mjd1001

And this is likely to get worse as the next few games go on..... NHL Injury Viz: 2025/26 team injury breakdowns (through 7 November)

And my point is I want to change when it's going to be significant enough to actually make a difference

I found this interesting... On the national hockey show on 590 out of Toronto, they just spent a lot of time talking about Edmonton's goaltending problem. One of the hosts just brought up...what if Edmonton were to go after UPL out of Buffalo... The other host said he can't see Buffalo doing that... Because his understanding is when UPL is healthy... That's Buffalo's guy. The problem is he just can't stay healthy. They kept on saying he was a 'good player' and a 'good goalie' and that it wouldn't make sense for Buffalo to trade him. Anyway, I don't know how plugged they are into what's going on with theSabres, but both of them seem to think that Buffalo is still 100% behind UPL and would not want to trade him.

Someone is easily triggered... Who once told me that they like posting in short form more.. compared to my long form.

It might be the move to make at this point but I wouldn't say it isn't simple. Simple would mean you fire him and you were on the right path. It's more complicated than that because more changes are needed. Adam's gone... Not enough. There has to be more with it. If you let Adams go.... Promote from within... And basically have the status quo... Again, that's not good enough. Move on from Adams, but then any like-minded people in the front office have to get moved on from also. And you better bring someone in from the outside who is going to have no connection to any of these players.

I agree with you for the most part. Dahlin, not this year but for most of the past 3 years he plays like a top 10 defenseman in the league. And if he had a better team around him, a forward group that put the puck into the net and made him look better on the back end... Where he had more assists and possibly took pressure off him where he had more goals, with his talent and how well he does play, not counting this year so far, hed be considered one of the best elite defenseman in the league. Norris trophy finalist if not eventual winner. As for Power, he was the number one pick in a pretty weak draft.. not only that, but one of the drafts coming out of covid where you didn't have a ton of scouting. I would think Power in most drafts would be a guy picked between number 3 and number 6. And if that was the case there probably would be a little bit more leeway for him, less pressure to perform, less heat from the fan base. Not everyone, but a lot of guys picked three to five picks lower than him are given a few years to grow into what they're supposed to be with slightly lower expectations.

It depends on what you mean by sneaking into the playoffs? Is it one of the worst years or should I say.. that that easiest years to get into the playoffs where somebody can do it with 88 points? I might have to think about that. But if sneaking in... Still requires 95 or 96 points... Then to me... If this team can get to 95 or 96 points this year... They're a pretty good team for the rest of the year. If this team were to get to that level... It means that they are showing some growth and I'd want to actually see that happen before I'd make the decision. Because honestly, if they were to get to that level from where they are now.... It probably means the new additions are playing pretty well, and some of the young guys are developing and playing pretty well. I agree with this almost 100%. If they are going to make changes... The change in Terry pegula's mentality has to be part of that. I don't know how you can force that or mandate that though, which is part of the reason for the feeling of hopelessness with this franchise at the moment.

There aren't many metrics analytically that I trust to evaluate goalies. Xga vs ga is one that makese some sense to me. Very close to GSAA, related to it and just another way to express it. For the year so far: Alex Lyon: expected goals against, 36.24. Actual goals allowed 32 (so above average) Colton Ellis: expected goals against, 3.75. Acutal goals allowed 2 (only one start, but a very good ratio) UPL: expected goals against, 6.89. Actual goals allowed 9 (so pretty bad). Its simplistic, but you want your actual goals allowed to be better than your expected goals allowed. UPL, in a small sample size, is the only want that isn't that way. For reference, Reimer last year was positive, UPL and Levi were both negative last year.

Travis Sanheim? Anyone watch a lot of Flyers games and have an opinion on him? I've watched parts of 4 philly games this year now...and every time I see him, he's almost 'perfect' back there. Hardly makes a mistake, always makes the correct play. He doesn't put up the numbers with goals and assists, but is it a stretch to say he might be someone who could at least get SOME consideration for a Norris trophy? He's also 3rd in the league with over 26 minutes per game.

I understand your point, but I don't quite think it's to that level. It wouldn't just involve the coaching by the head coach.. It would have to be the assistant coaches.. And more importantly it would have to be his influence on purging the roster of some players that aren't good enough.

If someone else took his full salary I would take basically nothing in return. To me, getting that salary cap space back, and removing him as a third goaltender on the roster... Is much more valuable than mid-round draft pick or low to mid-level prospect.

The new stadium was scheduled to be open for the first game next year. Technically not 100% complete, but close enough so they could use it. Now according to this, it looks like they're falling behind on their schedule. I'm going to assume they can still make opening day next year... But anything else that happens to make them fall farther behind.. could make things interesting. https://www.wgrz.com/article/sports/nfl/future-of-the-bills/buffalo-bills-stadium-construction-falls-behind-schedule/71-29251991-50e4-4e03-81c2-942aa06a90b5

So Byram is now the #1 D-man without Dahlin? When Dahlin was hurt last year Byram got the most ice time and played some of his worst hockey of the year when asked to step up. So how is he doing tonight through 2 periods? - no points, -2. -Corsi for: 5 Against 23 (one of the worst ratios I have seen for a player in an individual game) -Fenwick for: 5 Against 18 -On ice shots for: 3 Allowed 15 -expected goals for 0.15 Expected goals allowed 1.25 -scoring chances for: 1 Scoring chances against: 8 Again, 2 periods only but 2 very VERY bad periods with on ice analytics. Some of the worst numbers you can imagine anyone having that is leading their team in ice time. The thing is this isn't just one bad game. When Dahlin missed time last year, he 'flopped' pretty hard then too.

