NHL Season Start Date: January 13, 2021

[Thorner]

4 hours ago, dudacek said:

This is how the depth chart has changed:

• 1L *Olofsson -> Hall UPGRADE
• 2C Johanssen -> Staal LIKELY UPGRADE
• M6W Vesey -> Olofsson LIKELY UPGRADE
• M6W Sheary -> Thompson UNKNOWN
• M6F Miittelstadt/Rodrigues -> Cozens UNKNOWN
• 3C Larsson -> Eakin DOWNGRADE
• checking winger Sobotka/Frolik —>  Reider UNKNOWN

If a couple of those "unknowns" swing our way, our forwards will be in really good shape. Whether it's enough to make up the large gap we'd need to to make the playoffs..with a run-back of the back-8 I'd say we'd probably need at least a clean sweep by a considerable margin across the board at F, allowing for a (probable) exception of Eakin/Larsson. 

Edited December 10, 2020 by Thorny

[Brawndo]

 

[Thorner]

LeBrun says no trade restrictions between Canadian and American teams. 

[Taro T]

1 minute ago, Thorny said:

LeBrun says no trade restrictions between Canadian and American teams. 

Were they actually contemplating that? 

[Brawndo]

 

[Stoner]

5 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

 

Why would the vaccine ever be for sale to non-government entities? Supply will not meet demand in this country this winter and likely worldwide supply will not meet demand for a looooong time. Any purchase of vaccines would be the definition of cutting the line.

[dudacek]

56 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

Why would the vaccine ever be for sale to non-government entities? Supply will not meet demand in this country this winter and likely worldwide supply will not meet demand for a looooong time. Any purchase of vaccines would be the definition of cutting the line.

While I agree with the nut of this thought, what if the world doesn't? It's not that simple, not when your president is trying to divert vaccines that are already bought and paid for by people from my country, which leveraged its wealth and love of public health care to elbow ahead of countries unwilling and unable to do the same.

[nfreeman]

3 hours ago, PASabreFan said:

Why would the vaccine ever be for sale to non-government entities? Supply will not meet demand in this country this winter and likely worldwide supply will not meet demand for a looooong time. Any purchase of vaccines would be the definition of cutting the line.

Is it confirmed that the government is buying all of the doses?  I know it prepaid for a certain number of doses, but I assumed pharmacies, hospitals and other non-government intermediaries would buy once the government’s pre-order was filled.  But I haven’t looked into it.  

[JohnC]

20 hours ago, Taro T said:

Really believe those strong starts the past 2 years, followed by horrendous slumps is due to the players believing in themselves even though they didn't really have the talent (& definitely not the depth of talent to overcome sustained, and pretty much inevitable, injuries) to be as good as they started to be due to the players believing in themselves and the plans.  When injuries started hitting, especially to the goaltending (even though, or maybe because, the injuries were battled through) that belief and will wasn't enough to overcome the lack of skill/talent that the team actually had.

The leadership & message for this team is still here plus it has been bolstered with Staal & Hall so they really could get off to a fast start again even in the "division of death."  The question becomes, how will they handle adversity in the form of injuries to key personnel, especially the goalies.  They have much better depth up front, but reduced depth on the backend unless Bryson &/or Borgen are ready to step up, and still have no depth in net (apologies to Tokarski & the rest).  

Really curious to hear how the rumored expanded rosters we're hearing about are implemented.  If the extra guys still have to go through waivers, still believe GT gets upgraded enough.  If they don't, the Sabres probably really are stuck w/ what they have.

My gut feel is without the GT upgrade they're right on the cusp but very likely fall just short of top 4 in the division.  W/ a GT upgrade, expecting 2nd or 3rd in the division.  They'll get the fast start.  How far they fall is the key; hoping it isn't that far.  And really expect a strong finish even if they do have similar GT issues as they did last year.  These guys believe in their own abilities and trust Krueger.  

