mjd1001

I'm going to post one I am guessing is not popular at all, it is new to netflix called "Younger". It kinda as a sex-and-the-city vibe to it (I do NOT like Sex and the city), but its a bit toned down and less crude. Anway, at times she'll watch shows with me that she has no interest in (Strang New Worlds, for example) that she ends up liking. This is my turn to watch one of 'her' shows and surprisingly, Its interesting to me.

No exaggeration or hyperbole, it is probably the thing that pushed me over the edge to not listening to Buffalo Talk radio as much. Fantasy football, ads for gambling sites over and over during commercial breaks....and worst thing is them reading promo ads for gambling site DURING the actual programming, its too much. It started with the afternoon show. Mike Schopp talking about his own fantasy football team over and over a few years ago..to me its not sports and its not why I tune into WGR. I haven't listened to that afternoon show in years on WGR (I tune into 590 out of Canada) and I still listen on occasion to the WGR morning show, but not as much as I used to.

Commercials on TV that are aired way too much. There are some good commericals, some annoying ones. I can deal with the annoying ones. But then they are aired over, and over and over, I begin to resent the commercial and the company that airs them. The Norwegian Cruise line commerical with the actor from Modern Family, the State farm commercials with Mahomes and Reid....I have seen them so much I never want anything to do with either of those companies again.

Yeah, slightly more good than bad but.... Thompson good. With the higher cap this will look like a very good deal. Cozens Bad. Dahlin...decent, but probably on the good side of things as the deal goes on. I'd shade toward the good side of things. Power, TBD but not looking good now, but it was likely it was not going to look good in the first year or two. Samuelsson bad. But its such a low cost deal in the grand scheme, I can't fault a GM for taking a chance if it was only going to cost this and the thought they had something good. So yeah, as a whole with those deals he is on the bad side of things, but I don't think its so bad that every one is a disaster.

I don't get those numbers. When I look at this year, I get Power and Dahlin together at XGF of 51.5 Last year they were 56.76 The year before they were 60.0 (in limited minutes) When I look at XGF% of Dahlin with Bryam I get 52.10% for last year and this year, not that much different than Power and Dahlin. But more importantly to me than XGF% is actual GF%, not expected (takes into account shooting percentage and is not what could happen, but what actually does happen, my preference). Byram and Dahlin the last 2 seasons are 58.46. Power and Dahlin over the last 2 seasons are 50.0. Now that is a measurable improvement of Bryam over Power when playing with Dahlin to me. Basically over the last 2 years, I found Bryam-Dahlin with a slightly better XGF% and a much better GF% than the Power-Dahlin pair. https://www.naturalstattrick.com/linestats.php?fromseason=20232024&thruseason=20242025&stype=2&sit=ev&score=all&rate=n&team=BUF&vteam=ALL&view=wowy&loc=B&gpfilt=none&fd=2023-10-10&td=2025-04-17&tgp=2000&strict=incl&p1=8482671&p2=8480839&p3=0&p4=0&p5=0 https://www.naturalstattrick.com/linestats.php?fromseason=20232024&thruseason=20242025&stype=2&sit=ev&score=all&rate=n&team=BUF&vteam=ALL&view=wowy&loc=B&gpfilt=none&fd=2023-10-10&td=2025-04-17&tgp=2000&strict=incl&p1=8481524&p2=8480839&p3=0&p4=0&p5=0

I actually think some of his moves have been pretty good. The Mitts for Bryam deal, at the moment, looks pretty good. The issue with Adams is not the moves that he makes, is the moves that he DOESN'T make. A lot of people on this forum say hes so bad they don't want him making any moves. I totally disagree. Make moves, please make them. If he's bad as a GM, its because he doesn't do enough.

Coldest city to live in (its going to be -20 this week and that isn't all that rare for winters), long flights wherever you need to go. Lack of a major city within hundreds of miles. Winnipeg just has a combination of other factors that no other city has. Winning can't overcome all of those things, and they win the regular season so they are better than Buffalo there, but they don't exactly have a stellar record of contending to cups, with early playoff exits most of the time.

I'm going to do my best to be quiet on Cozens for a little while. Honestly, he hasn't been that much of a liability the last few games, at least for a bit he has cut down on his egregious mistakes.

Well, stats can't take everything into consideration, but the interesting thing....as far as goals allowed his numbers were similar last year: 2023-2024: Sabres goals allowed even strength as a team: 1 goal every 22.39 minutes Jokiharju goals allowed even strength: 1 goal every 26.86 minutes. So yeah, whether it is who he is out there with, where he starts his shifts, or just him playing smarter than we think...the team simply allows less goals per minute, a LOT less goals per minute, when Jokiharju is out there compared to anyone else, both this year and last year. Just because Cozens is my favorite whipping boy, I looked at the numbers (total goals for and allowed) over the last 2 years with him and Jokiharju on the ice at the same time vs not... Cozens with Jokiharju: +7 goals Cozens without Jokiharju: -14 goals Jokiharju without Cozens: +10 I mean...the numbers are the numbers.

