Randall Flagg

Hall's a Hart trophy winner, Panarin got 11.6 mil He's gonna get 12, not 8

I'm not interested in the first round pick - I could probably be swayed into taking both that and Rodrigues out of the deal. Maybe adding something a bit smaller if we have to. Risto, something small for Bonino, Sissons?

When we did kickball during undergrad spring weekend, I did the same thing. I somehow got back to my dorm room, laid down, and couldn't get up again for hours

The biggest crime of the season was that Skinner didn't bury that pass

Kessel deserved Crosby's first Conn Smythe for Stanley Cup Playoff MVP

What a good conversation

Fair. I agree that that's their vision. But I'm just talking about what I see happening on the ice. It's far from a speed game with speed players right now.

I get that that's the idea, but it certainly doesn't work, probably because in today's NHL guys like Vesey and Sheary aren't fast relative to their peers, even though theyre not slow. I mean, every time we play the devils their random crappy fourth liners make my jaw drop because everyone in this league is a freaking speed demon now. And they're even worse at playing at speed than they are skating fast. And Skinner is a beautiful skater, but not in a speedy way really. his game is way less speed to me and way more "barrage the net with shots from in close without getting knocked down because he's figure skater strong" I need to see more of Johansson but he strikes me as another "good skater" whose play identity isn't contributing to a team that's faster than all other teams We still seemed like one of the slowest teams in the league with Eichel, Mitts, Skinner, Sheary, and "mobile defense" last year

FWIW, it'd take like 7 years for the Sabres to adequately transfer their organization over to playing St. Louis hockey. We're very lucky it's not the only way. I didn't see much of a coherent identity in last year's team. I can see one forming in the defense, but the forwards are still completely scattered in my mind.

I'm almost positive that everyone you're arguing with is using the word "heavy" as a symbol for their play style and not their physical weight on planet earth.

Based on their work on the lower boards in the offensive zone, that'd be a safe bet! You know those times when the Sabres play against teams like that, and it's so maddening that theyre incapable of making anything happen? The game in Dallas this season was like that for me. I feel like that times a billion is how Jets/Stars/Sharks/Bruins fans felt in the playoffs

There are countless hockey styles that can be successfully incorporated into a winning team. Playing heavy hockey is still one of them, provided the heavy is of the Blues brand, and not the 2007 Flyers brand (and I don't think anyone sticking up for heavy hockey is insinuating they want Derian Hatcher as their 1D).

Fun fact - using that weighted-shot data that has been talked about, takig into account shot type and location, no NHL netminder had an "easier" job than Jordan Binnington this past year. St. Louis's D is really good. This counter only makes sense if I had said "having a large weight means you will always make the playoffs and if it's not your distinguishing style you can never win a cup." What I actually said was that the Blues used the fact that teams are overwhelmed by them physically in a way that allowed them to be puck-dominant and they won games that way, while also being suffocating defensively, both by raw skill (Dunn), smarts (Parayko, Pietrangelo) and physically snuffing people out (Parayko, Petro, Gunnarsson/Bortuzzo/everyone else) There is no sweeping claim being made here, it's just an observation about this year's cup winner.

The Blues owned the puck their entire playoff run. They 100% used the fact that they could body any opponent at will to receive and retain that puck. IMO it's a push between them and the LA cup teams for who was more effective on the boards, particularly down low. Teach us about Sissons!

Just you wait until we dump Risto and Scandella, and bring in Jake Gardiner ? Don't forget about Borgen though in the 'top prospects' list. And I know what you mean by "capable shutdown guy" so I understand why he skirted your post, but I think McCabe has decent defensive chops. I almost made my summer video focus "all the Dahlin plays we've forgotten" but I felt the thing I did instead was more pressing. I can't wait til I'm done with grad school

It was the one part of his skating that wasn't sublime, and came as a bit of a surprise to me. He lost a lot of races if he had to start from rest, though his top end speed is fine and obviously his edges are ludicrous. It was talked about a fair bit during the season from what I remember, so I don't think I'm seeing things. I would bet money it's just because he still has those skinny 18yo legs. A summer of squatting with Risto will probably do wonders. It feels like the one part of skating that's hard to improve past a certain level without bearing down and adding strength.

Detective time - his instagram story working out with Risto showed Risto doing squats. Usually when guys work out together, they are doing the same things - wouldn't make sense for Dahlin to be focusing on traps and shoulders while Risto hit legs. Therefore, Dahlin's first step will gain the needed explosiveness that was lacking his rookie year.

I already think our defense last year was better than it appeared, but was hindered by the forwards. And our defense got a fair bit better these last couple months.

I'm not joining the club because last night was enough stats reading for the next year or so. Also, I'd never remember to check it anyway

They wouldn't do it, but Rakell would be sweet. It'd probably end up being Henrique. I'd add to turn it into Henrique and Kase.

I think the LTIR of Callahan killed it. Unless he also had a NTC or something. But I always pictured loading up on salary when they still had real cap problems to yoink him outta there. And while I would have no qualms building the package into something that WOULD make them willing to give him up, I don't expect the Sabres to do the same. I still hope they take a shot on a player that is solid now and they think can be special, rather than a Tyler Johnson type.

Orders of magnitude difference there. The "error analysis" done by polling versus that done by any hockey nerd, or any real scientist, are simply not comparable from what I've seen. (I'm sure not all polls are conducted this way, I know a guy like Nate Silver is likely rigorous)

In 2008 it was, at least. as recently as 2017, I found an article that basically confirms it's impossible to find this information anywhere haha. For what it's worth, whatever you think of the data, it still outperforms all basic counting stats in all the ways that have been outlined over the years, and I dont think anyone is miscounting goals, assists, or points! If it didn't, we wouldn't use it.