 

It may not seem like it but I do agree with the concern that many others, and most notably @Thorny, have about the capabilities or our goaltenders. But even as deficient as we were at that position in last year's abbreviated season there were two areas of deficiencies that magnified that positional deficit. Those areas were in the PK and scoring in general. It seems that the organization has brought in some players who specialize on that unit. And I'm hoping the coaching staff alters its passive approach to the PK and becomes more aggressive in how they approach the PK. I didn't understand why the coaching staff didn't change its PK philosophy when what they were doing wasn't working? 

As far as the goal scoring deficiency the addition of Hall, Staal and more suitable support on a Skinner line should help address the scoring problems. And I'm counting on some of the young players such as Tage, Cozens, Olofsson and a surprise player or two to help contribute to spreading the scoring around. From an overview perspective it is fair to say that the Sabres are improved. What does that mean? Not necessarily as much as many believe it to be because other teams are also reworking their rosters and are also improving. But as a bystander and looking at what has been added to the roster it is reasonable to believe that the GM made enough moves to make this team more competitive.  

[LGR4GM]

Olofsson is older than Sam Reinhart. 

[freester]

15 minutes ago, JohnC said:

It may not seem like it but I do agree with the concern that many others, and most notably @Thorny, have about the capabilities or our goaltenders. But even as deficient as we were at that position in last year's abbreviated season there were two areas of deficiencies that magnified that positional deficit. Those areas were in the PK and scoring in general. It seems that the organization has brought in some players who specialize on that unit. And I'm hoping the coaching staff alters its passive approach to the PK and becomes more aggressive in how they approach the PK. I didn't understand why the coaching staff didn't change its PK philosophy when what they were doing wasn't working? 

As far as the goal scoring deficiency the addition of Hall, Staal and more suitable support on a Skinner line should help address the scoring problems. And I'm counting on some of the young players such as Tage, Cozens, Olofsson and a surprise player or two to help contribute to spreading the scoring around. From an overview perspective it is fair to say that the Sabres are improved. What does that mean? Not necessarily as much as many believe it to be because other teams are also reworking their rosters and are also improving. But as a bystander and looking at what has been added to the roster it is reasonable to believe that the GM made enough moves to make this team more competitive.  

Failing to improve the goaltending is a critical mistake.  Also not addressing the imbalance of RD vs LD is highly problematic.  Another huge issue is the division reallignment has placed the sabres in a very compeitive situation.

[Stoner]

10 hours ago, nfreeman said:

Is it confirmed that the government is buying all of the doses?  I know it prepaid for a certain number of doses, but I assumed pharmacies, hospitals and other non-government intermediaries would buy once the government’s pre-order was filled.  But I haven’t looked into it.  

At first we're only going to have enough Pfizer vaccines for 50 million people — and the government might not be able to get more vaccines from Pfizer until late spring. The first delivery, enough for only several million people, is imminent. Thankfully, the marketplace will not rule, not yet anyway. I don't see any scenario where vaccines will be available to young, healthy professional athletes. Nor should they be, nor could any such access be morally defensible.

The tweet about the NHL's desire to get their folks vaccinated before the season got quickly cleaned up, which is good.

 

[JohnC]

42 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Olofsson is older than Sam Reinhart. 

From a NHL standpoint he's not as experienced as Sam. 

[LGR4GM]

22 minutes ago, JohnC said:

From a NHL standpoint he's not as experienced as Sam. 

And? He has what? 5 years of pro experience and one in the NHL. We know exactly what Olofsson is. He is a good shot pp specialist best suited for the 3rd maybe 2nd line who will get you 40-50 points a year where probably 2/3rds come on the PP. He's not young. 

*sorry 6 pro seasons

[SwampD]

I have no problem with and actually I want the NHL to cut the line.

The NHL being able to start the season affects more than just its players and owners. Millions of people watch and enjoy hockey. There has been terrible isolation and boredom throughout this whole thing. I can’t even imagine how much easier this would have been if I had something to fill three hours (sometimes more) of the day every day.

