Buffalo Sabres Predictions

[Randall Flagg]

Alright, I tried to push others to make this but nobody is biting and I'm procrastinating. I made a league-wide prediction thread a little while ago. Now it's time to look at our team. I'll just spit out random categories and you can guess which player fits best! 

Team Predictions
Sabres' Final Record:
Total Goals Scored:
Total Goals Allowed:
Power Play Ranking:
PK Ranking:
All-Star Players:
Award Winners/Finalists:

Player Predictions
Top 3 goal scorers
1.)
2.)
3.)
Top 3 point totals
1.)
2.)
3.)

Sabres' best rookie:
Biggest surprise:
Biggest disappointment:

How many games/wins for the goalies?
Ullmark:
Hutton:
other(injuries):


If anyone has any other suggestions for categories I can edit them in. For reference on the team scoring numbers, last season the league leader had 290 (followed by 273, 270) and the bottom 3 were 207, 206, and 198. The middle teams had 235-245 goals. Goals against, top 3: 202, 204, 209. Middle few: 235-240 Bottom 3: 278, 284, 293


 

Edited September 29, 2018 by Randall Flagg

[Randall Flagg]

Team Predictions
Sabres' Final Record: 35 - 42 - 5, 75 points, 6th in the Atlantic
Total Goals Scored: 221
Total Goals Allowed: 250
Power Play Ranking: 15th
PK Ranking: 24th
All-Star Players: Jack Eichel
Award Winners/Finalists: Dahlin is a Calder Finalist, doesn't win it

Player Predictions
Top 3 goal scorers
1.) Jack Eichel (35)
2.) Jeff Skinner (29)
3.) Sam Reinhart (28) (big cliff after this)
Top 3 point totals
1.) Jack Eichel (84)
2.) Sam Reinhart (58)
3.) Jeff Skinner (52)

Sabres' best rookie: Dahlin 
Biggest surprise: Pilut is our 3rd best defenseman by April
Biggest disappointment: Bogosian disappoints the 3 people who actually expected anything good from him, my pick is Rodrigues playing himself off the team after having the leading ES scoring rate on the team while playing with bottom-tier wingers last year

How many games/wins for the goalies?
Ullmark: 35 games, 15 wins
Hutton: 45 games, 20 wins
other(injuries): 2 games 0 wins

[Taro T]

14 minutes ago, Randall Flagg said:

(Can't get the form out of the quoting of Randall for some reason, but here's mine:)

Team Predictions: 40-33-9 - 89 points 5th in Atlantic
Sabres' Final Record: see above
Total Goals Scored: 224
Total Goals Allowed: 242
Power Play Ranking: 6th
PK Ranking: 21st
All-Star Player: Eichel
Award Winners/Finalists:  Dahlin Calder Finalust & All Rookie Team

Player Predictions
Top 3 goal scorers
1.)  Eichel - 33
2.)  Sheary - 30
3.)  Reinhart - 28
Top 3 point totals
1.) Eichel - 83
2.)  Reinhart - 61
3.)  Sheary - 55

Sabres' best rookie:  Dahlin
Biggest surprise:  CJ Smith becomes a fixture by mid-November
Biggest disappointment:  The slow start / Mittelstadt being in over his head until mid-December

How many games/wins for the goalies?
Ullmark: 32 - 16
Hutton:  50 - 24
other(injuries): 0





 

 

[Randall Flagg]

I realize that the boldface/underline is obnoxious. I'm going to change that

[dudacek]

46 minutes ago, Randall Flagg said:

Alright, I tried to push others to make this but nobody is biting and I'm procrastinating. I made a league-wide prediction thread a little while ago. Now it's time to look at our team. I'll just spit out random categories and you can guess which player fits best! 

