GASabresIUFAN

Please show me the error in my math! Please show me what situations are considered EV besides 5 on 5, 4 on 4 and 3 on 3.

I've never said that. In fact I've said quite the opposite. However, I'm also a realist. Adams is the GM and I've been posting (and I've said this as well) that Adams game plan is to keep the forwards pretty much as is. Adams made that clear when he re-signed Zucker and Greenway and stated JJP is part of the core. As I pointed out in @dudacek thread about next season, the Sabres could run back the entire current roster except Reimer (with Levi replacing him), as all 23 possible players are either under contract or RFAs and would cost about 96 million. I posted in that thread that our best hope for positive change was to trade either Byram or Power, trade Clifton and buyout Samuelsson so that we'd have about 15-16 million to spend on real D men. I also wished for a top 6 playmaker, but said that acquiring one wasn't realistic given our current cap and Adams' obvious plan for next season. None of that changes your utilization of incorrect stats 🙂

My second biggest problem with Power is that we need to be better being hard to play against and here is our biggest D, but he's also our softest. My biggest issue, is that the Sabres can no longer afford to wait for the the lightbulb to go on and for him to become the promised two way blueliner. He is being paid to be a NO. 1 quality blueliner and right now he's barely 2 pair quality. IMHO we need move on and re-allocate his 8.3 cap to players who can help prevent goals.

I actually think he was making better defensive decisions in year one then he makes now. I thought he was positionally better and was playing smarter.

EV is defined as situations in which both team have the same number of skaters (not players) on the ice. Therefore the only EV situations are 5 on 5, 4 on 4 and 3 on 3. That's it. According to the NHL these are the Sabres stats in those situations The Sabres are +3 (166/163) 5 on 5, + 1 (4/3) 4 on 4, and -3 in OT (1/4) 3 on 3 ). Thus 171/170 at EV. I have no idea in what situations that Naturalstattrick is adding 19 goals to the Sabres totals to get to 190 or 29 goals against to get to their 199. However, you are basing your argument on incorrect data. The only way I can see getting close to their numbers is adding in empty net situations, but those are not EV situations by it's traditional definition. The Sabres have allowed a league worst 24 goals when a team pulls their goalie. The NHL describes those situations as 6 on 5 however. Naturalstattrick is a great site, but you have to check your data.

except he is terrible defensively.

Your argument is simply wrong. The Sabres, updated for today, have the 3rd most GF on 5 on 5 at 166 and 5th most at 171 (5 on 5, 4 on 4 & 3 on 3). They have allowed 163 GA 5 on 5, and 170 at EV (5 on 5, 4 on 4 & 3 on 3). That a +1 differential at EV strength. I have no idea where you got your stats from, but they are wrong. My numbers are from NHL.com https://www.nhl.com/stats/teams?report=goalsagainstbystrength&reportType=season&seasonFrom=20242025&seasonTo=20242025&gameType=2&page=0&pageSize=50 https://www.nhl.com/stats/teams?report=goalsforbystrength&reportType=season&seasonFrom=20242025&seasonTo=20242025&gameType=2&sort=goalsFor&page=0&pageSize=50

The Sabres had 161 GF 5 on 5 heading into today’s game. That’s 6th in the NHL. The Sabres goaltending has a .908 save % 5 on 5. The league average is .918. The defense is terrible. The negative differential is from bad goaltending and defense.

Smart smart empty net goal. Great elevated pass from Quinn.

Differential is a reflection of our terrible defense and goaltending. The Sabres are currently in the top 12 in GF which improving kids like Benson, Kulich and JJP. Quinn finds his game that another potential lethal scorer. Norris is also a potential 30 goal scorer if healthy. Adams is going to run the offense back. The Sabres are 6th in the NHL in EV goals.

Alex Tip?

Tuch strikes again.

The Sabres are unlikely to make moves on offense this summer. The changes really to come on defense. We have 10 players for the top 9 positions - TNT, Tuch, JJP, Norris, Kulich, McLeod, Quinn, Zucker, Benson and Greenway. … and Ovie shoots and someone scores. Sabres choking in progress.

Yes very, but only Troy Polamanu has $8.3 million hair.

No but……

@Thorner I honestly don’t know what you like about Power’s game. He isn’t physical at all. He is unable or unwilling to clear the crease or knock someone off the puck. He is positionally horrible on defense. He isn’t a very fast skater and doesn’t make good decisions with the puck consistently. He also isn’t a great PP QB. Byram gives us the same level of offense without the PP time and at least he’s working on get better defensively. Basically Power is offensively the same player he was as a rookie and his defense has gotten worse. Paying this guy 8.3 million a year is drag on the franchise.

This is the Sabres every year. Get eliminated from playoff contention and then start playing better.

Power can’t go to Rochester. He is no longer waivers exempt. Great shot by Quinn, who seems to be finding his game 60 games to late.

Power is just awful and didn’t even try to catch up on the shortie.

He knows he’s a wussy and doesn’t care. The guy was the last Sabre into the scrum after the boarding of JJP and didn’t even drop his stick or grab a guy. He needs to be traded while he still has value and we can get out from under his terrible contract. He has 235 NHL games already has hasn’t improved at all on either end of the ice.

It took a while for Östlund to get his sea legs, but he been terrific once he figured it out. Helenius, Östlund and Wahlberg should be an amazing spine for the Amerks next year.

On track for what? Being the softest and worst defensive big D man in NHL history?

I think he’ll beat him out in camp.

Brannstrom is younger (25 vs 27) and more talented than Bryson and has had more success in the NHL. Brannstrom has 294 NHL games with 10g, 67a. Bryson has 251 games with 4g 39a.

2nd blown obvious penalty along with the high stick on McLeod.