Derrico

Avatar bet or charity bet?

To the bolded, yes very much agree. But you look at, again, Toronto, more recently New Jersey and Colorado. I don't know about Jersey but I know the Avs have also played a bunch of young kids recently. Look how quickly they turned it around. I keep saying it but it really is a young man's league. Eichel has his warts but he's a hell of a player and (hopefully) entering his prime as early as this year. At some point this has to get turned around and when it does, I think it's going to be faster than anticipated.

You think Nathan Beaulieu is playing 59 games this season?

But that's the thing. I'm believing guys like Larsson (throw in a Pomminstein too) get pushed out of the lineup due to the youth movement. Also, I don't really mind Baptist. Think, no more Matt Moulson (from the get go). No more Matt Tennyson. No more Fedun. No Falk. No Georges. Seth Griffith played 21 games, Josefson played 39. GONE.

Man, I'm more hopeful than I have been in the past to be honest. Maybe it's just the unknown factor that keeps me hopeful (as opposed to the knowing they suck factor). But as I mentioned in the other thread, I think there is a large enough influx of youth that this thing can take off. I'm not saying they're going to break out like 2005 but I also had almost no hope for that team going into the season either. A lot of their youth came right in and surprised. I know Mitts didn't put up eye popping numbers in NCAA. But he looks good man. Sad to admit but I actually watched some of his college games I was so desperate for hockey (Sabres were out of it by Halloween) and he looked better than the numbers he put up. It reminded me of Eichel's rookie season where he could of easily had 15 more assists IMO if he played with someone who could finish. Dahlin is suppose to be the real deal. He could transform the defense in year one. I know D take longer to develop yada yada. He really could. Maybe unrealistic but I have high hopes for Oloffson this year. I think he's a regular by the second half of the season. He put up huge numbers last year. Plus, Liger has talked him up all along and he's been right before haha. Pilut. Another guy that could have a nice impact that not many are projecting. The SHL isn't the OHL. It's a very high quality league and he was just named the best defenseman in the league. Maybe he comes in and takes a job in camp. Maybe by December he's in the top 4. I donno, but I can't wait to find out if we have something here. Why the xxxx can't we find our Zaitsev?? I don't know. In years past it was well maybe Bailey or Baptiste will finally take the next step. Now there are like 6 young guys that could be good. I don't know they will be good. But damn, this year feels like more hope to me then in the past. Young man's game. I'm hoping that similar to Toronto, our high end prospects all come together and surprise some people.

Agreed on Nylander but no chance Sabres had average goaltending last year. I don't know how you define it but Lehner was 3.01 and .908 and Johnson had 3.55 and .891. Those are pretty brutal numbers.....

Doesn't have to be mutually exclusive. I think we're going to see a big influx of youngins throughout this season and let's hope it ends up like Toronto where they just start to take off from it. This isn't 1995, it's a young man's game. I think adding Mitts, Dahlin, Oloffson (I bet he's a regular by the end of the season) and another surprise young guy will make this team more competitive quicker than some think*. *team gets atleast league average goaltending

Apparently he went under at around 6am. That's either one he'll of a night or its probably not a factor.

I'm telling you guys, Baptist will be in the starting lineup.

Is Bailey and Baptist off the team in the above? I could see Bailey clearing waivers but I would hate to risk it. I think Baptist is already a good bottom 6 guy and would almost certainly be claimed. I would much rather play him over any of those 3.

I'm not predicting this at all but can you imagine what that would mean to this franchise? Adding mitts and Dahlin is already huge but a turnaround for Nylander to come close to his potential would speed this rebuild up. He is the exact position this team needs upgrading the most. Still not holding my breath tho.

This is all true. But you don't live in leaf country my friend.

I donno man, with or without karlsson Tampa is a tough beat either way. I think catching Boston is the first option and then Toronto. Best case may eventually get the first wildcard and cross over.

Nope. Sabres arnt winning the cup over the next couple seasons anyway so Tampa would be one of my favourite bets to prevent the leafs from doing it. It'll also hamstring Tampa enough with the cap that they will have to lose some other key players anyway.

BMI might be one of the worst metrics out there to determine ideal weight.

I really would like this discussion; just not today. Maybe within the next week or two though. For the record, if I do engage it will not be to try and throw ROR under the bus. I mean not to come across as thinking he was a bum now that he's been traded. I just also think his minutes will be replaceable with 'only' a bit of a drop off.

Know what else is awesome? Working on something for 3 hours and then losing power for that split second....you know the one where you think damn I can't remember the last time I saved this file? Then finding out that although there is an auto-recovery you're still missing enough info that you want to stab a co-worker in the eye? Ok, I don't want to derail this thread anymore. I'll wait for Thursday and the appropriate thread...... I also think you and Flagg are over playing ROR to a certain extent. He's been a pretty good player the three years he's been here. Nothing more, nothing less.

12 hours of looking at excel numbers. I'm cranky today.....

Today I learned Ryan O'Reilly was the greatest hockey player of all time despite making the playoffs in 2 of his 9 NHL seasons. Edit - with his team never winning a single playoff round.

Dahlin back in Buffalo again?? I thought he wouldn't be back until training camp. I guess if it's to sign your first NHL contract to make $925,000 base plus bonus it's worth the flight back across the pond.

This is where fancy stats and eye test seem to be inconsistent. Beaulieu looked like dog #### most of the year in my view but this analysis says he should be second pairing and everyone's corsi basically improves with him. I don't understand but there's some disconnect there. I do really like that analysis tho.

I guess but he was a first round pick. Wilson we acquired for basically nothing, he counts almost nothing against the cap and I wouldn't think fans have that high of expectations for him.

Meh, Wilson is making a million bucks. The whipping boys are usually left for guy's with much higher salary.

Casey Mittelstadt from 1-4-5 to 26-30-56

Lol. That is the equivalent.