mjd1001

Again, as with our conversation a couple of weeks ago, my response was not 'targeted' at you. It was meant to just join in the conversation, to let anyone interested in this conversation know just how far he has fallen from expectations (I know a couple of semi-casual baseball fans that remember 2021 and still are thinking he is producing at a top 10 player level). When I listen to 590 out of Toronto, there are still some callers, and even some 'hosts' who are waiting for him to return to 2021 form any day now and think that will turn the whole team around. I don't follow baseball that much anymore, but I went to my first Jays game in exhibition stadium as a kid, and have followed them since, so I have a soft spot for the Jays...and I myself fell into the 'trap' (if that is what it is/was) that he would be a mvp level player year after year after year. I just responded to your post as it was a way to 'join in' the conversation with some continuity to the topic, not to dispute anything you said. A lot of my posts are not to drive home a point...but rather I see a topic, I think to myself "he has dropped off in production, I wonder if its as bad as I think", then I do the research myself and If I find the results interesting, I simply post them to see if anyone else finds them as interesting as I do. (just as I do often when looking up stats about a Sabres player and posting them. Often its not to 'convince' someone else of something or to prove my point..but often to just put something out there in a statistical way that others may not have realized, just as I didn't realize until I did the research.)

In 2021, Vlad Guerrero Jr. was 22 years old, hit .311, 48 home runs, 123 runs, 111 rbi's, .400+ on base, .600+ slugging. Most thought he was only going to get better. Since then his average went from .311 to .274, then .264, and so far .228 this year. His slugging .601 to .480, then .461 and now .351 this year. He is 'on pace' for 16 home runs, 59 rbi's this year. The Jays have made the playoffs 3 times with him, not losing every single time (6 total losses) without a single win. Vlad Jr. is 3 for 21 in those playoff games (batting .136) with no home runs, 1 total RBI. The team is not perfect. But Vlad Guerrero, his production dropping every year since 2021 and falling off a cliff this year is a large part of where they are vs where they EXPECTED to be.

Up until now, the Bruins are playing like a typical Sabres team/game.

Maybe, but I still don't see it. At least if you do get rid of Adams, he will be replaced with someone who is just like him, why? Pegula. Pegula wants a 'yes man'. He wants someone that will let Terry be involved. Make Terry feel like he is being heard and has influence on the roster (he very well may have a LOT of influence). He wants someone to shield him from tough questions from the fans and media. He wants someone to take the blame. Pegula will convince himself he can eventually make it work with Adams (or a 'clone' of him) rather than bringing in a guy that won't do all of the above for him.

Including Leaf and Canadian games? You might be able to make up a really REALLY good chunk of what you pay by selling a select few games where the tickets are in demand by away fans. Add to that the chance, (yes, the CHANCE) the team is actually better, and this could be a good 'investment'.

My opinion of the Leafs for the last 2-3 years is that they don't want to be pushed to play hard. They WILL play hard when THEY (the players) want to play hard. When they can easily play at 75% and 'out talent' a team, they seem to like that game. But when there is a team that makes things hard on them (that can even be a 'worse' team but one with a lot of young/raw talent that just forces the Leafs to skate to keep up), well, the 'core 4' up there doesn't like that. Its just a feeling, but I think the Leaf's core wants to play their game, when they what, how they want, and if things don't go well they would rather wallow in their own misery than push themselves out of their comfort zone as players.

Its about expectations. 2 ways to have a 'good' season as a fan: 1.) you win the cup. 2.) you exceed expectations. In Buffalo, its possible to do the 2nd one without doing the first one. Some/many people will enjoy that type of a season. In Toronto right now, expectations ARE to win a cup, and they have realistically been that for a few years. EVERY season that you don't win the cup is basically a 100% failure and not enjoyable. And they haven't really been close to that.

One more year for Krebs sure, but not if you are relying on him to be the 3C without a legit back up plan. You can sign him, have him show up to camp and EARN a spot on the team, but he can't be penciled in to the lineup in any way. Bryam...not enough of a sample size on this team for me to say for sure how good I think he is. But I don't think he was better than Power since the trade happened. Power I thought was vastly over-rated on this board last year, and he struggled the first half of this season. However, I think Power played very VERY well the last month or two. I'm not so sure I'd say Byram is better, or even matched Power's play toward the end of the year.