I will be one of the last people to get the vaccine. I’ll be surprised if I get it by August of next year, despite all of the recent (imho misguided) optimism. The NHL will help me get through this. I don’t see why they should have to put themselves at risk for providing that service.

Jab ‘Em!

Edited December 12, 2020 by SwampD

[Derrico]

10 minutes ago, SwampD said:

I have no problem with and actually I want the NHL to cut the line.

The NHL being able to start the season affects more than just its players and owners. Millions of people watch and enjoy hockey. There has been terrible isolation and boredom throughout this whole thing. I can’t even imagine how much easier this would have been if I had something to fill three hours (sometimes more) of the day every day.

I will be one of the last people to get the vaccine. I’ll be surprised if I get it by August of next year, despite all of the recent (imho misguided) optimism. The NHL will he me get through this. I don’t see why they should have to put themselves at risk for providing that service.

Jab ‘Em!

Unpopular opinion but I’m in agreement.  My mental health would improve immensely with something else to get the mind away from the pandemic.  If only for a few hours.

[Stoner]

The definition of selfishness. But not surprising. It's why we're in this mess.

How can your enjoyment of watching some dumb jocks whack at a puck mean more than a human life? And at this point it is one for one. If Jack gets a vaccine a nursing home resident or a nurse doesn't.

You guys might not even be in the minority.

We are a sick culture.

[Derrico]

22 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

The definition of selfishness. But not surprising. It's why we're in this mess.

How can your enjoyment of watching some dumb jocks whack at a puck mean more than a human life? And at this point it is one for one. If Jack gets a vaccine a nursing home resident or a nurse doesn't.

You guys might not even be in the minority.

We are a sick culture.

Take a look into suicide rates during Covid vs precovid and come back and talk to me.  Mental health is very real even if u poo poo the idea that watching a bunch of dumb jocks can increase ones mental health.

[SwampD]

47 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

The definition of selfishness. But not surprising. It's why we're in this mess.

How can your enjoyment of watching some dumb jocks whack at a puck mean more than a human life? And at this point it is one for one. If Jack gets a vaccine a nursing home resident or a nurse doesn't.

You guys might not even be in the minority.

We are a sick culture.

I should have said I’m okay with them jumping the line, just not all the way to the front.

Obviously.

[Stoner]

1 hour ago, SwampD said:

I should have said I’m okay with them jumping the line, just not all the way to the front.

Obviously.

There's no line though. At first, there are just a bunch of people standing shoulder to shoulder, all of them in about equal need. Your argument might be a tiny bit better later on when we're down to people with less risky underlying conditions and supplies of vaccine are larger. Only a tiny bit though. These guys need to wait their turn. You'll win out ultimately, of course, in a country where buddies of people in power get a hospital bed and the good schtuff while sicker people are on their couch trying their luck with Tylenol.

I'm not even sure this is worth debating. There will be a season without players getting vaccinated. Actually, what you're proposing is grosser, for lack of a better word: we need Jack to get a vaccine instead of a nursing home resident so he doesn't fall ill on the eve of Game 7.

Edited December 12, 2020 by PASabreFan

[SwampD]

6 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

There's no line though. At first, there are just a bunch of people standing shoulder to shoulder, all of them in about equal need. Your argument might be a tiny bit better later on when we're down to people with less risky underlying conditions and supplies of vaccine are larger. Only a tiny bit though. These guys need to wait their turn. You'll win out ultimately, of course, in a country where buddies of people in power get a hospital bed and the good schtuff while sicker people are on their couch trying their luck with Tylenol.

I'm not even sure this is worth debating. There will be a season without players getting vaccinated. Actually, what you're proposing is grosser, for lack of a better word: we need Jack to get a vaccine instead of a nursing home resident so he doesn't fall ill on the eve of Game 7.

You’re being obtuse. There are already plenty of doses to do both.

