pi2000

Sam has a career 37% FOW% (31% in the DZone). That ranks 348 out of 349 players to take at least 400 faceoffs since 2014 (DFL for DZFOW%). If you're around 45-50%, then it's not going to hurt you, but when you start dipping into the 30's, that can be impactful. There about 50-60 faceoffs/game, so for maybe 35-40 of those you're having to immediately defend instead of creating offense. That's not insignificant.

Last night 6 of 8 winning teams also won more faceoffs. Winning face-offs alone won't win you a game, that's obvious.... but it's definitely part of the equation.

Yesterday's Bruins game.. 10 High Danger Chances For 18 High Danger Chances Against ...getting out chances nearly 2 to 1 in high danger chances is no recipe for success. League average HDCF/60 at ES is around 10. HDCA/60 at ES is also right around 10. Giving up 18 high danger chances against is concerning. If you want to be a playoff team, at some point you need to figure out how to play defense. BUF just isn't there yet.

I've been a proponent of keeping him as a top 6 winger. Now I'm looking to trade him over the summer. Why? He doesn't fit KA's blueprint.

Sam hit the deck twice that period, total wipeouts is up to 3.

He's a minus 1, but only fell down once and is 2 for 3 on faceoffs..... progress?

Reinhart standing around watching goals go in.

MUST WIN faceoffs

Why is the game at 6:30? What possible reason could there be?

I'll be counting how many times he falls down today. O/U 4

FOW%

Go to https://www.naturalstattrick.com/ and pick date ranges to see for yourself. Ralph was fired March 17. They're generating 2 more shots per 60min (at ES) than they did under Ralph.... but shooting % is way up from 5.92% to almost 12%. Let's break that down a bit... Under Ralph they generated about 26 shots/60 (at ES) w/ a 5.92% shooting percentage.... that's about 1.5 goals/60 (at ES). Under Don, the past 10 games, they generated about 29 shots/60 (at ES) w/ an 11.72% shooting percentage.... that's 3.4 goals/60 (at ES). Their save percentage (at ES) increased from 89% to 92%, and even tho they're giving up more shots, they're allowing fewer goals/60 (at ES). Ralph, 30 shots allowed/60, 88.98% save percentage = 3.3 goals allowed/60 (at ES). Don (last 10 games), 35 shots allowed/60, 92.18% save percentage = 2.7 goals allowed/60 (at ES). So yeah, they're winning, but it's not because they're giving up fewer shots, fewer high danger chances, or playing better in their own end. It's because of better goaltending and better shooting percentage.

Small sample size ✌️ Simply scoring goals doesn't make you a competent center.

I've talked ad nauseam about not just his liability at the faceoff dot, his inability to defend (poor plus/minus), inability to be a setup guy (low assist rate), weak on his skates, etc... There's an entire laundry list of reasons he shouldn't play center. That said, I'm ok with him on the wing, so long as the center can cover his weaknesses, and he signs a reasonable deal for a 20g goal guy who doesn't do much else.

please explain the moving goalposts, because apparently I'm too dense. Possession matters, faceoffs dictate possession. A faceoff win is defined by the team who gains possession. You want Sam taking a faceoff in OT? In the d-zone? Late in a tight game? Hell to the naw. So let me ask everybody this, what statistical evidence do you have that proves Sam is a great center... or a better center than winger.

lol, that's all you can say. The Sam apologists claim he's a great center. I show stats that he's not. And I'm the troll? smh

Their possession numbers CF% are down significantly, ranking near bottom of the league the past 10 games, also giving up a lot of high danger chances, more than under Ralph. They're winning because their high danger save % and high danger shooting % are near the top of the league. So yeah, they're giving up more defensively, but shooting at a high % and getting superb goaltending. That's nice, but not really sustainable over an entire season IMO. They need to cut down on scoring chances against.

If he's gone I certainly won't miss his 38% FOW, career -92, sluggish feet, and pissy post game attitude. Again, if he's not scoring he's a liability. For a guy who supposedly has great vision and setup skills, his numbers don't tell the same story. 159 assists in 443 games... thats 1 assist every 3 games.... playing mostly with one of the top snippers in the game you'd expect more.

lol, he took 8 of 61 faceoffs. As a team they won 54%, and for that reason, and that reason alone, they won... because faceoffs matter 😛

Ralph Donny last 10 games (league ranking in parens) CF% 48.87(18) 43.90(28) SF% 47.27(28) 44.83(26) xGF/60 2.09(29) 2.41(13) xGA/60 2.59(29) 2.72(25) HDCF/60 10.04(17) 10.68(12) HDCA/60 10.40(20) 11.29(21) SH% 5.92(31) 11.72(2) HDSH% 12.14(31) 21.13(7) SV% 88.98(30) 92.56(8) HDSV% 80.40(22) 89.47(6)

I don't know that's the reason. If it's not I've lost even more respect for Sam. He was a douche in the post game... admit it. The team is playing well, he buries a couple, and brings that ***** attitude to the presser? What a loser.... at least be happy for the team, mention the guys who helped you score, give them some credit, mention what a great job Donny has done, etc.... instead of coming off as an entitled little prick still butt hurt about what some reporter said about you months ago. Selfish.

His plus/minus was zero, and he lost 6 of 8 faceoffs. The goals were nice and I didn't notice him sweeping the ice with his backside as much as usual, so ya he's a great center, give him all the money... smh.

haha what? I don't shut people out because they criticized me over a year ago. I'm a big boy, I can handle criticism, Sam obviously cannot. He's not a guy I'd enjoy coaching, god forbid you look at him the wrong way, he might shut you out.

Haha, I'm not rattled one bit. Just wish he wasn't so mentally fragile that he has to hold a grudge against a reporter who asked a legitimate question over a year ago about his lack of effort a day after Sam himself called out his teammates effort.