Team Predictions
Sabres' Final Record: 39/34/9 87 points
Total Goals Scored: 253
Total Goals Allowed: 268
Power Play Ranking: 5th
PK Ranking: 21st
All-Star Players: Eichel 
Award Winners/Finalists: Dahlin will be a finalist after a great second half, but not a winner

Player Predictions
Top 3 goal scorers
1.) Eichel 34
2.) Reinhart 31
3.) Skinner 29
Top 3 point totals
1.) Eichel 89
2.) Reinhart 71
3.) Skinner 53

Sabres' best rookie: Dahlin 
Biggest surprise: Reinhart will score 70-plus
Biggest disappointment: Mittelstadt and Sheary will struggle to put up 30 points

How many games/wins for the goalies?
Ullmark: 25/11
Hutton: 57/28
other(injuries):

 

I think this team will be surprisingly capable of scoring goals, but will struggle  to stop them. We will see our share of blowouts, good and bad.

[Hoss]

Team Predictions
Sabres' Final Record: 88 points
Power Play Ranking: top 10
PK Ranking: middle 10
All-Star Players: Jack Eichel
Award Winners/Finalists: Dahlin Calder

Player Predictions
Top 3 goal scorers
1.) Jack Eichel 38
2.) Jeff Skinner 31
3.) Samson Reinhart 28
Top 3 point totals
1.) Jack Eichel 87
2.) Samson Reinhart 64
3.) Kyle Okposo 52

Sabres' best rookie: Dahlin
Biggest surprise: Pominville
Biggest disappointment: Mittelstadt (he’s fine and will be, just not ready)

How many games/wins for the goalies?
Ullmark: 36 games, 16 wins
Hutton: 46 games, 24 wins
other(injuries): nobody

Edited September 29, 2018 by Hoss

[Huckleberry]

Team Predictions
Sabres' Final Record: 35-32-15  85points  5th atlantic
Total Goals Scored: 230
Total Goals Allowed: 260
Power Play Ranking:  6th
PK Ranking: 23rd
All-Star Players:  Skinner
Award Winners/Finalists: Dhalin calder

Player Predictions
Top 3 goal scorers
1.) Skinner 40
2.)Eichel 30
3.)Samson 25
Top 3 point totals
1.) Eichel 85
2.) Samson 75
3.) Skinner  73

 Sabres' best rookie:  Dhalin
Biggest surprise: Nylander / Sobotka
Biggest disappointment: Ullmark/Sheary

How many games/wins for the goalies?
Ullmark:  32-12
Hutton:  50-23

other(injuries): Bogo, 

[thewookie1]

Team Predictions
Sabres' Final Record: 37-33-12  86PTS  5th in the Atlantic
Total Goals Scored: about 250
Total Goals Allowed: about 275
Power Play Ranking: middle
PK Ranking: middle
All-Star Players: Eichel
Award Winners/Finalists: Dahlin (Calder Finalist), Mittlestadt (5th place in Calder)

Player Predictions
Top 3 goal scorers
1.) Skinner - 37g
2.) Eichel - 31g
3.) Reinhart - 25g
Top 3 point totals
1.) Eichel - 93pts
2.) Skinner - 70 pts
3.) Reinhart - 65 pts

Sabres' best rookie: Dahlin 15g26a for 41pts/ Mittlestadt 19g35a for 54pts
Biggest surprise: Dahlin's scoring, Pominville is useful 
Biggest disappointment: Bogo continues his trend of 50% seasonal starts and Beaulieu flames out by December

How many games/wins for the goalies?
Ullmark: 12-15-7
Hutton: 25-18-5
other(injuries): Hunwick doesn't play more than 10 games

 

 

Who is passing us in the Atlantic Flagg? MTL? I honestly don't see it unless Price plays like he did a few years ago regardless of the Finish guy with lots of Ks in his name.

Edited September 30, 2018 by thewookie1

[Randall Flagg]

wookie, I don't have a specific idea other than EITHER Price is on fire OR Detroit isn't as bad as we think they'll be. Their younger players looked amazing this preseason, and while it is just preseason, it's a good reminder that anything is possible in the NHL.