Of course, people in nursing homes and healthcare workers should get it first. I already said as much. But like Derrico said, mental health issues are a real thing. Hockey would help a lot of people.

I wonder if this is the hill you would be fighting on if it didn’t effect you personally.

[Thorner]

On 12/11/2020 at 9:23 AM, freester said:

Failing to improve the goaltending is a critical mistake.  Also not addressing the imbalance of RD vs LD is highly problematic.  Another huge issue is the division reallignment has placed the sabres in a very compeitive situation.

It may factor into this stats-based projection from a noted (twitter) advanced metrics guru:

 

Couple things going on here...

We are projected for 55 points over 56 games, which is actually identical to our pace this past season - this probably speaks to the perceived strength of the division - but also I have to assume lack of D/G shuffle. 

It seems too low to me - I think even with a tough division we've seen enough off season addition to improve. But it does stress the idea that we should be a little careful being too happy with how things have gone - my first instinct was definitely to just throw this out, as much as I value the advanced stuff, but on the other side of the coin, it seems almost every recent offseason now we've gone, "what? no way!" at the projections, at look what happens. 

We'll have to see. One of these years we'll make the projections look stupid - but it's interesting to see what the outside sources are saying. 

Edited December 12, 2020 by Thorny

[dudacek]

Is this even a debate?

My country has purchased more than enough doses to vaccinate the entire population and plans to provide a dose free of charge to every citizen who wants one, starting with the most at-risk at a pre-determined schedule.

Whether or not the Toronto Maple Leafs are able to buy doses from a manufacturer separately will not be pulling from that pot and should not affect when me and my family get our doses.

How is it being distributed there?

 

30 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

There's no line though. At first, there are just a bunch of people standing shoulder to shoulder, all of them in about equal need. Your argument might be a tiny bit better later on when we're down to people with less risky underlying conditions and supplies of vaccine are larger. Only a tiny bit though. These guys need to wait their turn. You'll win out ultimately, of course, in a country where buddies of people in power get a hospital bed and the good schtuff while sicker people are on their couch trying their luck with Tylenol.

I'm not even sure this is worth debating. There will be a season without players getting vaccinated. Actually, what you're proposing is grosser, for lack of a better word: we need Jack to get a vaccine instead of a nursing home resident so he doesn't fall ill on the eve of Game 7.

 

[dudacek]

21 minutes ago, Thorny said:

It may factor into this stats-based projection from a noted (twitter) advanced metrics guru:

 

Couple things going on here...

We are projected for 55 points over 56 games, which is actually identical to our pace this past season - this probably speaks to the perceived strength of the division - but also I have to assume lack of D/G shuffle. 

It seems too low to me - I think even with a tough division we've seen enough off season addition to improve. But it does stress the idea that we should be a little careful being too happy with how things have gone - my first instinct was definitely to just throw this out, as much as I value the advanced stuff, but on the other side of the coin, it seems almost every recent offseason now we've gone, "what? no way!" at the projections, at look what happens. 

We'll have to see. One of these years we'll make the projections look stupid - but it's interesting to see what the outside sources are saying. 

Is there anything there that isn’t a direct reflection of how the teams finished last year?

I see very little movement in the relative positions of the teams.

Also, is this a proven way of successfully projecting teams, or a pseudo-scientific method of my saying ‘well the forwards look better, but the goaltending isn’t good enough and they’re in a tough division’?

Edited December 12, 2020 by dudacek

[Thorner]

4 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Is there anything there that isn’t a direct reflection of how the teams finished last year?

I see very little movement in the relative positions of the teams.

I think it comes down to that a lot, too. It's basically physics, until there's a proven contrary force these guys are going to predict the current, established "motion". Offseasons will never constitute proof. 

Having said that, the better our Fs look the more inversely disappointed I am with the rest of the roster, on paper. I see the potential for missed opportunity, it's not about not being happy with the F remodel.