Bowen Byram- This Team's #1 Worst Player

[Stoner]

He's hot tho.

[\GoBillsInDallas/]

2 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

I’m not at all hung

[Doohicksie]

1 hour ago, Jorcus said:

You have to look at who he is replacing. That would be Ryan Johnson or Jacob Bryson. I am going to think at the end of the day that is an upgrade. Highly mobile defensemen are coveted in todays NHL and there is no mercy on the teams that don't have them. It's 10 games with a new coach and a new system with a skilled developing defenseman. The Ruff system is get the puck out of the D zone as fast as you can vs the Granato system which was to box in gain control and work your way out. I am not sure why he is paired with Power but that may change. I would like to see the three puck movers spread out.    

I'm not convinced Byram is much of an upgrade over Johnson (not enough data on Johnson).  I think Johnson is the odd man out because he's waiver exempt and, as a graduating college student, just doesn't have pro experience.  But if we needed him on the big club I think he'd be okay.  But maybe not... like I said, not enough data.

1 hour ago, SwampD said:

I’m guessing age. I know we don’t want to hear this old trope, but the Sabres are still a young team.

Age on who's part?  Mitts (25)?  Byram (23)?  Relative to what?  Tying it back, Johnson is the same age as Byram.

Edited 3 hours ago by Doohicksie

[Mango]

2 hours ago, Stoner said:

He's hot tho.

 

58 minutes ago, Doohicksie said:

I'm not convinced Byram is much of an upgrade over Johnson (not enough data on Johnson).  I think Johnson is the odd man out because he's waiver exempt and, as a graduating college student, just doesn't have pro experience.  But if we needed him on the big club I think he'd be okay.  But maybe not... like I said, not enough data.

Agreed he isn't our worst player. He has been fine via the eye test. But Ryan Johnson was also fine by the eye test. 

The issue that this team has with Byrum is that it just doesn't make sense. If he blossoms into what we were sold he could be, it doesn't make sense to extend him with Power/Dahlin already here. So what is the plan? From a roster construction POV it was just weird. We still need help on the defense and we now need more help filling out the top 6. 

This team would be better if we had Mitts/Ryan Johnson than it is is Cozens/Byram. 

[JoeSchmoe]

4 hours ago, GoPuckYourself said:

 

Relative expected goals? This might be the dumbest ***** I've seen on here in awhile. Seriously could there be a more meaningless stat if this is even a stat? How can you possibly factor that it's better when he's off the ice than when he's on? Is there not other players on the ice at the same time as him who factor in this equation? More nerd stats that people who think they're smarter than everyone created and now everyone goes with it.

It's not as hard as it sounds.

You can quite easily measure shot differential of when he's on the ice vs when he's off the ice. If you also apply a quality rating to each of the shots, you get this stat.

Byram gives up a ton of high danger scoring chances when he's on the ice. The brain fart the other night against FL was a good example. We also get hemmed in a lot when he's on D... He's not good at winning pucks (positional awareness, battle skill, finding outlet passes).

He also doesn't generate many 5 on 5 scoring opportunities. 

I find he's got good edges and agree that he looks like a good hockey player.  But he was a net negative on CO, despite having an elite team around him, and he's just flat out bad with us.

1 hour ago, Mango said:

 

Agreed he isn't our worst player. He has been fine via the eye test. But Ryan Johnson was also fine by the eye test. 

The issue that this team has with Byrum is that it just doesn't make sense. If he blossoms into what we were sold he could be, it doesn't make sense to extend him with Power/Dahlin already here. So what is the plan? From a roster construction POV it was just weird. We still need help on the defense and we now need more help filling out the top 6. 

This team would be better if we had Mitts/Ryan Johnson than it is is Cozens/Byram. 

Bryson was good last year and would be another option here. 

[JoeSchmoe]

5 hours ago, 7+6=13 said:

Can you tell us how many years it's been since we've been in the playoffs?

Yes, I could.

[Doohicksie]

32 minutes ago, JoeSchmoe said:

Bryson was good last year and would be another option here. 

Bryson is a far better player than most people on this forum give him credit for.