Further, it's not that they need to be good, just to beat my 75 points. I don't think it would be crazy for Montreal or Detroit to get 77 points or something eh?

Edited September 30, 2018 by Randall Flagg

[thewookie1]

Just now, Randall Flagg said:

wookie, I don't have a specific idea other than EITHER Price is on fire OR Detroit isn't as bad as we think they'll be. Their younger players looked amazing this preseason, and while it is just preseason, it's a good reminder that anything is possible in the NHL.

I would still say its safer to guess Buffalo > than either of them

[Randall Flagg]

4 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

I would still say its safer to guess Buffalo > than either of them

Au contraire, both of those teams were closer to that 75 point margin than last year's Sabres by a long shot. The Sabres are the worst team in the NHL, as of the most recent real hockey sample size, and are more than twice as far behind the second-worst-team over the last 5 years than any other team trails any other team above them in that stretch.

It sucks, but the true safe bet is that Buffalo is the worst team in the league any given year.

That doesn't mean I believe it'll happen again, or that we can't be excited. 

[North Buffalo]

I have no fin clue but agree Mitts takes half the season to hit his stride and I think the Sabres hit 82 points...  As far as the rest.

[nfreeman]

 

Sabres' Final Record:  42-33-7, 91 pts, 5 pts out of playoffs 
Total Goals Scored:  250
Total Goals Allowed:  240
Power Play Ranking:  6
PK Ranking:  20
All-Star Players:  Eichel, Skinner
Award Winners/Finalists:  Dahlin - Calder

Player Predictions
Top 3 goal scorers
1.). Skinner — 33
2.). Eichel — 32
3.). KO — 26
Top 3 point totals
1.). Eichel — 81
2.). Skinner— 59
3.)  Reino — 55

Sabres' best rookie:. Dahlin
Biggest surprise:  Nylander
Biggest disappointment:. Ullmark

How many games/wins for the goalies?
Ullmark: 26 games — 11 wins
Hutton:  56 games — 31 wins
other(injuries):

[matter2003]

6 hours ago, Randall Flagg said:

Alright, I tried to push others to make this but nobody is biting and I'm procrastinating. I made a league-wide prediction thread a little while ago. Now it's time to look at our team. I'll just spit out random categories and you can guess which player fits best! 

Team Predictions
Sabres' Final Record: 36-38-8 (80 points)
Total Goals Scored: 238
Total Goals Allowed: 255
Power Play Ranking: 12th
PK Ranking: 15th
All-Star Players: Eichel, Skinner, Dahlin(rookie)
Award Winners/Finalists: Dahlin(Calder)

Player Predictions
Top 3 goal scorers
1.) Skinner 35
2.) Eichel 28
3.) Reinhart 27
Top 3 point totals
1.) Eichel 81
2.) Skinner 62
3.) Reinhart 60

Sabres' best rookie: Dahlin (how can it be anyone else)
Biggest surprise: Dahlin (at how good he really is)
Biggest disappointment: Ullmark does not appear to be a franchise goalie 

How many games/wins for the goalies?
Ullmark: 25/10
Hutton: 55/22 
other(injuries): 12/4


If anyone has any other suggestions for categories I can edit them in. For reference on the team scoring numbers, last season the league leader had 290 (followed by 273, 270) and the bottom 3 were 207, 206, and 198. The middle teams had 235-245 goals. Goals against, top 3: 202, 204, 209. Middle few: 235-240 Bottom 3: 278, 284, 293


 

 

[pi2000]

Team Predictions
Sabres' Final Record: 27-40-15
69points  6th Atlantic
Total Goals Scored: 210
Total Goals Allowed: 290
Power Play Ranking:  18th
PK Ranking: 30th
All-Star Players:  Eichel
Award Winners/Finalists: N/A

Player Predictions
Top 3 goal scorers
1.) Skinner 34
2.)Eichel 27
3.)Samson 25
Top 3 point totals
1.) Eichel 75
2.) Samson 50
3.) Skinner  62