So Dahlin is out, Byram is getting the most ice time among D-men, and this might be the worst game I have ever seen him play. He is not a first pair guy. No loss if he gets traded, no loss if he doesn't get signed next year.

I walked away from the game for a bit, and came back. Shots are 23-9 Carolina. Lookin Good!!!

Not too interested in thinking about him now. Now if you want to do a rebuild/teardown, go ahead, but it can't be focused on getting him. If, IF You are the worst team in the league (and even the Sabres have a lot of catching up to do), you only about about a 1/4 chance of winning that pick. So a position that would be a stretch even for them to get to, almost 75% chance they wouldn't get him. You want to rebuild/tear things down, talk to me about that. But the plan has to work WITHOUT getting him. IF by luck you got him, that would just be a bonus.

I honestly don't think the defensemen had played poorly as a group this year. And that is with Dahlin not playing his best. There is a pretty good chance they can still play solid for a period of time without him. The team can get by, but the need to get decent goaltending, and the forward have to really step up. You can get by without Dahlin for a while if you can manage to score 3-4 goals per game.

Marcus Foligno...having a rough start to the year. He is still getting between 13-14 minutes ice time per game, so 3rd line minutes. But not only does he have no goals, no assists, no points in 14 games...but he has been on the ice for 11 goals against, while he has not even been on the ice for a single goal for.

It wasn't just the youtube video about floridas facility (if anyone hasn't watched it, I recommend it) but there was an article I read about sports teams overall and their facilities (mentioned NHL and NBA teams, some NFL, but also focused on some soccer teams abroad). There is also a youtube video on the Seattle Kraken training facility. I'm sure this is big in college recruiting also. Anyway, the point was the new way to attract players is by the facility. Its not new, but to the extent teams are going it is new. Its about having your practice/training facility (and even your arena) not downtown, but in a nice suburb where players live. Closer to the airports (players fly out a lot and they want to be close to both the practice facility and the airport. Ammenities rivaling high end spas (and some of them that are open to family members of players and staff) Private high-end dining. Barbershops with professional barbers/stylists for the players on site. Frequent functions for families/wives/kids at the rink with ammenities catering to familes. I forgot the franchise but one mentioned (I THINK it may have been overseas) that has an option that when the players come in for practice, they park in a private area, take their private golf cart from the parking area to the training center, and while they are practicing they can have their car professionally washed/detailed and ready when they return. This is what you are now competing with. This is what players want. Apparently that is what young players want.

Is it "a housing" or "an housing" I think it this case it should be "a housing" but the original post said "an housing" so i'm not 100% sure.

As for Dahlin, there are a lot of reasons why he might be playing better/worse than last year. Opponents, time on ice, who he's paired with, etc. But as far as his performance, some metrics: Last year (all based on even strength): -Goal for every 17.5 minutes on ice, Goal allowed every 21.2 minutes on ice. -Expected goals: one for every 18.6 minutes. Expected allowed 1 every 20.3 minutes. This year (all based on even strength): -Goal for every 39 minutes on ice, Goal allowed every 15.2 minutes on ice (way, WAY worse than last year) -Expected goals: one for every 21.4 minutes. Expected allowed 1 every 16.1 minutes. So yeah, again, could be a lot of reasons, but when he is on the ice, the team is getting chances/giving up chances (expected goals) a LOT worse than last year....and actual goals for/goals against are also a lot worse than last year. He's not himself. This really should be a good thing for him, obviously personally (that goes without saying) but regarding hockey he may need it also.

I'll put out a scenario that is not likely...but something we can wish/hope for..... -The team plays pretty well and takes 4 or 5 points in the next 4 games. (or for however Dahlin is gone, they get a point per game or slightly better than that.) They learn to play as a team without him...and when he comes back, hopefully feeling good physically and mentally, he lifts the team up even a bit more.

Scoring was in issue last night of course, but if the Sabres did lose 70% of the board battles it only made the game 'on ice' closer than it was. The bottom line is the Sabres pretty much dominated chances to score. For most of the game they had double the shots. They were way up on offical 'scoring chances'. They had more 'high danger' scoring chances. Whether it was through board battles, possession, faceoffs, or whatever...the Sabres had a lot more legit chances to score than they allowed. They just didn't finish. UPL wasn't awful all night, he didn't let in 6 goals or something like that, but the goals he did let in, one he was slow on, the other was just soft, soft, soft (again.) The soft goals I hardly noticed 2 years ago, but since the start of last season, they are happening on a very regular basis with him. And as far as UPL not costing them the game. Yeah, they didn't score so that is kinda true, but they really, REALLY limited St. Louis to hardly any good scoring chances. Other goalies would not have allowed those 2 goals that UPL did last night, and hence it would have/could have been going to OT again at 0-0.

To be clear, I think he would do a 'better' job unencumbered (how much better may still not be good enough)...however, at this point it might be better to blow the whole thing up. And by that I mean Adams AND everyone else in the front office, they all have to go. There is just to much of the potential to 'overvalue' their own guys they brought in. A new set of eyes from the outside is less likely to do that.

At this point, if you can find anyone to take his full contract off your hands, I'd do it. 2round pick, 5th round pick, 'future considerations', whatever. Take the best offer. To me its important to just 'move on' and free up that money if its possible. If Lyon and Levi/Ellis aren't the answer, then you are in no worse situation on the ice than you are with UPL, but you have nearly $5m more in cap space. With Doan, and Kesserling, and Benson, and Tuch, and 3 bottom of the roster spots needing to be signed next year, AND currently only about $20m to spend on all of that, every dollar counts and you are wasting a lot of those dollars on UPL. If he can be moved, The return in assets doesn't matter. The return in cap space is more valuable than what he gives you as a player now.