Broken Ankles

This just isn't true. Johnson is the worst. In the chart below from Natural Stat Trick, I have the top 5 D-men advanced stats for the entire year on top and then January 1st to present below. The data has actual TOI, Shots against, goals against and Expected GA for just PK. Then a calculation of XG, GA and Shots against divided by TOI. The shade is a ranking of each green - top two; Yellow - Third; Orange - 4th; and Magenta- last/worst. YTD Clifton is nothing to write home about, but you can see Johnson has more GA, higher Expected GA and shots, and when you factor in TOI, Johnson still ranks last in two categories and 4th in another. Whereas Clift is 3rd, 3rd and 4th. Where it gets interesting is since January 1st, Power is last in Expected GA per minute, 4th in actual GA per minute while Clifton improves to second in two categories and third in another. Dahlin and Power are on the ice for 4 GA each and Power is seeing more TOI even though seemingly he is struggling. The eye test tells me that Power and Dahlin have struggled as of late on the PK as well. And as much as we bash Mattias, he was consistent throughout the year on the PK. As stated, a lot of this may have to do matchups - who is on the ice against PP#1 vs PP#2, but overall it tells me EJ has been our worst PK defenseman.

I can see why Kyle had no interest last year, with a $6m cap hit. Even with retention, $3m was steep. This year at $2.5m, KO seems much more palatable. But Zemgus garnered zero interest last year, and yet somehow with seemingly worse (scoring and advanced) stats, less TOI (including PK) making slightly more money he is a target of a contender?

Alex is 6th in shots per 60, behind the usual suspects (Tage, Skinner, Cozens, Peterka, Quinn), but third in list as a percentage of shots on net to shots attempted, only behind JJP and Quinn. So the shots are getting through. Are you sure your comments above are not about Benson, or Tage, or Skinner, or Olofsson, or Cozens? My point is lots of problems with this team, but you don’t start with a guy who is a true top six contributing making a mid to low AAV. https://moneypuck.com/stats.htm

Tuch had a few nice drives to the net today, 6 SOG, third highest expected goals and a positive Corsi rating of 57%. Not sure what Alex did to you to earn your distain, but he is #79 on the list of PPG for all forwards. On the same list he is #134 in AAV. And, almost all of those in the top 100 who make less are RFA’s who will be making a whole lot more than him in another year. Guys like McTavish, Raymond, Byfield and Even Mitts. We have two power forwards, and he is the first guy you want gone? https://www.capfriendly.com/browse/active/2024/points-per-game/all/forwards?stats-season=2024&display=aav&hide=clauses,age,expiry-status,salary,caphit,goalie-stats&limits=gp-21-90,goals-5-80,pointspergame-0.3-2.5&pg=2

AJ says not a difficult save. She is being nice to Benson.

You also don’t have to clean up or worry about the toxic waste spilled from the tank cars that catch fire 🔥. (Too soon?) Matt Ellis Travoltified is Mya Edjans. Why do I think Mya (wherever you are) would have been a better option to run our power play.

Final Destination 6: Sabres 23/24.

I’m going to say, not many. The Sabres fail to establish a net front presence where a penalty like this would occur. Ever. No one on this team regularly sets up in front. Not sure it’s coached but it certainly is frustrating.

I don’t think it’s coincidence that the average age of the defensive corps of the teams currently in playoff positions is ~29-30. It’s consistent. Without EJ, the Sabres average age is 23.9. By dumping Joki (not Clifton), and picking up Jiricek the average age would drop a few tenths of a year. With another young defense, we are just begging for similar results. And if by chance, after two years, Jiricek explodes, his second contract could be $5M, and with R Johnson on a $2.5-3.5M bridge deal, you have $32M tied up in 5 defenders forcing decisions up front. I’d prefer they target a true complimentary #2 defender. Must be right handed, must be between 26-30 with 6 + years experience. But this type of contract would put you north of $30M on the blue line with your top 5, while the average team is spending $26M on the top 6 Dman. I’d prefer to move a LD but Owen and Muel both have lost trade value.

Little bit.

Hard pass. This will never, not be weird.

Right before the tipped shot, Bryson had full possession of the puck, tried to, pass or clear the zone (don’t really know) and fanned on it giving SJ possession in our zone. It’s the definition of a giveaway in your defensive zone.

@JohnC This.

Apologies in advance for the negativity after a win. They win despite Bryson. His contribution was negligible in his 14:12 TOI. As @JohnC stated, Greenway with maybe his best performance of the year. According the natural stat trick that line has only played together for 24 minutes all year. Statistically nothing stands out, other than a good scoring chance for and high danger for but too few minutes to glean anything. They lost the Corsi battle tonight but I thought they dominated with a +2. Big bodies driving to the net is a good thing.

Futility counts as something right?

You went with Donny and Terry as liking less than the average, so you must be downright disgusted by these two, because they ain’t winning any popularity contests around here these days. And Adams was not on either list. So you’ve got just the right amount of hate for him, right?

Better: Victor Olofsson. Obviously weak defensively, but with stronger line mates and better playmakers he should easily be a bottom 6 forward that scores 20+. Better: Greenway. Stats on PK speak volumes. Big, strong and usually in good position Better: Joki. I’m a fan of R/L combinations, and we just have too many minutes given to L/L pairings. Joki/Power should have/could have been a great third pairing, with the ability to slide up if injuries occur. Clifton didn’t manifest into a #4 (yet -but I still have hope), and Dahlin needs a true right handed partner to eat 22 per game. Worse: Benson. Tons of potential and I like the kid, but still don’t see why he needed to be here. Struggling as of late with defensive lapses. If Sam Reinhart was sent back to junior to work on strength and other elements of his game, so should Zach. s well. Worse: Mitts. Like him way more than I did two years ago, and glad I was wrong. Just not as much as others. And I don’t want to see another Cozens like contract that results in regression or injuries after a career season in a contract year. Worse: Rob Ray. Bottom 15% of color guys on a tv broadcast.

Duffer said he was not a repeat offender on Sabres Live this morning. And based on that fact, and the prior suspension of McAvoy, Marty predicted five games. A shame.

A Brick Bar favorite.

I was in the barn last night representing SS. Money Wasted. My protest this evening is to not spend 1.5 hours of my time driving up the 405 from OC attempting to see what could be another meltdown in waiting. Instead I choose getting harassed by Kings fans at the local Irish Pub in Laguna Niguel. Five minute drive from my house and the Corned Beef sandwiches are hella better than anything at Cyrpto.com arena. I may need to double up on the edibles for this evening to numb the pain. Medicated watching.

Kyle

As if attending this in person wasn’t bad enough, they played the Shout Song between periods. Too soon.