JoeSchmoe

What are you using for your metrics? Moneypuck has Dahlin last in expected goal % among our non-trainwreck defenseman (i.e. Clifton and EJ)

Seems like Sabremetrix just jumped in with some additional shade on Dahlin. Again, the talent is there. The urgency isn't, especially coming out of his own end.

I don't agree with this tweet, mostly because I'm really not a fan of Power's play this year... But this is our there. I don't think he's accounting for matchups.

23-24 he hasn't looked much different post-injury as pre-injury. Last year he was a big part of this team leading the league in scoring for a large part of the season. He's currently at 19pts in 26 games. That drop-off in offense is a killer. It'd be one thing if he was trying and failing... But it seems he's not even attempting those plays where all 6'6" of him would blow around (and through) defenses. What happened to his highlight reel hands? The shot's still there, but he doesn't seem to have the will to get in the positions to get it off as much. Among many, many faults on this year's team, his drop off in play has hurt us most.

Last year at this point he was in the conversation for MVP. Where would he be in MVP voting now?

He's been pretty darn lackadaisical on the breakout all year and PP zone entries have been a nightmare. His defense was for sure better last year. Getting sucked in behind the net on the PK was pretty Sunday League. I didn't say he was bad because he's still our best player but he's playing pretty uninspired hockey.

Here's my ranking. It's almost like everything that could go wrong did. The only bright spots were Mittelstadt, Peterka, and Benson. Skinner gets a conditional pass as well, since his linemates appear to have packed it in. 1. Thompson's a lot worse and seems disinterested 2. Our 5 and 6 D are a lot worse 3. KA didn't get a #1 goaltender, and kept Comrie and UPL on the roster 4. Cozens is a lot worse 5. Tuch is worse 6. Samuelson is worse 7. Dahlin's effort is suspect most nights 8. Power hasn't improved at all, especially defensively 9. Quinn has been hurt 10. Krebs is likely not an NHL of any significance but still plays a lot 11. Granato won't play Ryan Johnson despite him being at worst our #5 D. 12. VO and our backlog of offense prospects failed to get moved for defensive help. 13. We still give a roster spot to brain-dead ZG. 14. Big guys like Greenway, Robinson, and Power play like 🐱

What do you see in his skillset that leads you to think this? Are you sure you're not being fooled by his draft position or his non-stop cheating on D for offense?

What's Girardi doing?

He doesn't appear to care this year either. Last year he was all heart. What happened?!?!

Dahlin doesn't try. Yes, he's our best player and we have no one to replace him, but I'm running 5 F's next PP.

Other than cheating like crazy, I don't see the upside. Rivet went off on him a few weeks back and I agree. Toughness- no Solid D play- no PP QB- no Skating- not really Shot- hard no His only claim to fame is cheating and being out of position enough to the point where he ends up with more points than a more responsible defenseman. Yes, he's young... But unlike Dahlin, he didnt immediately come into the league. Given he has a small fraction of Dahlin's skill, he needs to spend more time in the Dan Girardi school of defense (speaking of which, what has he done to help this team?!?!) rather than think he's the 2nd coming of Bobby Orr.

Let's get a guy who's serious about success.

It really is mind boggling. Between that and his "I've fallen and I can't get up" approach to flurries in front of the net, it makes me wonder how anyone decided he might be an NHL goalie. Is it coaching or just a total lack of mental discipline and combined with zero athleticism?

Sabres come first, but if they're 💩'ing the bed I could easily be convinced to watch the Bills given it's pretty much do or die.

We've learned there's no need to tune in Saturday.

A friendly F You to anyone who said take Girgensons over Okposo. We got them both, but 35yo Okposo has actual hockey IQ. Girgensons is skates, a motor, and not a lot else.

Someone tell me why Joker is sitting tonight.

Here's the team relative expected goals. He's about mid-tier on the team, so his defense must be satisfactory. Analyzing the stats further though, we all know he's completely incapable of providing any offense, so what is expected by a normal defenseman wouldn't be delivered by Samuelson. In 5 on 5 shooting talent he's 6th worst in the league among D. Edit: The question is though, is he consistently getting more tough matchups vs the other D men on the team? If so, he MAY still be playing up to his contract.

Faceoffs matter guys: As I type this we're up on them at 57.4%.

Dec 16, 1121pm: I am now officially listening to complaints about sacking Granato. This team needs accountability. There was zero effort tonight. Zero pride. Zero respect for the fans that are watching. Bring in someone to crack the whip on these guys.

Dahlin doesn't care either. Rivet ripped him last week, and everything he said I agree with.

He just doesn't seem to care.

I'm getting mad.