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Broken Ankles

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Everything posted by Broken Ankles

  1. Not sure where you define this game as a low event win. If you look at the advanced stats for this game, in every metric (Corsi, Fenwick, Scoring Changes F/A, High Danger F/A) the Sabres had more chances in this game than their average for the season. Similarly the oilers had more offensive chances than their average. As an example, Oilers average SCF per game this season is 25.5. Yesterday they had 27. Average HD chances - 12 per game. Yesterday Edmonton had 16. They are top 2 in Corsi averaging CA of 40 per game. The Sabres had CF of 44. You should also find another team than the Islanders to support the low even hockey example. the NYIs are a bottom 10 in Scoring Chances against, bottom 5 in High Danger chances against, and bottom 4 in Corsi against. Perhaps that was their identity a few years ago under Trotz but no longer. But you know if is top 3 in these defensive categories (CA, FA, HDA and SCA)? Edmonton. We think of them as an offensive juggernaut, which they can be with McDavid and Draisatl on the ice, but their success is also driven by playing better defensively. So I'll take a slightly different tact from you and Perreault. The Sabres played exceptionally well offensively yesterday and despite being out chanced in a high event hockey game, the Sabres had solid goaltending, and Skinners gaff on a weak shot from Bryson was a deciding factor for Edmonton losing the game. The Sabres also showed superiority in a shootout, which has been a weakness for years.
  2. I keep hearing the phrase 'weaponize cap space'. Philly received a 2024 5th round to retain 25% of Hanifans salary. That's an actual payment of $312,500 (1/4 of the season on $1.25M) for a 5th. Whoop de do! We don't need more draft picks. I think it's objectionably funny that a guy who is a Captain (read Leadership/Locker Room guy) who makes less than EJ and had arguably a much better on ice performance yielded significantly less return than Johnson whom we all saw struggle this season in Buffalo. Maybe Philly did overpay. And Zemgus - who has seen his fair share of support recently wasn't even seriously pursued. Adams said their was interest, but I presume retaining 50% and receiving a 7th round pick isn't real interest. All playoff contenders thought they could get more from their current 4th line role players. If that's not enough to tell you to move on from a player, I'm not sure what is.
  3. Your first point is cogent, and surprising to see on a Saturday night. For that, I’m proud of ya! Be your best SabreSpacer possible. The second point was to show that even a novice GM like Murray saw the value in waiting for a player to mature before rushing him to the NHL club. If you want to look outside at other organizations, please do. Don’t see another GMs filling their roster with kids who are not physically strong enough to play. Bensons scoring rate is ~.33 per game. The lowest of any forward who came out their first year in recent memory. Even Sillinger had more PPG for Columbus and he was a much lower draft selection. The over arching point is 99.5% of kids not selected in the top three do not play their draft year. For good reason. Teams competing for a playoff spot do not need kids “developing” or learning on the job. It’s just one of many decisions made by KA which contributed to another failing year.
  4. It’s not just about Benson’s development. It’s about filling that roster spot with a quality forward to contribute at the level of VO in 22/23 or better. Did he accomplish that? Clearly not based on his individual stats and the Sabres standing in the East. Let me ask you this, if Sam Reinhart wasn’t ready after his draft year what makes you think Benson would be? Sam was bigger and more physically mature yet they sent him back to Junior to work on conditioning. And that Sabres team (2014/15) wasn’t filled with world beaters and competing for a playoff spot, so it would be easier to justify his making that team. It’s also about cap management, and aligning his ELC and pending RFA year with the conclusion of Skinners current deal. Instead, the Sabres will have to negotiate both Tuch and Bensons contracts and still have Skinners $9m on the books. (Unless he is bought out).
  5. No doubt, but with only two options, Adams chose the wrong one.
  6. Insanity. If this organization was properly developing players, Benson would be in junior, and competing for 4th line winger role next year. The third line would be ‘identity’ (as in who Buffalo is). But you want to crown him with top 5v5 TOI. He has 6 goals this year. Can’t we dream bigger?
  7. Was Jost ever good? Seems like he played a few good games last year, which earned him his overvalued contract extension. But maybe it was a mirage. He has no sense for puck. Multiple failures to clear the D zone and missed the net twice in close. Another demerit for Mr Adams.
  8. You have choices living out of town…..choose the Edmonton broadcast.
  9. Also incongruent, his teeth. Making it on many levels, difficult to watch. Krebs is not the answer at 3C. To suggest Cozens is an experienced veteran and a valid reason why “age” should not considered youth is a joke. The implication that he is open to an elder statesman, then suggest maybe a 4C who is good a face offs or PK is head scratching. Really Kev? Top 9 can’t be improved, eh? If this clown runs it back with one additional forward on the fourth line (UFA/trade), resigns Z, and promotes a kid from Rochester to replace Kyle, I’m getting off at the next stop.
