dudacek

Not sure whether to take that as Okposo is out for sure, or Cozens is the placeholder. Affects my reaction. Asplund is one I had not considered opening night, but this is the year he should make them team if he is going to be a player. Pulling for him. Like his game a lot at the lower level. Hasn't looked yet like it will translate.

Sabre cracks the list of The Athletic's top regression candidates. Writer Harman Dayal's logic seems sound: I really liked the Eric Staal-for-Marcus Johansson swap from the Sabres’ perspective. The veteran centre should be able to fill Buffalo’s gaping second-line centre void in a way that Johansson probably couldn’t. With that said, I don’t think Staal will be as productive as he was in Minnesota where he notched 47 points in 66 games last season. For one, he’s likely to see a pretty notable decline in power-play opportunity. Staal was a fixture on Minnesota’s first unit, one that ranked top-10 in the NHL last season, by virtue of being the Wild’s best centre. Coming to Buffalo, he’ll obviously cede those duties to Jack Eichel and fall to the second unit which means Staal could see a decline on the 14 power-play points he managed in 2019-20. In addition to possibly reduced five-on-four time, Staal might also be in the midst of a modest even-strength decline. The 36-year-old went from averaging 8.4 shots per 60 minutes of five-on-five play to just 5.8. What kept Staal’s goal-scoring numbers propped up was the fact that his shooting percentage spiked to 15.5 percent to compensate — that’s an outlier (it’s Staal’s career high shooting percentage) and unlikely to last. Combine less PP usage with an inflated even-strength shooting percentage and I think there’s a pretty strong chance you see a dip in Staal’s production. https://theathletic.com/2315120/2021/01/12/nhl-regression-candidates-2021/

Hmm... I forgot I wrote this. Maybe it’s why I’m giving Adams the benefit of the doubt. 😜

The Sabres have so many questions it’s hard to point at one, but Eakin is among the most pivotal in my mind: he is being relied on to improve our speed, our PK, our forechecking, our backchecking and our bottom six scoring. That is a helluvalot to put on a guy who scored 15 points last year with disastrous fancystats playing on two good teams. Do they have intel on why he sucked and reason to think he can reverse his graph? @Brawndo’s comment really hit home for me about how he is the poster child for eye test versus analytics. I can’t say I’ve watched him a ton, but I remember him best from Dallas and Vegas playoff runs where I loved his hustle. I thought he would have fit in well on the 98 or 99 Sabres with his speed and relentless approach. But it’s hard to ignore last year’s numbers. I think his play will definitely influence my respect for the player evaluation skills of our new staff.

Just like the Bills?

I'm not sure exactly what you guys are debating, but it's indisputable that the Sabres were a better ES team under Krueger last year than they were the previous year under Housley. That's the case both in counting stats and advanced stats.

Why are you so convinced guys like Casey, R2 and Cozens are ahead of guys like Okposo and Lazar and Ralph is willfully ignoring that?

He has. A big part of the reason I like Linus.

Does anyone think we will actually see him play? Krueger certainly wasn't expecting him to before he saw him play.

Did not see this Krueger quote to Hoppe about Skinner elsewhere: “It’ll be important for Jeff to just keep working hard,” Krueger said. “And again, our principles need to be the guideline, but within that framework every player has the opportunity to let his genius express itself. For Jeff, that’s usually in the danger zone in front of the other team’s net. So his linemates need to get him there, he needs to do the work to get himself there and the goals will follow. It’s always hard work before you get rewarded

I am amazed at how the Jack Quinn of the scrimmage looked so much more like the Jack Quinn I watched in Ottawa than the Jack Quinn I saw at the WJC. It appears his defence-first mentality at the tourney was very much by coaching design and masked the offensive part of of his game.

I think this has been well-explored. Mitts has been as bad as Skinner in his own zone and Cozens has never played an NHL game. Sheahan (or Lazar) brings a defensive conscience and a predictable guy who plays on "the right side of the puck" and can allow Skinner to freelance. Ralph has made it clear he wants lines that he doesn't want to have to hide match-up wise. Not arguing with your point, just answering your question. Is this based entirely on Eakin's play last year, or have you not liked what you've seen in camp?

