PerreaultForever

Ellis will not clear.

I think Lyon is Lyon and we know what he is. He's a career back up and he can give you some good games but he's nothing special and there's no ceiling. He can also be bad and that's why Detroit ditched him. UPL is UPL but he is the guy they paid to be the guy and Ellis is a little unknown with a possible ceiling still to come. I think they have to roll the dice and go with the younger guys who might be better than they have been, so UPL and Ellis. Then next year they compete with Levi and you just roll with the best 2. If they are convinced Levi will be their guy then they clear the competition by removing Ellis and they might do that but I wouldn't.

It's simple but we don't have a real GM so it's not. You move 2 for 1 in a trade (even 3 for 1) to upgrade your starting roster. Failing that you move a non essential player for picks/prospects who go to Rochester. Problem solved. Obviously one of those moved should be a goalie. Kulich returns he could be sent down for conditioning. I'm not waiving Kozak. I'd trade Krebs before I did that. You can probably waive Dunne but it's risky. If you could trade Greenway I would. Another option, of course, is trading Tuch if you can't get to a number you like and his leaving at the end of the year seems likely. Not a preferred option, but losing him for nothing isn't preferred either.

Agreed. Stats can show you some things you might miss following the puck and you don't always account for every player (especially as the camera follows the puck) but if you know the game the eye test will always tell you most everything you need to know and certainly everything important. Stats are a tool but they are just stats.

We aren't ever going to agree on stats world and watching hockey in real life world so why do you even want to go there? Just accept me as an old former hockey player who is trapped in old school ideas and I will accept you as a video game raised younger person who has never played the game and thus doesn't fully understand it and we will each go on our way not agreeing with anything the other says. It's much simpler.

Minnesota loss? I think I watched a different game 😉 Yup, speed and pace, that's their forte. They have to not get sloppy or carried away doing it though absolutely. Maintain structure. What veteran leaders we have have to keep them in check if and when they swerve away from that. I hope there's enough of that now but I don't think there actually is.

Everything is interconnected though right? We scored a lot of goals one year there for Granato. Weren't we like 3rd or something? Anyway, they were a bad team. They can score in bunches but generally when they have done that it's wide open hockey with bad D. You have them playing D first the goal scoring goes down. That's pretty normal aside from the very very elite who can do both (and then win the cup). Would you not agree that for the first time in a long time the roster has the shape of a typical successful team? It is more balanced than it has been with more clearly defined roles. Far from perfect yet and I still think too many puck movers on D and not enough defenders but it's looking more and more like a real hockey team. The thing that bugs me though is Adams is just content to let this evolve and take as long as it takes. The wealth of young forwards and extra bodies has me thinking armchair GM you can make a 2 for 1 move(s) to make this team even better and make it a real run for the playoffs. If he sits pat I see the real likelihood of another wasted opportunity.

Well I've seen Winnipeg play this year and this version was slow and not really up to their usual standard. I do think they came in not ready to play. I'm not taking anything away from the Sabres though let's be clear. They were fast and they chased the puck in numbers. That is the core essence of what they have built and how they have to play. If they continue that and slowly add more physicality they eventually could be quite good. Lastingly good even, but I'm not shifting from cautious optimism just yet.

Oh ya I have no issue with the hit. The Dahlin hit earlier was pretty dirty but I have no issue with it either. I was actually surprised Winnipeg didn't go after him. The team stepping up is very good. I'm not sure they will be able to handle it if somebody calls them on the bluff though. At this point I'm not sure most of them can actually answer the bell if the bell actually rings. We shall see.

Hmmm........... Well it's obvious the Jets did not come prepared to compete. I'm not sure they took the Sabres too lightly or were just too slow (maybe both) but they did get embarrassed. On the other side, that is how the Sabres have to play. Has to be all about speed and swarming with that speed and it was. You can win hockey games that way. Norris? Well, how many games do we get? I guess that's the question. Nobody ever doubted his talent and it was on display. There's no real negatives (although Krebs was probably lucky or smart enough not to get killed :)). There were some mistakes similar to other games but they can survive those with team speed so they weren't costly or overly noticeable. idk, this keeps up Adams will keep his job and say see, this was the plan all along.

You can get lost in stats, and stats guys will never agree, but it's what you see on the ice that really matters. You can see the differences clearly if you watch other games with better teams and what they do compared to what the Sabres do and don't do. That's the comparison for me.

Stats will never give you the answer. The difference between winning and losing always comes down to effort at key moment, discipline, good coaching decisions (and a good system), leadership to rise to the occasion, attention to detail so you don't make mistakes, and just the will to give it your all and get it done. None of that will show up in stats on zone time or shooting percentage or goals for or whatever. Those are just interesting overall assessments. What really matters is effort, and effort at key moments.

It's a funny thing but there are always lots of good stats on Sabres teams but there we are, last place with the lowest win percentage in the east.

Yes I would most definitely trade Byram. Didn't see anything from Kesselring that impressed me. Disappointed actually but the sample size is small. imo Timmons has dropped off substantially and currently is very very average at best.

Well I'm seeing them end up as goals for the opposition.

Now how are they on goals against from defensive giveaways?

I'm still going to swim against the tide and say the real problem isn't the goalies, it's the team D. Good D makes mediocre goalies into good goalies. We have mediocre goalies but bad D. When you have good D the goalies play braver, worry less about rebound control, have better sight lines, and less traffic in front. They suddenly look like better goalies in that sort of system/team. There are exceptions, but we aren't going to get an acrobat like Hasek again. We need better D.

It's absolutely impossible to evaluate this team with Norris as part of it since he hasn't played more than a few minutes. The biggest problem is still the D. They need another big guy who plays at least like Samuelsson is playing this year. If I'm the GM I'm trading whatever flashy forwards I need to to get that. Ideally, trading Norris, but I imagine that's impossible.

I'd want to see detailed stats on high danger chances, breakaways, actual saves above expected and all that other stuff. As @pastajoe said he passes the eye test and just looks more in control of the net with calm sound positioning. But if you want to make the argument they are all the same then you keep the two younger ones.

Well the hockey gods took pity on them and gave them the lucky bounce of the year so far. It's a pity they can't get to more shootouts cause they have the skill guys to win those. Now fix the goalie situation. Ellis is obviously a keeper.

Well I think Adams intelligence is "aritificial" so we've already been led by AI. This actually might matter. If Terry is maximizing savings on the team (and I think he is) it gives him the right moment to clean house with the least expense. I fully expect Jarmo to be GM next year. Whether others are fired or moved to other roles remains to be seen.

Win streaks end. Teams get cocky and complacent. I expect them to take the Sabres lightly with their win streak going and thus, if the Sabres play well they can win it. Will they play well? wtfk.

Getting to the point we are more shocked when they win.

Defensive giveaways. Byram tonight on 2 of them. Brutal. Other nights it's Power or even Dahlin or whoever but it happens every game. Why? Honestly I think it's a simple explanation. They are soft, they don't like to get hit, and so they panic and try to make a pass out when there isn't one. These are the type of plays that coaches like Tortorella bench players for. With the Sabres, it's a way of life.

I watched this on replay so late to the funeral but it was same same. In a way they played just as well as NJ for much of it but 2 brutal giveaways by Byram and weak D by everybody (just watching the puck instead of doing their job) on the other one and that's 3-0 game over. The rest of the goals I don't really count as much as they were pressing and playing up so inevitable if you lose possession. It's the same stuff all the time for years now. No real surprises. Mixed feelings on the Thompson fight but I do wish he'd be that guy more often. Anyone still think they will make the playoffs?