 Sabres' best rookie:  Pilut
Biggest surprise: Thompson
Biggest disappointment: Hutton

How many games/wins for the goalies?
Ullmark:  12g 3w
Hutton:  70g 24w

other(injuries): Bogo, Okposo, Scandella, Mittlestadt, Dahlin, Sheary

Overall outlook:  Dim.   Housley's system does not utilize the talent available at his disposal.   His system is predicated on firing pucks from everywhere, getting pucks back to the point and throwing everything at the net.      That artificially inflates CorseFor%.    His system simply doesn't generate enough high quality scoring chances to make a push up the standings.    That, and he's too soft... he doesn't hold players accountable (benchings, etc) and the players don't respect him.... that and he CANCELLED PRACTICE two days before the season!   He won't last the season.  

Edited October 4, 2018 by pi2000
Housley slamfest #housleysoft #cancelpractice

[Hoss]

Surprised at how low expectations are for Eichel.

[jsb]

Team Predictions
Sabres' Final Record: 41-36-5 The Deluca 500 (that's what it's called amirite??) 5th in Atlantic
Total Goals Scored:  246
Total Goals Allowed: 246
Power Play Ranking: 6th
PK Ranking:  21st
All-Star Players: Eichel
Award Winners/Finalists: KO for Lady Byng

Player Predictions
Top 3 goal scorers
1.) Skinner 34
2.) Eichel  29
3.) KO  23
Top 3 point totals
1.) Eichel
2.) Reinhart
3.) Skinner

Sabres' best rookie: Dahlin
Biggest surprise: Tie Bogo plays over 60 games and Nylander plays the entire year in Buffalo
Biggest disappointment: Pi and Randall Flagg, these guys are in full tank mode already and the season hasn't started yet

How many games/wins for the goalies?
Ullmark: 11
Hutton:   30
other(injuries):

[Sabres Fan in NS]

^^^^^

LOL ... biggest disappointment.

[DarthEbriate]

Here we go! Rebellions are built on hope.

Team Predictions
Sabres' Final Record: 41 - 29 - 12. That's a gaudy DeLuca .500. In the playoff chase until the final weeks.  4th in the Atlantic.
Total Goals Scored: 238
Total Goals Allowed: 250
Power Play Ranking: 4th
PK Ranking: 18th
All-Star Players: Skinner
Award Winners/Finalists: Calder! Dahlin!      (Nylander a finalist)

Player Predictions
Top 3 goal scorers
1.) Skinner (39)
2.) Eichel (32)
3.) Nylander (24)
Top 3 point totals
1.) Eichel (89)
2.) Reinhart (80)
3.) Skinner (77)

Sabres' best rookie: Dahlin. He lays down an 8-40-48 line bolstered by offensive zone starts and PP time. But by midseason he plas smooth, he transitions, and brings a calmness the likes of which we haven't seen in a long time (long time).
Biggest surprise: Nylander stakes a claim on the 2nd PP and stays in the lineup all season posting 14 PPG.
Biggest disappointment: Sheary. As it happens, he's just a guy and not the 20G guy we were hoping would complement a budding superstar in Eichel. The good news is that's he's the best JAG our lineup has had in ages, and forces weak players out of the lineup.

How many games/wins for the goalies?
Ullmark: 15 GP / 9 W
Hutton: 63 GP / 31 W
Wedgewood: 5 GP / 1 W
other(injuries): Does Bogosian count? Ullmakr gets tweaked and misses a few scheduled starts, but plays very solidly when healthy.

[TrueBlueGED]

Team Predictions
Sabres' Final Record: 36-38-8 (80 points). My prediction has a standard deviation of 30, so you should just hand over the prediction trophy now.
Total Goals Scored: 240
Total Goals Allowed: 265
Power Play Ranking: 5th
PK Ranking: 20th
All-Star Players: Eichel
Award Winners/Finalists: Dahlin wins the Calder.