Ok, I ran some numbers, 'back of the napkin calculations' so to speak, on how Lindy Coached teams have done in each period. For his coaching CAREER (1165 games as head coach), his teams goal differential by period is: 1st: +59 (+4.15 per 82 games) 2nd: +51 (+3.59 per 82 games) 3rd: +69 (+4.85 per 82 games) And those are totals, again, over 1165 games. I think it would be harder to find stats that close over that many games. Basically, his teams, at least in terms of goal differential, are pretty much the same each period. For comparison, the Sabres this past season over 82 games were: 1st: -30 2nd: +7 3rd: +25

Good. I like Lindy. Hes a coach with a lot of experience, ties to Buffalo, he's had a good year coaching a team recently. Fine. In the end, he's not a bad coach, and that is all I care about. Ultimately, once we get a game or two into the season, I watch the team play not the coach behind the bench.

He may be, or maybe not, but I didn't get that at all from his press conference.

I'm kinda waiting for a question about team toughness, nothing yet.

As far as Mike Weber as an assistant, he is a dark horse candidate for the head coaching job in Ottawa apparently. Late last week I was listening to 590 out of Toronto, they spent a few minutes talking about the Ottawa job and his name was brought up (not as the favorite but they did bring it up). I like the hiring, I like Ruff and want him to do well. But at the same time, I think what you said has more truth to it than most want to admit.

I'm good with this, his success may very well come down to assistants.

I'd be ok with another "EJ" guy under 2 conditions: -He be at least SLIGHTLY better than EJ was. Doesn't have to be great or even very good. Just a guy with experience that doesn't kill you out there, a guy who works hard on the ice, works hard in practice. Defends his teammates, etc. -He is penciled in as the #7 guy, getting a game every once in a while and when injuries happen. Not thinking he is a 2nd or 3rd pair guy. Even Bryson and Clifton played much better once the forwards starting supporting them in their own zone. I want an experience guy back there, but one that you have to promise ice time to in order to sign him.

one of the reasons I am not THAT upset at the Sabres not making the playoff is....sure I WANT them there, but I just love playoff hockey. Especially the first 2 rounds. Yeah, the Sabres need to be there, but when they aren't, I still love watching it.

I'm not worried about Byrum. You can see the talent there. He's a good skater, fast, carries the puck well. Has a decent shot for a Defenseman. I think the biggest thing is what he said, he was 'the new guy', he needs to find his role on the team and be confident in it. Interesting to me on both sides of the trade....contract. Byram. He is signed just for next year. Do you try to extend him? If so, for how much how long? Mitts. He's an RFA for Colorado this summer. His production, and ice time, went down with Colorado. He finished the regular season (combined) with 18 goals and 39 assists. I'm interested to see what happens to both sides of this trade in the offseason.

If you want to say within 6 feet of the crease and right in front, they yeah, 44 of his goals from there....

Not sure if this was posted yet....pertains to the conversation and what you just said above...

Sam Reinhart 2nd in the league in goals with 57. Zack Hyman 3rd in the league in goals with 54. I have to think those are 2 things no-one going into the season was thinking.

So what is the benefit of someing BUYING 25% share of the Bills? I'm guessing if there is a sale of team anytime in the future, they are in best position to buy it?

I think Levi is ready for a role with UPL in Buffalo. He had his taste of the NHL AND a heavy workload in Rochester that he has responded well to.

Possibly. But the other side of it is, if he has another season of playing only half a season (or less) what will his value be? And who is going to want a guy signed to a long term deal that every single year can't play half the season. The same reason Buffalo might want to get rid of him would be the same reason another team won't want that long term deal on a guy who is injured just about EVERY year. Maybe if the Sabres retained some salary, but if you are retaining salary, you might as well just keep him here as a guy with potential you HOPE gets healthier.

He is getting older. He COULD get 35 next year, but I think we are starting to see his decline in production. However, I am with you that I don't see a reason to just jettison him, I think he has value. First, he is not an asset defensively, He doesn't like to go to the boards in the Dzone and win battles, and sometimes he won't even think of going into the D-zone deep. But he's also not a liability as much as many others on this team. Rarely do I see him make a costly turnover in his own zone or be out of position leaving his side of the ice totally open. He is not an asset for sure, but he doesn't cost you goals with obvious mistakes. Next, he does one thing better than anyone else on this team, a thing this team sorely needs. He goes to the front of the net, right in front. No one on this team has more shots from the 'high danger' spots in front of the goalie as Skinner over the past couple seasons. Not Thompson. Not Tuch, Not Cozens. Not Peterka. I think Skinner has one more year left of being an asset to this team. Talk to me at the end of next season. But if/when he is gone, you need a new coach to force the other guys to go to the front of the net more, or you need to bring in a skilled forward to do that.

I remember this last year. I looked at the first round matchups, I picked the 8 teams I thought would win, I was very confident in those picks, and then it turned out I was WAY off. This years round one looks a light tighter/closer to me, and to be honest, the most fun/interesting first round I can remember. I'm really looking forward to watching the next 2 weeks of hockey more than almost anytime I can remember in recent history.