mjd1001

I'm not worried about October vs October. I am comparing him now to his entire year last year. You don't want/need last October's McLeod, you need last Seasons Mcleod...and he simply is not playing as well now as he was for the year as a whole last year (he's also partially getting paid for his performance the entire year last year, not October. And again, its not just the mistakes he is making, his mistakes have come in closer games that have cost the Sabres goals. The goals allowed stats above you posted show that. What they do not show is that not only was he on the ice for those goals, his specific play, not his teammates, was directly responsible for many of the goals against. Trust me, I like him as a player. I was one of the leaders on this forum pounding the table to extend him as I thought he was one of the top 5 or 6 players on the team last year. I just am not seeing it this year (yet). I don't think he is a 'bad' or 'overrated' player. I'm just saying he needs to be better than he is now and he is one of the players that is noticably playing worse now than he did for most of last year.

Last year as the season went on he moved 'up' to a 2nd line role. Just before Cozens was traded, he was getting 2nd line minutes. After Cozens was traded, he was getting some nights first line minutes with 2nd line assignments. He also this year has been up and down in terms of 'responsibility' Shot answer, I did not factor in the exact competiton becasue that is really hard to do. Longer answer, there may some difference in the weighting of his competition/assignement, but it isn't a direct "one role this year vs a totally different role all of last year", and even if it was, the numbers are still way down. But above all, as I said in a previous post, I am noticing by watching the games mistakes he is making this year that he didn't make as often last year. Just my opinion.....sample size is really small yet.

Its look like 'no' right now. They are tied for 20th-26th in the league in point percentage. They are 21st in the league in goal differential (per game) My own personal 'eye test' opinion doesn't tell me they are that much better than other teams around them near the bottom of the standings (Anaheim, Boston, Minnesota, Seattle, Chicago, Rangers, Kings)

As far as Dahlin goes....there isn't a huge sample size and I'm just going to quote a couple simple analytics, but they may be an indication of what we are seeing: Last year with Dahlin on the ice even strength: 26.6 shots allowed per 60, 26.8 scoring chances allowed per 60, 10.7 high danger chances per 60. Team GAA 3.00. 3.07 expected goals alllowed per 60. He was a +6 in on ice even strength goal differential last year for the entire year. This year with Dahlin on the ice even strength: 31.3 shots allowed per 60, 29.6 scoring chances allowed per 60, 14.7 high danger chances per 60. Team GAA 4.22. 3.85 expected goals allowed per 60. He is a -9 in even strength goal differential this year through just 11 games. https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerteams.php?fromseason=20252026&thruseason=20252026&stype=2&sit=ev&score=all&stdoi=oi&rate=n&team=BUF&pos=S&loc=B&toi=0&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410&lines=single&draftteam=ALL https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerteams.php?fromseason=20242025&thruseason=20252026&stype=2&sit=ev&score=all&stdoi=oi&rate=n&team=BUF&pos=S&loc=B&toi=0&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410&lines=single&draftteam=ALL

He has made a lot of mistakes he didn't make last year. Going into last night, a few of us have pointed out in GDTs he just seemed unaware of things around him that have caused problems in other game. Not always showing up in the numbers/analytics, but it has been noticable. Then last night, he played the zone entry on the First Boston PP goal pretty badly (he was out of position), and he had the giveaway on the other Boston goals. One of the simplest ways to look at him...this year when he is on the ice even strength, The team is allowing a goal every 11.2 minutes. Not only is that the worst among forwards that take a regular shift, but it is drastic drop-off from last season, where it was a goal allowed every 18.5 mins. (with similar usage) I'm not saying he is hot garbage out there, but he has been in my opinion below average mostly due to mental mistakes that didn't happen nearly as much last year. By far and away I thought he was the best defensive forward on the team. This year, in terms of positioning and reliabilty, Krebs is outperforming him in THAT aspect of the game.

They had 12 points in 7 games in February. 18 points in 10 games toward the end of last year. Just about every year they have a streak or two as good (or better) than they have been on lately.

I keep hearing 'but they got a point' or 'they saved a point'...yeah I get it. But the realy is....3 straight games a team in your conference gained a point on you. Get to 95 points is what they need on the season, but you aren't doing that with OT losses after losses.

Tuch led the league in SH goals last season..

When hes back from Injury, I'd much rather have a healthy Kozak in the lineup rather than Greenway. Not because of that penalty he just took....just overall.

Not quite 40%, at least among skaters. Doan is doing well. Timmons not much is expected from, but I'm happy with him meeting those low expectations. Josh Dunne? not really a regular. Norris? He looked pretty good in his 2 periods (TECHNICALLY not a newcomer) Kesserling? way too early to tell, not even 2 full games yet.

About time, Tuch was a clutch player the last few years, not this year. Up until now.

Maybe its just a perception thing by me. When they are losing everything looks bad I guess.

Not sure if any analytics back this up, or if there ARE any analytics to back it up, but... Its seems like the Sabres either take shots from WAY out that have no chance of going in, or they over-pass trying to set up the perfect goal and end up not even getting a shot off. There just doesn't seem to be a middle ground...make a good pass to set up a good scoring chance.

Shots are 36-16. They are likley getting 40 or more while Boston might struggle to get 20. They have to find a way to win this one.

Doan, as I said, his entire game in the offensive zone is going to the net. He's ALWAYS just going straight to the net.

Questionable goaltending game by Lyon and the inability to score on a bad goalie. And McLeod almost single handedly caused/allowed Boston's first 2 goals with bad plays.

Shots early in the 3rd: Sabres 32, Boston 14 Scoring chances: Buffalo 18, Boston 9 Score? Sabres down by multiple goals.

Except for his very first fight in the NHL back in 2018, Tage Thompson has actually handled himself really, REALLY well in fights. If he had less skill and never became a goal scorer, he might have a career as an enforcer in the NHL. He only gets in one per year though, and he's not exactly the guy I want running people. A wrist, hand, or shoulder injury, even a minor one, tanks his whole game.

Greenway has never gotten in more than 3 fights in any given year. He has a total of 12 fights, now in his 9th NHL season.

When I look at goals allowed, the blue-line is not GOOD, but often times they actually are in position and are still getting hung out to dry by the forwards coverage (or lack of) in the defensive zone. With Dahlin's PP goal, they are right near top 10 in the league in PP%. And Doan does go to the front of the net basically all the time, that is his whole game in the offensive zone. I get your point overall though.

Tuch has been invisible this game pretty much.

Spicy Indian food is under-rated. Too bad only 1 other person in my family even touches it besides myself.

Krebs had a rought start to the season, but I think his defensive game/positioning has been really good the past week or two. Of course he's not scoring at all, and that is what this team needs now.

Maybe with the assets they get, they could get the NEXT Dahlin, Power, and UPL.

Bruins team GAA vs the rest of the league this year: 3.91 Bruins team GAA vs the Sabres this year: 0.66