That Aud Smell

I mostly agreed with everything in this post. My only tweak would be that, in connection with a solid NHL vet coming in on a 2-year deal, I'd like to see Levi penciled in for ~35 games next season (2023-2024) and then see that ratio flip by the following year (2024-2025) such that Levi is then taking ~50 games by that time.

I get reflexively underdog-Buffalo when I see Anderson Cooper — he of the Vanderbilt aristocracy — tittering about Dyngus Day. I react to it as if the worst sort of Nichols grad from East Aurora (perhaps a Knox?) had been given a national platform to laugh at a festival cherished by working class types. Which is to say: That clip mostly makes me want to slap that elitist turd in the face — and not with a ***** willow either — but with something … larger and stiffer. (I said what I said.)

I misread this post initially and was maybe a teensy miffed. Then I saw this and read the post again. Ha. I might have played hooky to (responsibly) enjoy some Dyngus Day festivities. Not great for reading comprehension.

Ahh. Okay. Still.

Why is there a “watch” for this guy? Also: Is this the same player that was previously discussed - some months ago - as a prospect who would presumably not want to sign here?

That’s as good a win as they’ve had this season. Bonus points that it was a home win in the royal blues. Also! A blessed return to @deluca67 .500

Carolina is a funking wagon, man.

No need to mistake being dominated by a superior opponent for lack of effort.

I missed the update: What’s with Cozens centering Thompson?

Every time I’ve watched this Sabres team play Carolina, it’s looked like a total mismatch. I’m hoping that the Sabres can find another level to their game today.

Oh, Lindy.

Hmm. Interesting. I may need to experiment a bit.

This is it. It's all I want. It's all I need. I know Schopp gets dragged a lot, but I clearly recall him riffing in April or May 2006 about how -- just having seen and interviewed Lindy (who, Schopp related, was sporting sunglasses, a Sabres polo, no jacket, and a Cheshire Cat smile) -- there is no better feeling in all of sports fandom than big stakes hockey in the spring. I agreed then. I agree now.

Fwiw, I have Nord VPN and ESPN+. I live in the blackout area. When I try to access Sabre games on my iPad (I haven't tried loading my VPN onto my TV (?)), ESPN+ tells me I'm using a VPN and implies that that's naughty (and blocks my access)

Let's Go, Buffalo! Calendar says April 4 and there's a Sabres game that matters. I'm almost reluctant to hope for more. Almost. Welcome back, Tage!

He was absolutely brilliant. And so charming. RIP.

They’re commonly referred to as a super group by an adoring media. So I’m happy to accept that as true. Phoebe (Fu*king) Bridgers is a big deal - that much I know. The other members of the band have established careers and catalogs of their own, evidently. In an “alt” space of some kind. The music industry is quite different now, too. I tried to capture all of that with “a different proposition.” The song linked is excellent. 🤘

That was fun. I was struck by Levi’s size (seemingly smaller than his listed 6’) and his athleticism (insane).

When I was young, my favorite "super group" was Asia. (Still killer.) Fast forward a few years (a few), my college frosh daughter's favorite super group is boygenius. Quite a different proposition. But still excellent. This song is fantastic. And the DIY / grrl power / sisterly love vibe of the accompanying music video makes me happy.

Yo - this is some funking knowledge.

Puck luck is essentially PDO (which is a team's 5v5 SV% + SH%). Last season, as best I can tell, the Sabres PDO was .985. This season it's .997. So it's a full point (1%) higher this season, but it's still below average (1.00 is the mean). They're shooting it better this season (SH%) - like a full 1.5% better than last season (8.5 v. 10), based on what I see at Natural Stat Trick. Also, that 10% SH% is about average for the league. Their SV% at 5v5 is about the same over the past 2 seasons - and it is effing awful (.899 and .896). (That said, I see a different 5v5 SV% value at hockeyreference.com - this stuff gets confusing for me.) They need better team defense, without sacrificing much of their explosiveness. And they need better goaltending, for sure.

I wish I had the time, technical skill, and hockey IQ to get screenshots of how the Sabres position themselves when they're not in possession of the puck versus how more balanced (better) teams do it. My sense is that - wherever the Sabres are playing defense (i.e., when they are not possessing the puck) - they are in a Boom/Bust mode. They're defending, but in a super optimistic way that contemplates that, the moment they win the puck, BOOM, they're gone and getting a scoring chance. Something akin to Juergen Klopp's "gen gen press" in international footy. I don't think it's working. Or ... if it's going to work, we need an elite goalie to help make it work.

I’m thinking back to when the Sabres picked up Doug Gilmour and Joey Juneau in the late 90s. I have no idea now whether those players were effective for the Sabres. I remember them, though! This season - when the Sabres were getting sh1t pumped by the Hurricanes - I was jealous that they had Burns and Stastny.