pi2000

we need something to talk about

fixtures? how's that?

Moulson had a worse +/- that ROR. What's your point? OK. Let's see those stats you speak of for Jake Muzzin 2016-17.

If your team has a positive goal differential, but one or two players are in the minus teens or worse, you don't think that means anything? Or vice-versa, where the team is -40 goal differential, but a few players are positive +/-... you don't think that reflects well on their play? The stat on it's own doesn't mean much, but when taking team goal differential into context it starts to shed some light on who your better players are.

Ladd is not valid comparison. BUF hasn't sniffed the playoffs in years... now is not the time to trade away talent because you're afraid they won't fit under your cap 5 years down the road. BUF is not yet in a position where they need to make these types of decisions on players. In CHI's case, Ladd was the odd man out. In BUFs case, they could easily afford to sign Kane to an extension.

I've said it many times, +/- is a useful stat when looking for outliers. In Muzzin's case, his +/- is comparitively much worse than the rest of his teammates (and -4 team goal differential) that it's a reflection of his poor play, not anybody else on the ice that he's either playing with or defending against. Kane, on the other hand, has a +/- that's somewhat more in line with what you would expect from an individual on team with a -36 goal differential. I'm not sure.... his first years with the Kings he was extremely confident, made crisp passes, was agressive, physical. You expect there to be ups and down throughout the season, but this year was just one big downer... lacked confidence, very very poor decision making, turnovers in his own end, poor positional play, no physicality. It was like two different players.... I don't know what the reason for it was. Can he fix it next season? I don't know him personally, so I can't say if he's willing to do the little things to get back to his game, or if he's simply content with raking in his $4m/yr salary for the next two seasons. Either way, if he's the guy JBOT is targeting, then he better be damn sure he's getting the Jake Muzzin of 13-16, not last years' version.

Muzzin's plus/minus dropped a net -30 from the previous season to a -21, on a team with a -4 goal differential. That's a -17 Pi/Minus®. He's a top 3 defender who should be sound defensively,but when you log a -21 on a team with just a -4 goal differential, you're an outlier for the wrong reason. Kane on the other hand was a -17 on a team with a -36 goal differential. That's a +19 Pi/Minus®. Risto improved his defensive game over that time span, which is what you want from your young players. Muzzin took a nosedive, he was bad last year... now, was that an expection? or is he just not that good and it's finally catching up to him. http://www.ocregister.com/2017/02/20/kings-struggling-jake-muzzin-trying-to-get-back-to-basics/

I live in the LA area, my kid is a huge Kings fan, I watch plenty of their games. Muzzin was terrible last season, no matter how you slice it... and he'd be the first to admit he struggled mightily. That's a major concern if you're entertaining thoughts of acquiring him via trade.

Kane is fast, aggressive and can score. That's a player that fits in any scheme. It's not standard stuff when you're trying to build a playoff contender. Keep your best players. It signals a rebuild because we don't have a guy on the roster who can fill in for Kane's offensive output. It's a step backwards in the goal scoring department... and then trade away your starting goalie with nobody in place to take his spot? How is that not taking a step back?

Buyer beware... Muzzin was one of the reasons the Kings failed to make the playoffs this eason... he was a -21, and put up only 28 points... vs 40 points and a +7 the previous season. He also was fined by the NHL for embellishment. That's not what you want for $4mil/yr... let alone trade away your top scoring winger.

exactly

But I thought J-BOT was a cap wizard! The Sabres have $38m in space after next season, and only $24m committed in 2019-20. That's a ton of room to maneuver... signing Kane to a $5.5-6m/yr isn't going to put this team in cap jail... even with Eichel getting paid. I'd make an effort to trade Reinhart before I'd look to move Kane.

I, for one, hope they keep him. He's fast, big, a relentless forechecker and can score. How does that not fit in the "long term vision" of any team? He'd leave a huge void.

If Lehner and Kane go, I'll be disappointed because that signals another rebuild. I'd keep them and try to launch guys like Girgensons, Foligno, Larsson, Bogo, for whatever I can get. Replace them internally or with UFA's like Matt Cullen, Kunitz, etc... guys J-BOT is familiar with who are still servicable and would actually provide an upgrade (IMO) for a year or two while guys like Bailey, Baptiste, etc.. develop in Roch. It's true that Lehner probably isn't very well like in the locker room, but winning changes that immediately.

He'd go on LTIR and wouldn't count against the cap.

Paul Hamilton... saying BUF didn't want him. Who really believes anything out of this guys mouth anyway.

semantics

Auston Matthews

Deadline was today right?

Good point, yeah I vaguely remember that now. His draft year he improved from 33 points and -11 to 49 points and +23. He didn't score as many goals though.

I miss the days when prospects were just that.... prospects. When guys had to earn their shot at the show.... be realistic about their abilities and develop at the AHL level rather than perusing NHL rosters to find where they might have the best chance to immediately play in the NHL. BUF took a chance on the kid by drafting him, and developing him at dev camps, giving him nutrition, strength and conditioning guidance throughout his college career. And he returns the favor by choosing to become a FA.... what a douche. I blame agents for putting that thought in their head that they're ready for the NHL.

I still can't figure out why Chychrun fell. He was a top prospect, outstanding character, great skater, physically mature, no injury concerns that I'm aware of. He checked all the boxes, I was hoping he would be BUFs pick at the time. When it's all said and done, Nylander may end up the better player, but thought Chychrun was exactly the type of guy they were looking for.

Miller put up some excellent numbers his final two seasons at MSU: GAA: 1.23 / 1.77 SV%: 0.950 / 0.936 Let's compare that Petersen: GAA: 2.20 / 2.21 SV%: 0.927 / 0.926 You want to compare someone to Miller? Try Connor Hellebuyck. His final two years at UMass-Lowell: GAA: 1.37 / 1.79 SV%: 0.952 / 0.941 Petersen just isn't at that same level IMO.

Eichel basically told him to hire somebody who will stroke his massive..... I mean fire Paul Hamilton.

yeah, he produces points when he plays with the Eichel.... put just about anybody with decent hands and hockey sense with Eichel and they'll produce. Imagine the production of somebody with his hockey sense and hands who can actually keep up with Eichel on the rush.... I've soured on Vatanen after the NSH series where he was completely physically outmatched.