Torpedo Forecheck

A couple magnificent saves would have helped too

Dude, people have different opinions, deal. Some us may know a few things and have more experience evaluating. Chill you might learn something. Your know it all attitude will hold you back.

He has, I've watched him and his defensive game is especially poor. There is a reason his ice time is not as high. Krueger doesn't trust him

Wow Dahlin has really regressed this year so far. His lack of physicality is a problem and decision making.

we will probably lose

after 100 games in the NHL he sure as sheet should

he should by now. Pull the damn goalie now. need to shake it up

Dahlin made one terrible play, just can't make a lateral pass there, and he knows better. Brainfart

Can't create transition for these guys.

Oh yeah which one?

you will not of course

Good to know that if they look good to the eye test and the metrics aren't great that everyone will be pleased! Doubtful.

Tage Thompson

In all seriousness, why? You're a fan correct?, if you think that what they're doing is unsustainable-fine. But, why do the numbers impact your enjoyment. Remember, the numbers aren't 100% predictive, not by a long shot, as a matter of fact, the correlations are nowhere near that level. So, at the end of the day you have wins/losses that teams get that don't match the model. The world is way more random and predicting is really difficult. At the end of the day, who wins and loses will be impacted by bounces, officiating and numerous other random events.

I was told the metrics said Risto was about to suck, glad we stuck it out with him. Strong performance!

From the Atlantic, timely! Buffalo Sabres Rasmus Ristolainen Projected: 21.3 minutes Actual: 24.0 minutes Rasmus Dahlin Projected: 24.4 minutes Actual: 19.0 minutes As mentioned in 16 Stats last week, I expected Buffalo to play Dahlin more this season and Ristolainen less and despite the latter losing his PP1 job that hasn’t been the case as Ristolainen is still eating big minutes. It’s working for now, but for how much longer? Vladimir Sobotka Projected: 12.4 minutes Actual: 15.3 minutes Casey Mittelstadt Projected: 15.9 minutes Actual: 11.0 minutes At forward, I figured Mittelstadt would begin seeing some top-six time, but he seems to be in the dog house to start the season and skating in his place is … Vladimir Sobotka? While I’m no Mittelstadt apologist (and at this point, why not get some much-needed playing time in the AHL?), it’s hard to argue Sobotka is a suitable replacement. He was one of the league’s worst players last year and is somehow sporting a 47 percent expected goals rate this season when both of his regular linemates are well above 50 percent. While things are working for Buffalo for now, again I wonder if it will continue given this strange usage and the lack of true top six options. Ralph Krueger has fresh eyes on the sport after being out of hockey for many years and I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt after a hot start, but some of the early usage is puzzling.

No its that they're biased just like anything or anyone else, and don't respect the other variables enough. Some people are biased towards numbers, others toward scouting. On this site it's usually the numbers.

Yeah that works for me too, just make sure the numbers don't cloud your view.

"in small sample sizes a good scout is better than the numbers "-Tangotiger

Sabres will bounce back tonight, Ducks are far stronger squad than Kings, Hutton in goal too.

I don't think his play has declined at all. I played, and coached hockey at a pretty high level. To my eyes the guy is a horse, and as a real world hockey player, he and McCabe as a pair are hard to play against. The Sabres are playing well so far this season, I would hope a losing performance last night would not have the effect of causing too much doom and gloom.

Who the hell is this guy, and why should I care? What does this add to my view of the games I've watched?

For me I've been disappointed in Vesey, he should be a 20 goal scorer. He seems emotionless, almost sulky to me. Does he fancy himself a top 6 forward on this team? I'm thinking Mitts, Tage and Sheary at some point if it doesn't improve.

That's all pretty fair I'd say. I'm a bit higher on Casey than you, but you're correct I hadn't thought about wing....interesting

I very much like the player and thought he was strong at times last year. I raised an eyebrow when he didn't make the lineup coming out of camp. Matter of fact, I thought it was crazy, but after watching him so far, not sure he's helped himself.