TrueBlueGED

Circling back, the stat I was thinking of is indeed Goals Saved Above Average. I must not have recognized it because of Dudacek's crappy description :nana: Of goalies with at least 840 even strength minutes played (Why 840? Because it was the first number I got to that gave me 30 goalies), Lehner is 21st in GSAA, sandwiched between Ward and Miller. Using the same sample, more stats that maybe like 2 other people here will know what they are: Expected Fenwick SV%: 95.04, 2nd (!!!!) Actual Fenwick SV%: 94.12, 13th Adjusted Fenwick SV%: -.12, 21st ( :sick: ) Expected goals against: 25th ( :sick: ) Optimistic interpretation: He's been unlucky, and the numbers will rebound as the season drags on. Pessimistic interpretation: He's performing worse than he should be given what the team allows. My interpretation (based on more than just numbers you hosers): He's pretty average, though probably close to worth what he was acquired for in a pure paper sense; keep in mind that in addition to the prices for other goalies Dudacek posted, the expectation for your average late-1st is a 3rd liner...but I'd personally much rather have the lottery ticket for higher potential at another position. I stand by an observation I made earlier in the season that he's just remarkably unspectacular in every way. Certainly not an example of great asset management, but also not the disaster some decry it as. Edit: here, have a picture

Well, playing against other 18 year olds is going to be easier. But I think this is a good spot to snark about the Amerks playing Bylsma's system.

He's going to be in the NHL next season, and I'm not going to think any different regardless of how many times people tell me his body isn't ready.

Well, the stories prior to Rex's firing were precisely that: Whaley had convinced (or was convincing) the Pegulas to move on.

Maybe our illustrious afternoon radio hosts will ask him the next time he's on. Probably not, though.

I think the issue is two-fold. 1) Whaley said he had no idea Rex was on the hot seat. Now personally I don't think this is true, but if it is... 2) Whether Whaley knew, but especially if he did not, the owners going around the GM probably isn't a great way to run a professional football organization. And FWIW, Whaley may not have hired Rex, but he said he had input. One would think he'd also have input into a decision to move on.

Poor phrasing on my part. I don't think Whaley went out there with the intent of throwing the Pegulas under the bus, but the way he handled the questions about Rex made it look like he was doing just that. I think his intent was to do the typical GM thing of saying a whole bunch of nothing at all, but unintentionally ended up saying a lot...or what could be interpreted as a lot. Completely and totally botched the answers. Do you think Whaley was being 100% honest about everything? I sure don't. Even just the firing part of Rex, the stories that were leaking out before he was fired were that Whaley had convinced the Pegulas to move on from Rex. Totally contradictory to what he said today. I believe the leaks. Absolutely not. But in two years if (when?) this thing blows up in spectacular fashion, I think it could happen at that point, perhaps even likely to happen. I really don't think he knows this at all. At best, he might recognize he should be further removed from the coach hiring process.

There's actually a stat that adjusts "normal" statistics for quality of shots faced, and Lehner was near the bottom of the league amongst starters last I looked. I'll try to remember to double check this evening.

Well, you don't actually believe that bit, do you? I viewed it as Whaley (in incompetent fashion) washing his hands of the Rex hire to make himself look better at a time he'd have to try to look worse. Of course, with the way he went about it, it made every look worse. Seriously, first year communications students could come up with a better answer. I mean, if it's true, then even PA was wrong...they meddle way more than he ever imagined! Congrats PA, there's an outside shot you've been wrong for the right reasons! :p

These things are not mutually exclusive. That press conference was a glorious disaster. It's either Whaley threw the Pegulas under the bus with Rex, or it's total mayhem. Nobody believes that Whaley had no inclination Rex was on the hot seat, right? Because if he really had zero role, then the Pegulas are running the show in a way that even PA wouldn't have imagined. I can't believe he wasn't better prepared to handle the Rex questions. Do the Bills have a media relations staff? If so, they shouldn't anymore. Good lord. Freshman communications majors could come up with better strategies. One thing I am sure of: the Pegulas need help. I've scoffed at ancient names like Polian, but at this point I think it's undeniable that they need some kind of experienced senior hand to help steer the ship, at least for a couple years while they learn the NFL. And I'm not talking a name like Kelly to placate fans, I mean an experienced executive. To the surprise of nobody. Good, get it right.

And he's with Risto. Because Bylsma.

I continue to feel like this is by far the best case against Bylsma. Even with the injuries, there's no reason for this to be the case. FFS, Ennis, Moulson, and Girgensons were that team's best players, and they can barely get a regular shift on this roster...yet the offense is the same. I mean c'mon! :wallbash: An Xs and Os breakdown of each game shouldn't be necessary to know this is absurdly underperforming.

Kinda feel bad I didn't defend you more during the World Cup--you were 100% correct.

Dollars to donuts, once O'Reilly is back, Sam slides back to wing. Because reasons.

1) Define close 2) If not, will you finally admit Bylsma is terrible? :p

I think Matthews is better than Eichel--better hockey sense, better off the puck, better hands. Jack's a more explosive skater and has a better shot, but at the very least, Matthews is a more mature hockey player. McDavid is better than both, full stop...but even he just had like an 8 game skid of only 4 points. That said, I don't think the difference between Matthews and Eichel is especially large, and it's nowhere near as large as the gap between Babcock (top-3 coach) and Bylsma (AHL coach).

John Vogl ‏@BuffNewsVogl 9m9 minutes ago Sabres' lines: Foligno-Eichel-Okposo Kane-Reinhart-Bailey Carrier-Girgensons-Gionta Moulson-Grant-Ennis John Vogl ‏@BuffNewsVogl 8m8 minutes ago Sabres' defense: McCabe-Ristolainen Deslauriers-Bogosian Falk-Franson Deslauriers used to be a D-man. He's just holding spot till callup. Amazing how it takes injuries for Bylsma's lines to make sense, but I'll take it.

I don't think it's any worse of a precedent than allowing somebody who is bad at their job to continue doing it.

Sign me up for Lynn or Goodwin, I think. This is interesting. I think our defensive personnel is a really good fit for what Bradley wants to do...except for safety. That Seahawks defense was, and is, totally dependent upon what Earl Thomas can do at safety. Not that I expect a HoF-caliber safety to be drafted, but if Bradley is the DC, it makes it even more important than it already was to get a really good one.

Franson will definitely get us a pick around the deadline. Mike Weber got us a 3rd!

Big part of me is still finding it hard to grasp that Bylsma could be canned less than two seasons into a 5 year contract with a team fresh off tanking two seasons...but star players get coaches fired all the time, and with Jack looking (to me) checked-out on the ice, and throwing temper tantrums after games...maybe?

Yea, but Eichel and Drury are polar opposite personalities. The silver lining to Larsson's injury is that maybe, just maybe, Samson will stick at center after O'Reilly returns.

That was a tremendous pass by Risto. But even though he scored, look at Jack's body language--there's nothing there. That's what Eeyore would look like if he scored.

Everyone not named Reinhart, anyway.

I bet you're also about to post how awesome that Reinhart carry-in was :)