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My problem with UPL is that he seems to only really be focused when he has something to play for personally. He was really good when he was trying to earn a role on the Sabres full time, and he was really good when he was in a contract year. Outside of that he has been pretty bad, and to me that just says he only really puts in the work when he has something to play for, which is not what I expect from a professional who should want to be their best every game. But this isn't all that uncommon...a lot of players treat it like a job more than something they actually love and only seem to really focus and put the extra work in when they have something to lose or gain personally.

No idea. It didn’t make sense then and doesn’t make sense now. Giving long term deals after one good season hasn’t exactly worked out for the Sabres; namely Cozens, Samuelsson, UPL to name 3 more. Given Power’s terrible defense, I’m still waiting hot his good year.

Evan Rodriguez comes to mind, although I guess he was part of the uppity group with Eichel so it was better to get rid of him too.

I don’t understand what they saw in Owen Power to extend him out at $8M per year out thru the 2030/31 season. Anybody? He’s now an albatross and I doubt you could find another team to trade for him with that deal for probably a few years.

I think there’s plenty of offense to be given from Dahlin if he is given a real partner for once and is unlocked

NHL.com breaks goalie save percentages down into three categories. Too lazy to look up the numbers again, but my memory is telling me UPL ranked in the 30s among 60ish NHL goalies in sv% the “easier” situations and nearly at the bottom in the toughest situations.

I don’t think so. I don’t see a team where the D are making a lot of bad offence-first choices and giving up a ton of chances as a consequence. I saw (in particular) Clifton, Power and Samuelsson making a lot of poor zone coverage decisions and execution. And I saw forwards (especially Quinn and Cozens) too often making a lot of bad puck decisions that flipped the ice the other way.

Does that come at much too high a cost? Is the D too focused on creating offense that they consistently breakdown defensively? Would ten less goals by the D, lead to 20 less goals against by eliminating a significant amount of high danger chances against?

Umm, isn't that an almost tautological statement? (Presuming you mean relative to his peers. But just the way that was written, it kind of seems to be a "no Schlitz, Sherlock" sort of statistic.)

Really enjoyed the "Adirondack Pale Ale" earlier today! Mostly 2-row pale malt, a little Munich, and flaked wheat. Hopped with Cascade, Citra, and Simcoe. US 05 yeast which doesn't fully clear, but tastes like it does. Pretty basic, but I would definitely make it again!

The numbers say UPL is demonstrably better in low and medium chance situations than in high danger ones.

I think one of the reasons the Sbres offence has been as effective as it has is the amount they generate from the blueline. This team has three of the top 20 even strength scoring defencemen in the league and Kesselring added another player in the top 50. Owen power was 3rd on the Sabres, but would have been 1st on 19 teams. The Sabres top 4 D accounted for 141 points last year. Colorado led the league with 132. Forwards generally find is easier to score with that kind of support from the blueline and I suspect it will help the new arrivals.

I agree with this assessment. I don't really blame UPL, because I just don't think he's the type of talent that can year over year face a lot of high danger shots. Our team defense has sucked and we do easily allow the type of players that want to, get great position in front of the net. I think we have an opportunity to be better defensively because I like the additions. I really dislike our coaching and think they're the largest problem. UPL can also be a little better if the defense is. I just think that's the thing with him.

No they don’t since they don’t operate the team the team is under NLL “AI Overview The Rochester Knighthawks are currently seeking new ownership after Terry and Kim Pegula, who also own the Buffalo Bandits, Buffalo Sabres, and Rochester Americans, decided to cease operating the team. “

Sounds like situation will work out with a happy ending.

FTFY

Meh...UPL was just really bad last year, that's really all there is to it. He was unfocused game to game and was out of position far too often. Way too many "AHL" level goals against him last year. Did they allow too many chances, sure, but they did the year before too when he was far better. It's not like they went from being the Great Wall Of China on D to a sieve.

I don't know about that. I think most owners do prioritize winning but money does matter. Most believe you spend to win and then you make more with playoff revenue and merchandise (and season tickets the next year). If an owner doesn't spend to the cap he saves a few million. If he makes the playoffs he earns a whole bunch of millions more. It's never about spending anyway, it's about roster construction. To get a balanced and properly mixed roster you do need to spend and when you don't, you have a problem.

Well some of these stats argue against them being decisive then right? Who picks up the most loser points might be more significant.

Rumor has it that TPEGS fought very hard to find owners that would keep the team in Rochester.

I heard he fought Jake Paul but it never aired b c Jake got his ass beated.

Well, +1 is the very least you can be over even. They weren't outscoring the opposition. Just like this past season where they had a top offense 5-on-5 but still finished the year with a negative differential. Terrible defense outdoes good offense. In the case of 2023-24, though, it looks like the underlying concern is loser points. The two teams that made the playoffs as wild cards were the Islanders and Capitals. Experienced defense-first grinding teams that scored less, but got to overtime. That season, the Sabres picked up 6 loser points (and missed the playoffs by 8). Detroit (+4 goal differential) also didn't make it and had 9 loser points, losing the tiebreaker with WSH. Isles -17 goals, but nabbed 16 loser points and the Caps at a gaudy -37 goal differential !!! snuck into the final WC spot tied with Detroit but won the breaker -- had 11 loser points. They had two losses that got them past Detroit. The Sabres had the same number of regulation wins as the Isles and finished 10 points back in the standings. Because of the scoring system, if you keep the game 1-1 it's more advantageous over the length of the season than trying to run-and-gun to 5 goals. If you lose, lose big -- and in all other games, grind it out.

If I ever experience that in this house, I’ll let you know.

Okay but if that stats explains it why'd they not make the playoffs in 2023-24?

Let's hope this ownership group doesn't have plans to move the team like the last one did. Doubt they do but the owner that bought the previous version of the Kin-ig-hit Hawks moved them out of town pretty much as soon as he could.