pi2000

With this contract, does Skinner get more ice time in OT? Or does Sobotka still get sent out there to take faceoffs?

BREAKING my ducks source is reporting that the Sabres are going to sign Jeff Skinner.

ROR and Skinner are the new Drury and Briere.

The solution is to groom their own talent so they have the opportunity to offer them extensions while still under contract.

He had a career year on an expiring deal. It happens. It's not like he was a Sabre 2 years ago and we could've offered him an extension. This is why he came so cheaply via trade. The risk that he walked after his deal was very high.

This is correct, and BUF will be better off letting him walk for +9m and using that money elsewhere. Anybody can buy. It takes an artist to shop.

Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.

ain't happenin' folks... my source (w/ the Duck's) says they expect Skinner to test the waters in free agency... and he would like to migrate west.

My point is that you don't need gps trackers or any other analytics type data to break down game film and teach how to defend as a 5-man unit during practice. Instead of trying to analyze numbers and crunch data, in a manner of minutes you could thrown on some game film and ask the players point blank what the ***** they think they're doing out there.

Watching game film will help show where things break down... but you have to spend the time actively practicing those things the right way before they become habit.

Defensive zone play has plagued them for years. They don't know how to defend as a 5 man unit. They get careless with the puck, lose 50/50s, lack of puck support, and always seem to be on the wrong side of the puck in general. A good coach can fix those things by practicing the right things.

Then just say that... instead of putting words in my mouth that I hate the guy. And you're right, I'm probably over analyzing what he said, but I thought it would spark an interesting debate as to where analytics type data fit into the master plan for the Sabres this coming season. I, for one, don't think they should spend much if any resources on it, whereas others obviously disagree, which is fine.

So you don't have the least bit amount of concern that he has very little NHL head coaching experience and has been away from the game for the past 5 years? Where is this expectation you have coming from.... that we should all just fall in line and stand by everything the guy says? Again, I like the guy, I think the qualities he brings will be good for the group in the locker room. But to say that I hate the guy just because I have concerns, is just... I don't know, forget it.

Exactly, and that's my concern. The way RK rambled on about gps and tracking data, etc... instead of deflecting the question and saying something like "analytics are a tool that when used properly can provide a benefit, but when I look at our team, we have other more pressing issues we need to be focusing our attention on." Look, I like the guy and was genuinely impressed with his press conference.... but he didn't talk much X's and O's. I just hope they realize he'll need some help in that department. Honestly, he sounded more like a president of hockey ops, instead of a head coach... but maybe his style is exactly what this teams needs, and I complained about Housley lacking in leadership ability. He should fill that leadership void, but does he know enough about modern systems, how to counter, time management, in-game adjustments, etc..?

The Sabres focusing on analytics is like racing the Indy 500 in a 95 honda civic and being concerned about how to shave milliseconds off pit stops.

Nobody said anything about fear. I think if you get too wrapped up in it, it can become a distraction... taking your attention away from those things that make a winning hockey team. For me, using analytics may provide some benefit to a team that already has it's ducks in a row. A team like Buffalo needs to focus on other things.

Disagree... but... whatever. IMO what makes a good coach great is his ability to get a group of young spoiled millionaires to set aside their differences and all start pulling in the same direction.

I'd give him a B- Seemed to ramble a bit at times and not enough talk about what needs to be fixed, where he thinks they can improve. Maybe he doesn't know yet, which is not a good sign, but he just got here so I'll give him a break. I did like his demeanor and his passion comes across when he talks you can tell he thoroughly enjoys the game... which he should. Nobody cares what you know unless they know how much you care. And you can tell he really cares. It's a start.

Ha! I will say this... I was happy to hear he's having laptops loaded with game film from last season so he can review it and get to know what issues he's facing. Unlike Housley who just g.ave everybody a clean slate and started from scratch and took 2 years just to get back to where he started.

It's a distraction to what the actual problems are with this team. When they become competitive and have some measured amount of sustained success, then I'm all for it. Go ahead and turn over every stone. Let's say you're building a new house from the bottom up. You don't start by picking out the color of your bathroom tile.

It's not a big deal, honestly. It's just that everbody here is making such a weak argument for using that data, that it needs to be pointed out.

Sorry, you're wrong. This kind of thing phases out around Midget level. Not once in my entire college career did my coach ever yell for a line to change. Sure he's yelled at us on the bench if we were out there too long, but never directed at the players on the ice.

I did, but it's a slippery slope. Look, I'm not anti-data. But for this team, in their current situation, focusing on player tracking data would be going down the wrong path imo.

Prime example of analysis paralysis. Coaches will get stuck pouring over mountains of empirical data instead of teaching the game.