Georgia Blizzard

Great coaches can do both, get players to focus on common goal AND use analytics to help them get there. The two are not mutually exclusive. I think that's the point most of us are making. It's like a race car driver having a faster car than his competitors. The faster car doesn't make a bad racer a good racer and doesn't win the race on it's own, but, it gives the driver of that car an edge or a leg up on his competition.

The fear of analytics some of you have is puzzling. Coaches and teams have been using analytics for decades, just in a different form. That's what manually studying film, using stop watches etc. was back in the day it was the analytics. The difference today, is the ability to factor in many many more variables and to do this EASILY because of technology. Properly used, modern day analytics mitigates paralysis, it actually creates clarity and allows for action and more importantly, correction. You can't think of it as mountains of data, it might start out that way, but AI, computing horsepower and the right analytics turns it into actionable information. Coaches that use these tools have a superior advantage over coaches that don't. Having said that, it won't turn a bad coach into a good coach, but, if you have two good coaches, it will make the one that uses it great.

Need to assign Mittelstadt, too

This is the problem !!!

Let's wait and see what happens in April.

My audio on Center Ice for games has been bad for a couple years. The ice level mike is turned up too high and the announcer mike too low. Frustrating. I never did the WGR app because of the delay, although I guess I could sync it up by delaying the tv ?

I think you are assuming other teams will over value a late 1st round pick and would give up a decent player for them, in general, they won't. Every team knows their value. The only time that gets distorted is when (a) a team is rebuilding and willing to shed current assets for future ones or (b) a team is on the cusp of winning and is willing to shed future assets for current ones. Exception to rule: Peter Chiarelli and GMTM :-)

Sabres won't make the playoffs without a 2nd scoring line. Worth the risk to try and move Reinhart around to create one

He has a 15-team no trade clause, so, for him to go anywhere anyway, he'll need to be cooperative

Cap issues are manageable assuming Sabres get more primary scoring from Mittelstadt, Thompson and some other forward not named Skinner, Eichel or Reinhart. Couple that with continued development of the defense, I could see a "stand pat" and retain our core working longer term. The issue happens if JBot has to go after scoring to supplement our Big 3. I don't see a realistic scenario to get out from KO's contract. The lowest payroll team this year is $4M above floor, no team is going to take on KO contract for that purpose. I'm against trading assets to pay for a GMTM mistake.

I think the issue is rather simple, Mittelstadt isn't a 2nd line center, yet. If he was, the picture looks MUCH different

Mitts or a productive 2nd line, to me, it is one in the same is only thing preventing this team from being a lock for playoffs. 1st line, D, Goaltending, PK, PP and checking line are all where they need to be. Mitts has to step it up

Great summary Mittelstadt's (lack) of development and McCabe's injury are the two biggest issues because we don't have a fix for either of those on roster or in Rochester Has anyone seen any progression from Mittelstadt during the course of the year -- I've seen it with Tage, Dahlin ? Would it make sense to send him to Roch for 5-10 games ? How long is McCabe out ?

They need to continue to enforce as safety allows smaller goalie equipment. Longer term, I'd love to see them expand the ice size to the international dimensions, too.

I wasn't sure if I was the only one who noticed but all his goal calls were understated and late. I mentioned to my son a couple times that I wasn't even sure that Sabres scored because of how late and low key the calls were

Harrington has an inferiority complex

Agree He took a decided turn to a more aggressive self-promotion as well as creating more articles on his Twitter about the same time The Athletic was poaching talent It's survival for TBN at this point the way local papers are going My fault with virtually all Buffalo sports journalists, they too often "mail it in" and don't put forward the effort to do pieces like Harrington did on Mitts and his family -- or investigative pieces that Tim Graham has done in past --- in today's world of social media, we don't need a regurgitation of stats, scores or quotes as much as we need insight and informed opinions

Amazing people are complaining about Sabres INVESTING in SCOUTING Who cares what country, just find talent

I'd keep the picks, as one of you pointed out, the time to NHL for first rounders is shorter and we'd see fruit from that investment in 2-3 years max. I also think later 1st round picks are still under valued by GM's and you can always trade them a year later as part of package once this team hopefully becomes a contender for a more proven player, assuming we need upgrade a specific position.

Thanks for the info !!

Speaking of out of date jersies My son has a Moulson 26 that he bought the day Moulson signed back with Sabres a few July 1's ago -- (got it while it was still 50% off) -- any ideas on where to get it restitched to a Dahlin 26 ? We'll be in Buffalo visiting family in August Thanks

Don't underestimate Housley's influence on Eichel and Reinhart over the course of the year

Agree J Bot is not done, disagree that Reinhart or Risto are being moved -- J Bot has consistently talked both up and includes them in "his core" -- if you've listened over past several months, he rarely put ROR or Okposo in those comments --- I think he's stuck with Okposo and team has to hope he turns it around or gets LTIR for cap sake Glad several posters realize what a mess GMTM made of this roster / franchise --- set the rebuild back at least 3 years, maybe more Amazing that Reiger and the tank emptied the cupboard and GMTM took all the draft currency and squandered it like a drunken sailor I think J bot has done admirable job and replenishing and righting the ship --- not sure about coach decision, but that's what year 2 will determine

People use to call Jim Kelly party boy, how did that turn out ?

I'll address your points one by one: 1- I'll give you Baloon 2- I like Tage, I think he is a legit prospect and goal scorer -- I'll give you Reagan, but that trade more about dumping an expiring contract and getting a 1st for player we couldn't resign (i.e. no way were we giving Kane 7x7) 3- Samuelsson is a complement to puck moving defense and will be a nasty, big body -- need a balanced roster -- loved this pick 4- see #3, after that, who knows 5- The 1st, the 2nd and Tage were the pieces, the others are throw ins --- Berg and Svot will help bottom 6 6- I'll take Pommer over Ennis any day, seems like Minny would as well -- since they just bought out Ennis --- as for rest of that deal, Scandella > Foligno 7- You are forgetting Mittlestadt -- What about UPL ? Hickey (getting rid of Fasching), Oglevie and Pilut ? Resigning Borgen and Nelson ? Commitment to Rochester ? Signing Asplund, Olofsson, A lot of these moves are singles, not HR's, but they are important as a series of steps and not a grand slam, like picking Dahlin