Player Predictions
Top 3 goal scorers
1.) Eichel ~33
2.) Skinner ~28
3.) Reinhart ~24
Top 3 point totals
1.) Eichel ~86
2.) Reinhart ~60
3.) Skinner ~58

Sabres' best rookie: Dahlin
Biggest surprise: I'm right about something
Biggest disappointment:  Housley. He'll continue to do things like play Risto 27 minutes per game and he'll think Berglund can just take O'Reilly's minutes and be okay.

How many games/wins for the goalies?
Hutton: 53 games, 24 wins, ~.915 SV%
Ullmark: 26 games, 12 wins, ~.910 SV%
other(injuries): Johansson: 3 games, 0 wins, ~.820 SV%
 

Edited October 1, 2018 by TrueBlueGED

[WildCard]

Team Predictions
Sabres' Final Record: 40 - 35 - 7 => 87 points
Total Goals Scored: 235 
Total Goals Allowed: 256
Power Play Ranking: 11th
PK Ranking: 15th
All-Star Players: Eichel
Award Winners/Finalists: Dahlin wins the Calder.

Player Predictions
Top 3 goal scorers
1.) Eichel 35
2.) Skinner 31
3.) Reinhart 28
Top 3 point totals
1.) Eichel 90
2.) Reinhart 65
3.) Skinner 55

Sabres' best rookie: Dahlin
Biggest surprise: Tage Thompson wins over SS
Biggest disappointment:  Mittelstadt

How many games/wins for the goalies? I don't know, I just kept the stats from True's post
Ullmark: 53 games, 24 wins, ~.915 SV%
Hutton: 26 games, 12 wins, ~.910 SV%
other(injuries): Johansson: 3 games, 0 wins, ~.820 SV%

[Brawndo]

Thought this was interesting 

 

http://hockeyviz.com/txt/preview1819

[WildCard]

2 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

Thought this was interesting 

 

http://hockeyviz.com/txt/preview1819

Better than the Lightning, Bruins, and Penguins? There are red flags that your test has some flaws, and then there's that

[Taro T]

51 minutes ago, TrueBlueGED said:

Team Predictions
Sabres' Final Record: 36-38-8 (80 points). My prediction has a standard deviation of 30, so you should just hand over the prediction trophy now.
Total Goals Scored: 240
Total Goals Allowed: 265
Power Play Ranking: 5th
PK Ranking: 20th
All-Star Players: Eichel
Award Winners/Finalists: Dahlin wins the Calder.

Player Predictions
Top 3 goal scorers
1.) Eichel ~33
2.) Skinner ~28
3.) Reinhart ~24
Top 3 point totals
1.) Eichel ~86
2.) Reinhart ~60
3.) Skinner ~58

Sabres' best rookie: Dahlin
Biggest surprise: I'm right about something
Biggest disappointment:  Housley. He'll continue to do things like play Risto 27 minutes per game and he'll think Berglund can just take O'Reilly's minutes and be okay.

How many games/wins for the goalies?
Ullmark: 53 games, 24 wins, ~.915 SV%
Hutton: 26 games, 12 wins, ~.910 SV%
other(injuries): Johansson: 3 games, 0 wins, ~.820 SV%
 

Ullmark w/ 53 games?  Are you expecting Hutton to be injured at some point or did you stop 1/2 way though & start in w/ your '19-'20 predictions?  :p

[TrueBlueGED]

6 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Ullmark w/ 53 games?  Are you expecting Hutton to be injured at some point or did you stop 1/2 way though & start in w/ your '19-'20 predictions?  ?

Whoops. My fingers decided to reverse what my brain was saying ?

Fixed.

Also, let the record show that WildCard blatantly plagiarized my goalie predictions and didn't catch this mistake:

41 minutes ago, WildCard said:

How many games/wins for the goalies? I don't know, I just kept the stats from True's post
Ullmark: 53 games, 24 wins, ~.915 SV%
Hutton: 26 games, 12 wins, ~.910 SV%
other(injuries): Johansson: 3 games, 0 wins, ~.820 SV%