Porous Five Hole

A chart from RMNB shows every NHL forward from the last decade and how often they started in the defensive zone versus the offensive zone. Malenstyn ranked 7th for most defensive-zone starts (behind this season’s Dowd and 2018’s Jay Beagle). Out of 3046 player-seasons, Malenstyn ranked 3045th in offensive-zone starts (ahead of only this season’s Nicolas Aube-Kubel). That ratio is simply the most extreme defensive deployment for a forward since the NHL started tracking zone starts. That’s wild. https://russianmachineneverbreaks.com/2024/05/17/beck-malenstyn-2023-24-season-review/

Look at his usage courtesy of RMNB.

That’s what I was thinking.

An idea of what it looks like inside.

Here’s what’s going on it’s Stammer, per LeBrun. It’s interesting…Tampa is saying you’re going to make 21MM on the open market (figure $7MM X 3). After factoring in the FL state tax discount, Tampa is saying let us pay whatever the net figure would be ($18MM) over a long period of time and we will front load the deal with bonuses. It was worth a shot.

I watched a lot of the Amerks last year and I would welcome Cecconi & Davies back. This signing is confusing to me because they didn’t make Cale eligible for the AHL playoffs. I assumed the Sabres felt like sending him home instead of to ROC was for the best. So I’m surprised here.

I think it is a combination of Kevyn being a little too honest and also trying to portray the “GMing is hard” trope he’s been on recently.

Not to my eyes. He ate 20 min a night last year, but almost 60% of his zone starts were in the offensive zone…while his goals above expected is not impressive. Florida was awesome last year and his starts were very protected. His foot speed is on the decline and he was never fast or agile to begin with. He only has one year left on his deal at 7.5MM, so Buffalo could afford that next year. But he’s not a defense first type that we could partner with Dahlin or Power.

Well that’s your bad lol 😉 It is probably similar in some way.

I can help. When you upload a pic, choose this option: Then, select the size that fits (less than 500KB)

I’ve been thinking about this specific to Casey. Mitts netted the Sabres a top four D, which Buffalo doesn’t have anywhere near their current pipeline. But the Sabres do have potential top six forwards to play Casey’s role very soon. If we can agree that Tage, Tuch, Skinner, Cozens, JJP are locked as top six forwards (let’s see what happens with Skinner—but the financial commitment remains either way), it’s a lot easier to elevate Quinn to the top six and not lose much…than it is to elevate Ryan Johnson to the top four. I think you lose a lot there & Byram is a huge upgrade over RyJo. But Mitts is not a huge upgrade over Quinn (assuming Quinn’s trajectory continues). Maybe this is a hot take? But not to me. Mitts being a near 6MM player is a luxury this team won’t be able to afford. To use him to acquire Byram was a good move. I understand this take may not be super popular, but I get what the Sabres are trying to do.

You make a great point. No way to move on from a dynamic player like these guys. But there’s risk in so many eggs in only a couple baskets.

I get it. We don’t want to lose any good player…especially a grow your own 60+ point type of player. But the Sabres roster structure of defense first was sealed when they picked first and drafted D both times. No team in history drafted #1 overall closely and went D both times. This is why I’m good with Byram. Buffalo is trying to build the best blue line in the NHL and it cost Mitts to continue to add there. The Sabres have a lot of forward depth in the pipe. They will rely on Tage & Cozens as 1C & 2C. A near six million AAV for a 3C is a luxury Buffalo cannot afford when they’re trying to build the best blue line in the NHL. Last thing—I understand Mitts was a top six forward and not a 3C. But with the prospect depth, it’s a lot easier to develop another top six/3C than it is to find another top four D given the current Sabres pipeline. You don’t have to like their approach, but I understand what they’re trying to do. Good luck to Mitts.

For the people who don’t like the individual goal songs, do you also dislike MLB players picking their song to walk to the plate to hit? Or when Mariano Rivera walked into a save situation with Enter Sandman? I care more about a guy scoring than I do the 20 second sound clip they like when they score. To me, it is okay to let these guys have a little fun and show some personality.

Draisaitl broken fingers and ribs. Mcdavid torn abdominal which requires surgery. Warriors.

The Bills draft experts weigh in. https://x.com/BuffaloSabres/status/1805375351503438300/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1805375351503438300&currentTweetUser=BuffaloSabres

Matthew Tkachuk referencing Okposo’s speech/leadership made earlier today during his on ice interview was interesting. It seemed clear he was a complimentary piece in a Panthers room that already had great leadership. It’s too bad Buffalo couldn’t figure out KO needed leadership help with this team. Instead Adams surrounded him with the youngest team in hockey the last two years and we got what we got.

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40421355/panthers-opt-veteran-kyle-okposo-game-7-vs-oilers Okie in tonight.

Jessie is back and healthy. And just won her fifth tourney (first ever on grass). nice lead-in to Wimbledon starting next week https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/40413397/pegula-tops-gauff-semis-kalinskaya-final-berlin-title She will also be repping Team USA at the Olympics this summer.

I agree. Demko’s season before the five year extension: 35GP, .915, 2.85, 69 career starts. Gustafson’s season before the three year extension: 39 GP, .931, 2.10, 66 career starts. UPL last year: 54 GP, .910, 2.57, 96 career starts. Jeremy Swayman when he went to arbitration: 37 GP, .920, 2.27, 82 career starts. Arbitration awarded him 3.475MM. Demko is a comp because neither he or UPL tended a playoff team that year, but UPL’s case isn’t really stronger than any of these guys. It’s why arbitration makes the most sense to me.

To me, the correct play is Arbitration. The same path as Swayman. Make UPL show it again. 50 games isn’t enough to hand that kind of money out. UPL would be an RFA after next year. If he does it again, you have enough proof to hand out a long term deal. Or, more likely to me, to transition to Levi.

I vote Waneta Lake, which is a small lake just south of Keuka. Kind of in between Keuka & Seneca. My family has a spot there. It is very shallow so it warms up quickly. That is great because it is “adult warm” as early aa Memorial Day…even if the water gets a bit weedy. It’s quiet and mostly undeveloped compared to the big brother finger lakes. The fishing is great (Muskie, Large & Small mouth bass, and lots more) and most of the residents are old, quiet and polite. Waneta’s (and neighbor lake Lamoka) biggest problem is harmful algae bloom (HAB) which started happening here in 2022. And HABs are becoming a problem in the finger lakes. The DEC has their work cut out for them to figure out how to combat it.

It would be music to my ears if UPL went to arbitration for a one year deal (a la Swayman). I need proof last year wasn’t a fluke.

I had to look it up. Karmanos is Associate GM. Forton is Assistant GM. I hope this is no impact to Jason and his role.

Good news: He has changed it to Tommer97. Not sure what the new name implies. There’s a a Tommer Construction in the state of Washington. Maybe he’s embracing a wrecking ball? (I know wishful thinking)