I personally think how the forwards play/backcheck/help out the 2 guys on defense is just as much of an issue as the defensemen themselves. Now I'm not saying the D-men are perfect, yeah, they could use a good vet back there, but... I haven't said this in a while but I'll do it now...when I look at goals allowed, it seems the D-men often look worse than they should..because they are in a bad situation where they have to decide whether to cover 'their guy' or stay in 'their position' or to move away to cover for a forward who is leaving guys wide open. Often times, they have to play things 1/2 way....and a quick watch of the replay makes the D-man look bad when the breakdown started with the Sabres forwards awful coverage.

This is why these rumor are usually a bunch of B.S. 3 times in the past 1-2 months on 590, their 'insiders' brought up Cozens and the Maple leafs and every single time I heard the Leafs had ZERO interest in him at all. So, its either Weekes or the 'insiders' on 590 out of Toronto, but someone is either outright lying or just throwing **** against the wall. Could be both.

Ok, I know there is alot more than the raw numbers here (game situation, who is on the ice with you, usage etc.) but some numbers on goals allowed when on ice: -The Sabres as a team this year allow 1 goal for every 19.2 minutes played even strength. The guys on defense ranked, from 'best' to 'worst' of how often goals are scored against when they are on the ice: -Jokiharju, one goal every 28.28 minutes -Connor Clifton, one goal every 23.28 minutes -Bowen Byrum, one goal every 21.59 minutes -Rasmus Dahlin, one goal every 20.44 minutes -Bryson, one goal every 20.00 minutes -Samuelsson, one goal every 18.89 minutes -Ryan Johnson, one goal every 17.66 minutes -Owen Power, one goal every 16.21 minutes -Denis Gilbert, one goal every 13.38 minutes

I don't know myself, Its interesting, but I'd have to see one in person and it would depend on how good it is and what the cost is. Buffalo/WNY is probably pretty far down the list of getting one. Can you imagine if the Sabres were really good, having sellout games and one of these right near the Arena? (I suppose they could put one near the new Bills stadium. Sold out game? Tailgate with everyone and then watch the game at one of these attached to the stadium.)

Not who is better long term, not who do you like better.... Simply this year's current team...which staff would have them higher in the standings? Ruff and the current staff? Granato and last year's staff (if they were still here with the exact same roster that Ruff has now)? Not sure if this will go anywhere but i'm curious. I know a lot of people will say "no difference" or "it doesn't matter" or "about the same"...but if you had to pick one, which would you rather have?

Everyone is different. Yes, there are some guys that want year round warm weather, clubs, a nice downtown skyline to look at. But...thati s not for everyone. If you put together a strong winning franchise, that will supercede most of the above for many players. And then there are guys that just don't like the above. In my early 20's I left WNY, moved and lived in Boston and for years in Florida. We are back in WNY and when my relatives talk about living in Florida as a 'paradise', I'm like WTH are you talking about, its awful. Everyone is different. Some love those things, and thats fine. But don't make the mistake of thinking everyone does, its not true....maybe more guys, espeically the younger ones want Vegas, Miami, New York.....but not everyone. But if you put together a winning team, most of those worries will fade.

I think he is GOOD on the PK most of the time. He has the height and reach to be able to disrupt things a bit without getting too out of position. So, if he can be your #1 or #2 D-man on the PK, and give you 12 minutes of ice time on the 3rd pair, I don't think that is the worst thing. His contract in a year or two will actually not be bad compared to the cap. The issue, as you say, is durability. You can have a defined, useful role on the team, but if you can't play 25%+ of the games each year, then you become a liability just for that.

On the other hand, Eliott Friedman said shortly after he was signed that he talked to another current GM in the league and they said something like "In a few years, that Buffalo Defense is going to be scary for other teams to play against with Dahlin, Power, and Samuelsson"

Mitts seemed like a laid-back kinda guy, personality wise. It might not mesh well with McKinnon. Lots of stories over the years about McKinnon being so intense and direct with some teammates, that it can cause certain guys to shut down. He doesn't let up, and he rips into teammates at practice even, and some guys just don't like that. https://coloradohockeynow.com/2021/08/03/former-avalanche-reveals-intense-details-about-what-its-like-being-teammates-with-nathan-mackinnon/ Zadorov said in a recent interview with a Russian publication. “He can be a jerk to his teammates. You need to accept that and it would improve you as a hockey player as a result. “If you miss a pass in practice, he would skate over and literally scream at you,” he told the Russian reporter. “If the puck ends up in his skates—not even his skates—if it misses his stick by a tiny bit, like 15 centimeters in front of the blade of his stick, he doesn’t move his stick to catch the puck. He stops everything, turns around and slaps the puck back at you. He is not going to try and catch any puck he doesn’t like during practice—just to show you that you made a ***** pass.” Two years ago, MacKinnon apparently got rid of all soda and desserts from the dressing room, and kiboshed “white sauce” and replaced regular pasta with chickpea pasta, because it’s higher in protein. “He says, ‘Guys, if you want to eat that crap, you have the offseason for that. “If you can’t accept it, well, you’re off the team.” That might work for some guys, but I can see others, maybe some pretty good players, not wanting to be part of that. I get the sense that Mitts may not function well in that environment long term...just a guess.

