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Analytics original job was to give market inequities and capitalize on them. A lot sports ppl forgot that along the way.

I don't honestly care. Hellebuyck isn't available. And 3/8 is only 37.5% although tbf, that's not all on Hellebuyck. To the Yzerman point.. what? Your counter argument to "get more high floor guys" is that Yzerman doing just that and failing is an outlier? I don't agree. Buffalo has both high floor and high ceiling players. They missed the playoffs because their only good defender got hurt and UPL turned back into the player he's basically always been. Sure, add more high floor guys to the defense or the bottom 6. I'm good with that. But that's not why we're here. At least impo. They should but just like puck moving defenders can be physical, here to often it's 1 or the other.

This rumor has always sounded to me like the Sabres are looking for that pseudo-retired guy who is looking to stay involved but step back a bit. You check in with Holland, but then find out that he’s not looking to step back yet.

One thing we can comfortably say about Byram is he definitely played his minutes tl;dr : Dahlin and Tage are as good or better without Bowen, Bowen is putrid without them

If I remember PA’s line of work correctly, I know everyone had their kinks, but I hope this one is very rare.

Its both that need to be used: Watching the game and seeing that the goaltending and some of the defense suck is still very valuable but i also like the charts as sometimes they tell other stories about this team: The defense isnt as good as it seems, or as bad as it seems. Analytics and eye test should and can exist.

Jets have made the playoffs 7 times of the last 8 years. Of those 7 appearances, Hellebuyck has played well enough to advance beyond the first round 3 of the 7 times. No room for making the playoffs and winning rounds on the Buffalo Sabres And? The exception that proves the rule? Yzerman is the clear statistical outlier along with Adams. We have tried every “strategy” at one point or another. Showing me the failure behind door number 3 ala Monty hall doesn’t prove anything: there will always be a fail we can point to

I don't care about making the playoffs. I care about winning playoff series. To the bold, that's been Yzermans plan. Hasn't worked great.

I think he has a type. Norris is it to a T. Buy low, if things go really well there’s a ton of value to be mined. It’s the “hey, we think there might be a little something here, actually” guys. “Oh with a bigger role this guy should really blossom.” He loves high ceiling players, questionable floor players It has been quite blindly obvious to this poster’s eyes for a very long time that the Buffalo Sabres need to be in the business of targeting the maximization of the floor we’ve been using future verbiage for far, far too long. Give me the guy who is most likely will provide good value: not the guy who has the best chance of producing great “I still don’t want Hellebuyck” ”I don’t care about making the playoffs”

One could argue Adams has been addressing overall talent. I still don't want Hellebuyck. He turns into UPL during the playoffs.

No one wanted Hellebuyck when I was arguing to sell out for him

That's correct. Even if you "shift" Samuelsson's and Clifton's money to Byram, you still have to allocate cap for their replacements.

I been asking for better goaltending for a while now. They seem to still be hanging onto the hope that Levi can be better. UPL should not have been our starter.

The Knights were done as soon as they lost both games 1 and 2, they got lucky in game 3 but all they did was delay the inevitable! It’s too much to ask any team to win 4 of the next 5 with 3 of them on the road.

It is todays style. As is skinny leg pants, no socks, and shoes.

Data can be misleading the sabres were 11th in goals against two season ago and 23rd in offence. Then they flipped. Young team. address the overall talent I’ve been calling it a shell game for 3 literal years. Why can’t I just be right? I’ve called every single Adams aspect starting with Eichel. Like, MAYBE I just have the pulse on this guy? No? Ok carry on.

But Byram's already packed up his Buffalo house, so...

The bold has all the making of a Penthouse Forum story.

Who's our green goalie? The one we won't be signing this offseason? Because the data presented in this thread suggest otherwise. That's the point of the thread.

Meh, I don’t really think the few LW that can only play LW need represent an obstacle to my thought process here. I know Marner can play both side, for example. if I can get a better player, for the same relative cost, I’m going with the better player regardless of position that’s my outlook at least

After every single goal in the league you'll see guys standing around while the puck goes into the back of the net. There's nothing like a goal to make a defender look dumb.

Yes, Rayzor's link to RJ would be missed. I often watch the Sabre games using the opponents broadcast, and it is amazing how often the other teams announcers comment on Ray and enjoy some humor with him. Ray is a throwback to when the Sabres were a real team and when the played in front of packed and passionate crowds. Those days are long gone. It is sad how many hockey seasons have been wasted in the irrelevance.

I don't agree. You have finite assets, just acquiring the best say LW is silly. We need a defender, you only pigeon hole yourself if you decide you must make a move. If you can't find that veteran defender, you do have to hold. I do agree that it's harder because Adams is up against it.

If you took a poll of Eastern Conference coaches and asked which team had the best defense this year, If it wasn't Washington or Florida it would be Carolina. Where are they according to the WAR charts? Not in the top half in D or goaltending. Without considering how the forwards play defense I think it's just a exercise in frustration. All the parts fit together and if one part is weak then the whole thing is probably weak. It can be an individual player or pairing. It can be a forward who thinks getting back in the zone is for other people. It can be a goal tender who goes from shutout to giving up 5 the next time out. I know all the analytics try to parse this out but it seems incredibly difficult when it comes to hockey. I know this much I never want to see Bryson with Clifton ever again.