn't matter. No one is interested in doing a comparison. It's just, last year Boston was good so they're still good.

Should compare the Bruins roster side by side with Sabres. See how they stack up.

Saw the Finland roster earlier, no surprise Leinonen isn't there.

I'm more angry now that Quinn is injured. He's gonna be better than several of the guys listed ahead of him.

If I were Boston, I'd be calling on player like Mitts. Pick the goalie you want, trade the other.

Bergeron ends his career with: Regular Season: 1294 games, 427 goals, 613 assists, 1040pts Playoffs: 170 games, 50 goals, 78 assists, 128pts Total points = 1168pts His only negative +/- season was in 2006 where he was -28. Everything else was positive and he is a 6 time Selke winner.

Shootout to @That Aud Smell for posting it first. This is a good read btw.

As an addition, let us take a look at Jack Quinn. Since Jack is the potential player being replaced by Olofsson we should understand what he brings at 5v5 and all even strength. 5v5 GF/60 = 3.24 GA/60 = 3.38 GF% = 48.94% At all Even Strength (3v3, 4v4, 5v5) GF/60 = 3.17 GA/60 = 3.52 GF% = 47.42% At 21 years old and a rookie, Quinn outperformed Olofsson at 27 and a 4 year NHL veteran. I think this shows that part of the issue is team defense as both Quinn and Olofsson have at least a ballpark average for GA/60 that is comparable. The interesting though is this all started with a discussion of Olofsson's GF/60 and his GF/60 isn't as good as Quinn's. Olofsson averaged about 30 more seconds a game in TOI (one shift basically) so I am a little surprised at that. Anyways, my point is that I am not convinced that Olofsson is a good replacement for Quinn's role. I would most likely put Mitts in that spot. Mitts 5v5 GF/60 = 3.13 GA/60 = 3.13 GF% = 50% All Even GF/60 = 3.31 GA/60 = 3.53 GF% = 48.39% One last thing, these numbers are specifically ON ICE that I am quoting. That means if you are on the ice and a goal is scored you win, so in a way they are impacted by who and when you are on the ice. Individual rates are as follows for 5v5: Mitts: 0.55 GF/60 and 1.77 AF/60 Olofsson: 1.42 GF/60 and 0/47 AF/60 Quinn: 0.9 GF/60 and 1.17 AF/60 This leads to the question, do you want a setup guy like Mitts with better defensive metrics on line 2. Or do you want a pure shooter like Olofsson with defensive liability on line 2 in place of Quinn who is really a balance between both of the mentioned players? With Cozens and JJP there, I would lean towards Mittelstadt.

I can't think of any goaltender who's gone for 2 first round picks in the modern era. Luongo went for 1 and he was better than Hart.

Olofsson at 5v5 specifically. This rules out 3v3 or 4v4 toi from above. Olofsson did get some 3v3 toi in OT so this only looks at your average run of the mill 5v5 hockey. GF/60 = 2.41 GA/60 = 3.68 GF% = 39.53% Final note. Olofsson's GA/60 have gone up every year under Granato. My guess is the faster pace of his breakout and attacking system is ill suited to olofsson. He did better under Krueger who really focused on... uhh boring hockey. Really a team like the NYI could use olofsson to good effect I think. He can be protected by others and used as the trigger man.

There's Goals For per60 and Goals Against per60. Often abbreviated as gf/60 and ga/60. Olofsson at even strength 2023: GF/60 = 2.71 GA/60 = 3.93 GF% = 40.82% He's a net negative at even strength and has been for 3 years. 2021: 36.36% 2022: 43.40% Have to go back to 2020 to find a positive even strength goal differential.

It's dough proofing. When you make fresh pizza dough, you measure it out and let it proof overnight so it gets to where it needs to be. You can also cheat and leave it out for a few hours. Unproofed dough doesn't stretch as well and impo tastes chewey.

Note he's not comparing Caufield to Benson. They have different comps but something to look at.

The last part is obnoxious. We're all aware there is no real message rule on what someone can say on a player. This isn't a court, it's the internet. To the rest, I actually agree that seems fair. I don't think he'll pan out but I understand why some do. However I'll double down on listing size as an attribute rings a little hollow when it comes to upl.

I'm not, in fact I think it's a fallacy to blindly trust someone's judgements because they were right on something else. It's always better to use the information you have to judge the new situation on its own merits. Biron has been pretty clear on why he's not a UPL fan and I agree with him. All hockey players have raw tools to succeed, most drafted players don't. I'm not saying you said he's big so he'll be good, I'm saying we need to stop using size as a justification for why a goalie might succeed with patients. The Sabres could have drafted Dustin Wolf in the 7th and he's better than UPL. He's smaller though but he has other tools that make him better. What other tool besides being 6'4" is UPL bringing to the table? Glove hand is slow. He's not great on his edges but he's average. His rebound control is bad. His puck tracking is meh. Recovery is slow. I'm honestly asking, what does UPL bring in his tool box outside of size?

We gotta stop assuming just because a goalie has size they'll develop into anything. I think UPL has a low ceiling and a low floor. I'm over the idea of wasting Savoie on the bench until he can play 5 games and Rochester and then go to the wjc, a team he didn't make last year. If he doesn't make it, send him back to the whl in October.

I'm really curious on what JJP is this year. Should be far better and be able to help Cozens more.

I wonder when the Sabres will have the roster for release.

Novikov's coming out party is going to be fun. We haven't even seen him unleashed yet. Should be really interesting to see his offensive game grow now that he'll be in Rochester.

That... that doesn't make any sense. Why would Buffalo get the much worse?

Quick note, olofsson only missed 7 games last year. Not 20.

Idk what this means

JohnC I hope you know I'm not saying you're wrong. I think you are but you are right in that we don't know yet.

I gotta say, this is getting old fast. You say the exact same thing about everyone someone questions "I'll wait until camp..." Yea... we all have to wait until camp but this is a message board so we debate stuff before that. Maybe Olofsson will have a sudden epiphany that you have to be stronger and faster in the NHL. Certainly possible but this will be his last year in Buffalo. The talent coming is going to eclipse him. Ftr, I really like VO. I remember when he emerged after the Possler injury and just never went away. I think he's been a solid player and my take isn't a reflection on him as much as on how the team itself has grown around him. Or imo the team has outgrown him.