Absolutely. I think that seems to be where the board consensus is going if Ralph doesn't want Skins with Staal and Sam. Semi-related: I mean there was never any doubt, but you really know you're a Sabre nerd when you look at that chart and think 'that Mitts line looks interesting, love to see what it could do in Rochester'

That is outstanding. 😂 I'm loving Jack's new look: at least our top three centres look like hockey players.

From the Athletic's annual goalie ranking, gleaned from a poll of 6 NHL GMs, 4 head coaches, 5 goalie coaches, Linus was 23rd: For a guy who is 27 years old and has never played in more than 37 games in his NHL career, the 6-foot-4 Swede received a sneaky high amount of love. Especially in the goalie-coaching community. “I’m a fan. I like his style. I love his compete. He plays with an edge,” said one. “Ullmark has paid his dues. He’s going to surprise people. He can hold his team up this year.” “I’ve seen enough of him in Buffalo. He made some good improvements last year with (goalie coach Mike) Bales and his skill level with playing a little bit more conservative,” said another. “He’s going to be pretty consistent.” One more vote of confidence from a coach: “He’s the better of their two goalies. I like him a lot. He’s athletic. I think he’s got a great future.” https://theathletic.com/2308397/2021/01/10/nhl-goalie-rankings/

Was watching a presser with my wife in the room and she pipes up "what's up with that guy? Is he asking a question or telling a story?"

Yep. Congratulations to Borgen, Mittelstadt, Asplund and anyone else who made the cut It looks like this is our team this year (from what Ralph said, it doesn't look like it will matter which of the spares are technically on the taxi squad): Hall Eichel XXX XXX Staal Reinhart YYY Eakin Okposo XXX YYY YYY Dahlin Montour McCabe Risto Miller Jokiharju Ullmark Hutton XXX: Skinner, Thompson, Olofsson (Cozens, Mittelstadt, Quinn) YYY: Reider, Lazar, Sheahan, Asplund, Cozens, Mittelstadt, (Quinn), Girgensons ZZZ: Irwin, Borgen, Davidson, Johansson Here's to hoping that Kevyn acquired the right pieces and Ralph makes the right choices.

With all this focus on Skinner/Krueger, I haven’t really heard what you guys think about the macro picture being tested here: Do people like Thompson with Eichel and Hall? How about Olofsson with Staal and Reinhart? Would either Victor or Tage be a better fit with two of Sheahan/Lazar/Cozens on a line Ralph apparently wants to be able to trust both ways? Personally, I suspect it’s going to be Eichel/Hall Staal/Reinhart Eakin/Okposo and a revolving door and the above debate will lose its heat because two of Thompson VO and Skinner click where they are and we’re winning, or two of them don’t and we shake things up because we’re losing. Another development that hasn’t really been a talking point that I am quietly pumped about: Dahlin and Montour have been regular thing with Eichel and Hall.

I got the roster at 31 right now, not including Zemgus. Max they can have between roster and taxi is 29 so at least two more have to go. I think R2, Samuelsson Oglevie and Davidson are the guys left in the Blue group that weren't sent down. Asplund, Bryson, Borgen Mittelstadt, Quinn, Cozens still on the bubble as well?

I must say I am a little surprised about Johansson staying up and not Tokarski. But I guess playing time is irrelevant until the Amerks actually play and Ralph did say players can and will be streaming back and forth regardless of what 3rd of the roster they are listed on.

There's a chance we could grab Zac Dalpe, Nathan Gerbe and Hudson Fasching in one fell swoop to fix our third line? Git 'er done Kevyn!

I can see how it could sneak past you in that clip if you were expecting the usual and weren't familiar with his work. He's worth my Athletic subscription on his own.

it is my understanding that Brind'Amour was one of those who felt that Skinner needed to go.

Like a lot of people in this organization, he's got a lot to prove. Somehow, we've moved to an alternate reality where Sam Reinhart of all people has become the least likely Sabre to start an argument. He's trying to make you laugh. And he's also right.

Down Goes Brown is among the best reads in hockey.