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Yes... CT formerly CAT scan... I take picts of peoples innards to see what ails them or just to determine that they are full of *****... hmm something something the Buffalo Sabres

But now we need to post the goals allowed at 5-on-5 the last three seasons combined.

UPL has an .898 career save percentage and was .910 2 years ago. Last year he was .887. The league average was exactly .900. Statistically speaking, his play was a significant factor in the Sabres poor record. Statistically speaking, based on his track record, we should expect him to be better this year. Im kinda expecting Lindy to treat him like the unquestioned starter in camp and out of the gate this year - 6 or 8 starts in the first 10 games and give him a chance to run with it. But I get the feeling that the belief in him is forced and his leash will be short if he drops the ball

I’ve said it earlier, but I think the team will sink or swim with this defence corps and how close each player performs to the concept of what they could be. In terms of tools, this group is upper-echelon - there aren’t many this big, and there aren’t many this mobile. The skill level is off the charts. The questions are twofold: can they defend, and can the coaching staff unleash all that talent? I foresee Timmins getting 15 minutes a night as Power’s base partner, mostly against lesser lines. If you listen to what Adams said he was looking for in a Power partner, it sounded a lot more like the safer Timmins than the more aggressive Kesselring. Situational play and shortened benches will have Power up around 22 minutes. Dahlin and Byram (24 and 22 minutes) will be the top ES pairing. And Samuelsson and Kesselring will get 17 and 19 minutes respectively, often against bigger forwards. As a group they are exceptionally inexperienced in terms of games played, but at the same time there aren’t any rookies here, or neophytes needing to be sheltered as they learn the league. This is Dahlin’s 8th year as a pro, year 7 for Timmins, the 5th for Kesselring, Byram and Samuelsson, and #4 for Power. They’ve been around the block, experienced their share of adversity and are at the point in their careers where it’s time to ***** or get off the pot.

analytically he’s one of the top forcheckers in the game + he has very good size. A very late bloomer (went undrafted in his first year of eligibility which is shocking given his name) so let’s hope he develops as a decent scorer. I don’t expect him to approach Peterka’s numbers but if he can get to 70% of peterka’s offense that would be a huge win

This is nothing new ... but it is beyond pathetic The average number of playoff appearances since 2000 (not counting the Covid year) is 12 (note there were no playoffs in 2005). A standard deviation is 4.2 - which means anything between 8 and 16 is still kinda (?) "normal". Vegas and Seattle are excused. So, on the low end only Buffalo, Phoenix/Utah, and Columbus are outside of a reasonable variation. At the high end, Sharks (?!), Broons, Pens, and Caps are more than a standard deviation above the average. The median is 14. Bold italic numbers are active streaks. * means if you include the Covid year, the streaks gets one longer + means if you include the Covid year, the streak reduces to 5 (or 6 for the 'Nucks). If you discount Vaygus and Seattle, the average worst streak length per team is 6 years. Discounting the two covid years, roughly 1/3 of the teams that missed the playoffs one year make it the next. This is where that stats show it is not just "odds". By the 1/3 rule, the average streak would be roughly 3 years. Which means there are a significant number of teams who drop out of the playoffs for less than 3 years, then pop back in. And, to go with that - a bunch of teams that cannot get back in within 3 years. This peaked in 2015 and 2017 when half of the teams that missed the playoffs the previous season made it in the next year. It should also be noted that the last four years, just below 70% of teams have made the playoffs in any given 3 year period - the lowest in the 2000's, but with one more team not making it - this checks out. Diving further ... since 2000 - an average of 77% of the league makes the playoffs within any given 3 year period. Since 2000, every team has made the playoffs three years in a row except ... Buffalo 😞 (Seattle, too - but c'mon) Edit: Dive Deeper? OK ... Since 2000 - an average of 84% of the league makes the playoffs in any given 4 year period. This was greater than 90% in 2010, 2015, 2019, and 2021 ... Sabres, Oilers, and Phoen-tah miss in 3 out 4 of those years. A word about straight "odds" - over a three years stretch, based solely on 1/2 the league making it (was actually more than that most of the 2000's), it should be 87.5% of teams making it. The real data is 77% (which means about 61% chance of missing each year). Similarly, for 4 years it should be 93.8%, real data is 84% - which oddly enough equates to a 63% chance of missing the playoffs. The 4 teams who managed to miss the playoffs for a staggering 10 or more years in a row obviously skew the data away from the statistical norms.

I'm sure that Doan will be a good addition. On the other hand, I'm hoping/expecting that Kesseiring will be the more impactful addition in this trade. If he can become the suitable partner for Power, it will benefit the unit a lot by allowing the other defenders to be more properly slotted.

Lol actually I am holding out hope he ends up being the best player in the deal literally for no other reason than I loved his Dad... unreasonable expectation for sure but one can hope he plays a similar game... and that... to your point would clearly help this team... but moreover his dad was a leader and we could use a leader with more alpha game upfront. I am hoping in two years time we look back at this trade and laugh like how could we have shed so much angst .... but we haven't done much of that lately so its a hope ...

Reimer -> Lyon Clifton ->Timmins Jokiharju -> Kesselring Peterka -> Doan Cozens -> Norris Lafferty -> Danforth

This will be my 12 year old daughter...

I don’t think that’s it. I’m pretty sure NB is a CT Scan tech. Anyway, congrats, NB.

Like a CDL but state. Big machine license

I think the Cozens Norris comparison is a more logical and cleaner one. Regardless, the holdover with subpar coaching is the constant that is hard to explain in terms that do not reflect badly on ownership. Ostensibly, an upgrade on the blue line at the cost of gambling you can replace Peterka's offense with the growth of young players is less favorable if the fella coaching the D is terrible at his job.

You've been arguing against the very thing you just posted. Last years roster didn't include Norris, so let's factor that in with the loss of Pererka's production, etc. I knew you would agree in the end.

We seem to be dullards in a room full of bright students.

What’s a CT license? I don’t know what I’m congratulating you for but it’s obvious you worked hard for it. 🍺

Got to keep the Billionaires safe I guess...

Finally finished doing all my CQR 10 year assessment CEs to keep my CT license... due next Thurs... had to do 40 since I opted out of the test... last 2 1/2 weeks has been a stressful pain... sigh... woo hoo now I can relax sort of... life!

Norm = GOAT

that’s the spirit! #nuance

A great QB and good coach can make up for a below average team in the NFL - enough to carry 53 players to a playoff berth. The NHL playoff odds are better but I think a great goalie and good coach should be enough to drag a below-average team to the playoffs. It's been a while (the last time we made the playoffs) since we had such competent goaltending.

He was as a jerk? Well, that settles it! Cancel away (I guess).

full marks - i chortled

We see this differently but there's no real reason to keep arguing it. For me it's a simpler equation. You take the roster that started last season and then you take the roster that starts this season. Compare and contrast all pieces together.