JoeSchmoe

Some players have been logging huge PP minutes despite very dismal results. Cozens, Power, Benson, Byram, Kulich, Krebs, and to a lessor extent Tuch are basically unserviceable as PP players. I know this will be unpopular, but losing Skinner really hurts us here. Him and Zucker have the knack for dirty PP goals... It'd be nice to have one of them on PP1 and PP2. I know Skinner has sucked in Edmonton, but if you put him with players that can get the puck to the net, he's going to produce. Hopefully Quinn will continue to develop into the role.

In all likelihood you'll have to package him. FWIW- McLeod hasn't been a complete write-off. He's above 0.5ppg. I think that's serviceable 3rd liner type production considering he's had 2 minutes total PP time.

I think there are two separate camps talking. For me, I see an undersized 22 year old that's behind Quinn and Peterka AHL level production when they were younger. If we did have a roster spot for a guy like him, he's not going to be good enough to help us make the playoffs for at least 2 or 3 more years. Trade him for a vet that can help us now.

Trade him (or package him) while he's hot for an established veteran. A slightly younger Zucker type player would have helped this team a lot this year.

Was reading an article today that Niagara Falls, NY wants an OHL team. This, in addition to two USHL wanting out of the league to join the OHL. As predicted, the new NCAA ruling seems to be the death knell for the lower tier leagues. https://www.sportsnet.ca/ohl/article/report-niagara-falls-n-y-wants-ohl-team-but-must-resolve-land-dispute/ https://www.sportsnet.ca/ohl/article/report-ushl-teams-hire-anti-trust-lawyer-in-battle-to-join-ohl/

Yep

I'm watching the Calgary feed. In the lead up to this game someone was saying how good the Calgary arena lighting is. It's really a pleasure to watch. Polar opposite of Seattle which is my least favourite. Must be an eco thing.

I hate the fact Samuelson dumped it in to give Calgary possession when he had way better options.

The Sabres need to vastly simplify the PP zone entry. I can't stand watching back pass after back pass only to see them lose it as they step across the line. It's such a time waste and never works.

What am I missing on NAK vs Lafferty? They're on opposite sides of the expected goal chart. In limited time my eye test shows NAK to be pretty good for a 4th liner while my extended view on Lafferty is he's the worst forward on the team. Why can't NAK get a regular spot in the lineup?

I would say Corsi is not a very reflective measure of Thompson's value he's got one of the deadliest shots in the league. I kind of hear what you're saying overall though, but the problem is it would be almost impossible to improve on Thompson without losing a trade. Teams don't give up those players. Our only hope is to stumble on a player like him in the draft.

He used to make Skinner better. I would say Tuch too.

Next time ask for PCP.

I don't have the taste for whiskey (or any hard liquor for that matter) as no matter how smooth someone says it is, it's still concentrated ethanol. That said, I can see how someone might acquire a taste for it, as I have with beer (IPAs, stouts) or anchovies (I love anchovy stuffed hot cherry peppers). That being said, I truly believe that people who buy very expensive whiskeys (or wines for that matter) only do for the brag that goes along with it. I coached hockey with a couple of guys who were reasonably well off and would always be one upping each other with their Scotch purchases. I swear, no one would spend more than $100 on a bottle of alcohol if they were NEVER allowed to tell someone they bought it. Rant over.

If his guys stink in front of him he'll have a lot of expected goals and that will be reflected in the stats. Logan Thompson has saved 23.8 goals above expected. So when his D let's him down, he bailed the caps out almost 24 times (not exactly how the stat works but for illustrative purposes we can say this). UPL has let in all those goals, plus let in another one he should have had since he's a -1.1. Right now UPL is 22 out of 28 in this stat (per 60min) for any goalie that's played 25 games or more. He's not the only problem, but as the thread title says... He's part of it.

This analogy doesn't work. If we had a Home Depot with unlimited supplies (aka players), then it would. Unfortunately though, there is no Home Depot of players. There's very few building supplies available in the NHL... Especially in Buffalo. We learned this the hard way by tanking as hard as we did. So you gotta work with what you have, build on the existing foundation and hope for the best.

He was the single worst "regular roster spot" Sabre of this playoff drought. Sure, we've had worse contracts... Much worse. But minute for minute he's hurt us more than any player.

Thankfully most of the leagues around here are the types where it's mutually accepted that we all need to go to work the next day. I do recall a friend saying the league he played in at the old Hamilton "Double-Dumps" was basically what you described though.

Note to self- Do not sign up for LTS' beer league.

Play not to lose. The best recipe for losing there is.

As per the initial stat... He's near the bottom of goals saved above expected. A legit starting goalie in the league has to stop more goals than are expected to go in. UPL hasn't done that this year.

I like Levi being called up to challenge UPL. Sucks about McLeod though who seemed to be figuring something out.

The expected save stat supposedly accounts for the lack of support. You're right that he starts out good then falters later in the games. Maybe he's tired, something the stat doesn't track... But we're 17th out of 32 in shots against. Not great, but not bottom of the league either. Presumably, he shouldn't be any more tired than any other goalie in the league. Edit- I didn't realize I was looking at 5 on 5 shots against. All situations, we're 24 out of 32 in the league for shots against. Maybe he is getting tired. Is it time for us to introduce to the league the "relief goaltender".

Among goalies that have played at least 25 games... Presumably all starting goalies, UPL is 19th out of 25 in goals saved above expected per 60. The team however is 15th in the league in goals for. I feel like he's played better when he's had a legit backup pushing him. This season is lost, but I feel like it needs to be made known that the net is anybody's next year.