  10. I think the question is are they 'upside down pineapple on your hotel door' close. And for both their sake, I hope the answer is God yes.
  11. Are you saying some players actually developed under Granato?
  12. Blizzard of ‘77 - his advice was to enjoy a “six pack”. Buffalo through and through.
  13. The corpse of Jimmy Griffin for Mayor!!!!
  14. You're missing my point. My point is simply that if there was a self imposed cap that was ~$8M less than the actual Cap (b/c Terry needs another 'Yacht to waterski behind' ), then Adams is to blame for the extensions in the immediate. I hope the Cozens long term deal looks great in 4-5 years when the Sabres are playing meaningful games in June. But right now it looks like shite; Same with Mule. And if I'm a GM in the hot seat, then I'm not giving long term extensions to multiple players, especially if I need to shore up other areas of concern in the short term and I have a cap restraint. You seem to be willing to give Adam an awful lot of passes, too. Like it's hard to get a vet to play here. Ok - then find the right one and overpay, but make it meaningful. Can't trade Olofsson? Anyone can be traded. Change of scenery exchange with another team might have worked. If not, would Adams have had to retain salary? Probably, but that's his penance for signing that deal in the first place. Comrie - If he were good to average it would be fine? ....and if my Aunt had nuts, she would be my uncle (can I still say that?). What about the #10-13 wingers for $9M? You could say KO was a bargain at $2.5M on his own but we have already questioned whether or not he contributed negatively in Salute-gate - so that takes away some of the luster of his deal. I'm not willing to give excuses for any of these errors.
  15. I know we agree for the most part and the bold is a valid concern but not that much. What is the delta in roster and buried cap Buffalo compared to Detroit? Less than $2M. What about comparison of Salary Cap - Just over $5M. This according to Cap Friendly. And while $5M is nothing to sneeze at, KA must own the poor decisions that allowed him to reach his "Cap restriction" (if this truly exists) at $75.5M. Examples Decision to give Cozens a long term deal - could have been given a bridge deal and saved them $3-4M this year and next. Ibid - Mule/Samuelsson - Could have saved $2M AAV toward other free agents by bridging. $8.6M to Vets like Kyle, Robinson, Zemgus, and Jost. Look at 4th line guys on other teams - ie Vancouver. Petry vs Erik Johnson - From a cap perspective Jeff is over $600k cheaper and it cost Detroit a 4th and a prospect. Olofsson making $4.75M and playing what half of this seasons games? Eric Comrie - $1.8M AAV and part of the three headed monster. If we agree that without these signings, a Sabres GM could use $15M on other players, including a true middle six winger (Compher/Perron) to take the place of Benson, a true 1B or #2 back up goalie to share the net with UPL (instead of Levi or Comrie, and allow Levi to start the year in Rochester). Leaving you another $6-8M on another bottom six forwards or #5/6 Defensemen (could have been via UFA or trade). All staying within the same "cap number" as they have today. Adams owns the results of what those bullet points/decisions brought.
  16. A quote from Stevie Y early this season from a story the Athletic did on the Red Wings rebuild. ”You dress 20 players every night, and my feeling is I would rather go to the free agent market instead of hoping or forcing any of our young guys in,” Yzerman said in September. “Really, filling our roster, completing our roster not only this year but over the last couple years, with some of the free agents, is to be patient and allow these younger players to develop and play at a reasonable pace, instead of just throwing them into the NHL and hoping they’re OK and hoping we’re going to win games that way. When we’re 100 percent certain that they’re ready to play, or that they should be in the NHL and help us win games, they’ll be in the NHL. But until then, one, they have to earn it, and two, they have to be ready, in our judgment — be ready to play.” KA must have been absent that day in GM school. As he rushed Benson and others. To your other point, about veterans, SY got a group of UFA’s right about the same age - 26-30. His free agent pick ups were not like EJ who is 36 in a few days. The Red wings did trade for an elder statesman (Jeff Petry) who’s father played for Tigers and was born and grew up in the area. But SY got Montreal to retain 50% so Jeff’s AAV is not equal to Johnson. Petry seems to be handling the day to day load better as well with far more ATOI, games played, points and is an overall plus player for the year.
  17. Let’s pay him to stay home next year and watch on tv. I'm in for a few bucks a game.
  18. Maximus generating offense. His coach reminds us all the time it’s what he does. actually a great pass. Need more of that from him.
  19. Jets are are 8-2 in their last 10 and have a +40 goal differential which is third best in the NHL. A true test on home ice to determine whether or not they are contenders or pretenders. Assuming UPL gets the nod tonight, while the Peg probably give Helley a rest after playing last night. So they got that going for them, which is nice. Whatever happens over this 10 game gauntlet mentioned above, just don’t win your next three, stand pat at the deadline and then lose 5 of the next 7. Massacre Winnipeg.
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