That is a tough one I probably agree with you, but Mitts is not playing well at all there, production or defensively, he's not fitting in. I think Cozens at wing is better than Mitts at center, which is better than Cozens at center. So long term, my thinking is comparing them, the best player is Cozens playing wing. But as we have gone over and over that isn't happening. Fantasy world here, but if the trade were on the table I'd make it. We do know Mitts was fitting in fairly well at Center on this team in the past, and his contract is less than Cozens, so that would sway me to making the deal. Both players though, not good this year.

I agree. Its not a good contract right now, but its not something that is preventing you from making other moves. You keep the contract, and if you can't trade him you keep the player. You have an overplay for basically a 3rd pair D-man or even a 7th D-man if it doesn't work out that well.

That one I don't know...hopefully someone else will be able to answer that. Most of the analytics I even look at are more about positioning, shots, locations, etc.

I'll admit I do not like analytics all that much. There is value to it, but to me it just takes a truth you already know (or should know) and breaks it down to smaller parts. Personally, i'm good with basic stats like Plus-minus, goals, assists, add to that the eye test and use a little common sense and you are 75% of the way there. The analytics, I DO like the goals for and goals against. To me its kinda like taking the expected goals for and against that a lot of people like, but not disregarding shooting percentage. I'll say something that I have said before and I KNOW that poeple will disagree with me. It has to be coming from above, Adams or Pegula (I personally think more Pegula, but it could be either) that is overriding the analytics. Its something like this...Analytics dept: "Look Cozens is causing more harm than good. His goals against are bad. In every aspect we can measure his game, the team is better with him off the ice than with him on"....then....Pegula and/or Adams: "Great, I dont' care thoughI like Cozens so keep on playing him, I make the decisions/pay the bills". There are two things that, in the limited view of the deeper analytics I have seen for sure: Almost EVERYONE has better numbers when Dahlin is on the ice with them....and almost EVERYONE has worse numbers when Cozens is on the ice with them.

Oh, I have been pleasantly surprised with Krebs play this year. He's not a top 6 guy, but I honestly think all year long he has performed better then Cozens when taking everything into consideration. Last year, there were 2 players I thought were awful and wanted gone. Krebs and Cozens. I probably actually complained about Krebs more than Cozens last year. I thought both of them brought little positive to the team, and when they were on the ice the negatives made the team worse. I did not want Krebs re-signed, and if he was brought back I said as long as it's only for 1 year at the minimum contract AND he would likely spend time in Rochester. I thought I saw enough of Krebs and didn't see any signs of him getting better. Well, I was wrong on him. I agree he's not going to be a guy that gets you 60 points and anchors your 2nd line for years to come. But I think he has found a role on this team and has more good games than bad ones. And as far as the 99 problems...well, yeah, they aren't perfect. But I think there are only 3-4 problems keeping this team out of the playoffs this year: 1.) Cozens and Quinn's play (the single biggest problem), 2.)UPL having a bad start to the year, and 3.) the lack of a well-balanced veteran D-man for 2nd pair minutes. As of this moment, if those above 3 things did not exist this year (or were 'fixed'), I think the play of the rest of the team is good enough to have them in a playoff spot right now, and with a somewhat weaker division, maybe even some fans eyeing more than just a 'wildcard' spot.

I THINK they have $58m+ already committed for next year. But that is with 11 or 12 guys not signed on the current roster, so they would need to fill those positions. Zucker, Greenway, McLeod, Peterka, Quinn, Kozak (if they are going to bring him back), Byrum, Jokiharju, Gilbert, Bryson. If they bring back all those forwards and just Byrum on D, that may cost them $30m+ right there. And then you would still need to fill 3 more defensive spots and a goalie (do you re-sign Reimer again or is it Levi?)

I showed Cozens for 2 reasons: He is accepted by some as, without Tage, the defacto 'best' center on the team (or should be based on his salary and the "A") 2nd, I could swear watching the game that all of Krebs ice time was not at center. He was out there for a few shifts (at least) with McLeod and Krebs to me was obviously playing wing based on both of their positioning on the ice.