That Aud Smell

I wish I could so easily explain Charles Davis, Trent Green, or Adam Archuleta.

I almost never listen to the radio call. In these modern internet times, it’s fun to have a great PBP caller so that the hometown team’s call can be clipped and laid over the video replay of a big play. Sometimes, the clip is just the audio and video feed of the hometown radio call of a big play. Several teams get this treatment regularly — and it is fun (if memory serves, I’ve seen a good amount of Vikings, Lions, Browns, and Jets). Brown is solid albeit unspectacular. The color commentators from network broadcasts are generally awful. I have no idea what the criteria are for putting them in those positions. I think the network PBP broadcasters are all at least good (and many are better than good).

Windy and unsettled for sure. July’s generally so stable. It’s August that tends to be more changeable.

I think if Ruff can get this group to be top half of the league in Goals For, they probably make the playoffs. Points are predictive of goals. Goals are predictive of wins. And so on.

Bills remove the interim tag and make Chris Brown their permanent PBP guy. Colour me underwhelmed. The team went from having an absolute HOF legend on PBP, to having the inevitably okay guy follow the legend, to installing a guy who’s a solid grilled chicken sandwich when you’re at a very good steak and chops joint. Brown and Dunleavy are pretty comparable, actually.

yeesh. i’ve never once picked up on that. and i was raised on darling’s call.

predictive not determinative.

I think I get that -- the /60 piece of it. But what of p(f) instead of g(f)?

that’s what i figured. i’m trying to understand what that … signifies beyond g/60 or gf/60.

Can you explain p/60, please, @LGR4GM

Like I said, I don't think the roster will line up as neatly as that. I'm starting to wonder if there'll be a role for him. Adams went out and got him because he was a Granato guy. And certainly won't be enough. This is the way. Or at least it better be.

It's a good predictive exercise - that thing you're doing. It's also limited in its utility. And if we're looking at replacing goals from last season, can we also talk about the fact that there are several members of the top-6 (the centres and Tuch) who, I think, must improve their numbers from last season?

When I consider Skinner’s diminished role at the end of last season (out of the top 6) and the complete overhaul of the team’s bottom/middle 6, I don’t view the team as having replaced Skinner on a one for one basis. There’s risk in planning to replace his goals on a committee basis. @LGR4GM was running some numbers upthread (or elsewhere). This is also why I’m still hoping that Adams still has a move for a top-6 forward up his sleeve. If he does, I wonder more and more about Greenway’s role on the team.

Please, no.

McLeod

Did anyone hear his interview? I will try not to put too much stock in it. But he sounded bummed. I can’t blame him, of course. I trust he’ll be a pro about it and get to work. He’ll want to earn his next deal, after all.

I appreciate that his last name ends with the words "day off."

Man I don't hate that -- especially if we were to envision a modestly (albeit somewhat unevenly) rising line as it arcs over two separate X axises (axes?) -- the X axis being time (seasons) and Y being goals or assists.

Agreed - interesting. I envision him as a guy who reliably scores 20, typically gets ~25, and occasionally gets 30+ all while playing a hard, responsible 200’ game.

Jack Quinn's my favourite player on my favourite team. I'm not exactly sure why. But, hey, I know what I like and I know it when I see it. I just love the young man's game. All that said, 30 goals is a lot - even by modern NHL standards. (Scoring is up, right?) I do think Quinn has some 30 goal seasons in him, provided he can stay healthy. But I'm not sure when those seasons will occur. And I'm not sure they'll be the norm. In the meantime, let's just pray for his health and the evolution of his game.

I don't follow the league closely enough to know who Cirelli is. Blame it on the Sabres' drought. Would "Cirelli Lite" play here? It sounds like they're too close on the analytics to damn McLeod with such faint praise. If we can somehow snag a true top-6 forward, I will be fully on board with the upcoming season. I mean, given what's been done so far, I'm on board already. It's just that I'm also furtively looking around the vessel, checking marine forecasts, seeing if there are enough life jackets, etc.

it does sound like gurtler. i'm not sure the timing lines up? also, imagine the commotion if sabrespace had existed at the time: perreault moved to wing with mccourt at centre. (was this a feature of the latter part of perreault's career?)

Spreadsheet fandom had Sabre fans crying the blues on Twitter.

I was reflexively defending Greenway until today. Because it occurred to me: Greenway was brought in as a Granato guy. Ruff may not have much use for him? Otoh, Greenway’s PK numbers were quite good, were they not?