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Around the NHL: 2021


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On 3/2/2021 at 1:19 AM, Randall Flagg said:

There are no excuses for being bad at this point, but the Sabres were put in an unfortunate division. These teams know how to dismantle the Sabres, and have for a while. 

Looking at it...

Over the last 2 seasons, BUF has played the teams in their division quite poorly - 14-21-3, for an 82 game point pace of just 67 points. This is last-place material.

In the same span against the rest of the league, Buffalo has gone 49-49-15, an 82 point pace. Hardly lighting the world on fire, but significantly different from the suffocation best idealized by Barry Trotz' Islanders. We scored 2.45 goals per game against our divisional foes over the last two years, but 2.90 goals per game against the rest of the field. Half of a goal per game is a pretty big deal. 

If we played in a different division that was more aligned with that 82 point pace, one would still probably be skeptical that Hall + Staal + 4th line PKers + development could bridge the gap to playoffs, but add a real goalie to upgrade Hutton in that stack, and it would be reasonable to argue before the season that we were looking at a good NHL team that can compete. 

That pile of additions to a functionally-67-point roster? Not so much. 

Welcome back.  You were missed.

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Living up here in ONtario north of TO all I keep hearing is how great the Leafs are as they continue to rack up crazy numbers against totally inferior teams. Can't help but wonder how long it wil be before we hear that McDavid and/or  Draisaitl become disenchanted and want out of Edmonton? The Oilers have done nothing to really improve and losing three in a row in embarassing fashion can't sit wlll with either player. Kind of a waste for these two guys (and Jack for that matter) to be wasting their "golden years" on crappy losing teams.

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19 minutes ago, Sabre fan said:

Living up here in ONtario north of TO all I keep hearing is how great the Leafs are as they continue to rack up crazy numbers against totally inferior teams. Can't help but wonder how long it wil be before we hear that McDavid and/or  Draisaitl become disenchanted and want out of Edmonton? The Oilers have done nothing to really improve and losing three in a row in embarassing fashion can't sit wlll with either player. Kind of a waste for these two guys (and Jack for that matter) to be wasting their "golden years" on crappy losing teams.

What does the Oilers fan board think? 

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5 minutes ago, Norcal said:

What does the Oilers fan board think? 

good question...wonder if they have one? I assume they would not want to see either go but then again they loved through the Gretzky trade so anything is possible. They must be as tired of losing as we are for sure! Meanwhile the Leafs and their fans truly think they are that good and all I hear is talk of a cup after how many years!!! Wait til they meet Boston or whoever from another division...

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7 hours ago, Sabre fan said:

Living up here in ONtario north of TO all I keep hearing is how great the Leafs are as they continue to rack up crazy numbers against totally inferior teams. Can't help but wonder how long it wil be before we hear that McDavid and/or  Draisaitl become disenchanted and want out of Edmonton? The Oilers have done nothing to really improve and losing three in a row in embarassing fashion can't sit wlll with either player. Kind of a waste for these two guys (and Jack for that matter) to be wasting their "golden years" on crappy losing teams.

I think the difference is that McDavid and Draisitl have been good pretty consistently and McDavid has been 'As Advertised' when he was drafted. The problem has been the rest of the Oilers team (or atleast goaltending). They have had some success of making (or coming close to making) the playoffs. unlike Buffalo where they are pretty much out of it by February. Edmonton is still in that area of a team that could contend with another piece or 2. Their most recently early draft picks were because of getting lucky with the Lottery, not because they were in the basement of the league like Buffalo.

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28 minutes ago, apuszczalowski said:

I think the difference is that McDavid and Draisitl have been good pretty consistently and McDavid has been 'As Advertised' when he was drafted. The problem has been the rest of the Oilers team (or atleast goaltending). They have had some success of making (or coming close to making) the playoffs. unlike Buffalo where they are pretty much out of it by February. Edmonton is still in that area of a team that could contend with another piece or 2. Their most recently early draft picks were because of getting lucky with the Lottery, not because they were in the basement of the league like Buffalo.

They've drafted 8th, 14th, 10th overall the last 3 years. Yamamoto was 20 something. 

They really haven't been that good. 

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1 hour ago, pi2000 said:

they're 11-11-2 and just won 7-3, but they have a higher standard

DO BETTER

Two points out of a playoff spot but Montreal has two games in hand. You know, the other team that just changed coaches. Do better indeed!

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The Buffalo Sabres aspirations are clearly not in the same universe as other NHL organizations, as these coaching changes prove. Most teams strive and will do whatever it takes to win and try to make the playoffs. The Sabres can’t even function properly on a day to day basis. Huge gap. 

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2 hours ago, Billznut said:

The Buffalo Sabres aspirations are clearly not in the same universe as other NHL organizations, as these coaching changes prove. Most teams strive and will do whatever it takes to win and try to make the playoffs. The Sabres can’t even function properly on a day to day basis. Huge gap. 

This. 

It's like they work backwards from "we shouldn't make this change" and find reasons to support that conclusion. They don't prioritize winning. They talk about winning but it's never the number one priority, been saying it for years now. It's not that they don't want to win, but they continually prioritize mindsets, buzzwords, and systematic ideas above actual results. It's always a little bit more about the future and a little bit less about the right now. If the team had made the playoffs in any of the last 10 seasons it would have been viewed by the organization as being "ahead of schedule".

They continually "inquire" on guys. They inquire a lot. They seemingly relying on a multitude of best-case scenarios to unfold simultaneously for success to be in reach, and act surprised when injuries arise and are all too willing to use them as an excuse rather than viewing them as an inevitable part of any season. 

Edited by Thorny
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44 minutes ago, steveoath said:

Isn't that how the analytics "department" works as well??

That's the scuttlebutt. The analytics department was tasked with justifying decision already made, that was before Adams though. Outside of Eakin, the players he brought in from an analytics standpoint made sense. 

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19 minutes ago, Gatorman0519 said:

The fact that RK is still behind the bench compared to two other teams already proved losing has no accountability 

Exactly, it sends a message to players and fans that losing is acceptable.   How to build a losing culture. 

If this was rebuild, then fine, stick it out etc... but this is a cap team who expected to contend, there has to be a higher standard.

DO BETTER

Edited by pi2000
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1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

Brent Seabrook is retiring. 

Sham contract, but he'll be sitting on LTIR for 3 more seasons after this at $6.3 million cap hit.  Frees up a ton of cap room for the Blackhawks.

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8 minutes ago, Thwomp! said:

Sham contract, but he'll be sitting on LTIR for 3 more seasons after this at $6.3 million cap hit.  Frees up a ton of cap room for the Blackhawks.

Actually, almost $7 million in cap.  ~$6.9 million

And Seabrook gets paid ~$20 million over the next four years including this one to watch American Pickers reruns.  

Edited by Thwomp!
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8 hours ago, Billznut said:

The Buffalo Sabres aspirations are clearly not in the same universe as other NHL organizations, as these coaching changes prove. Most teams strive and will do whatever it takes to win and try to make the playoffs. The Sabres can’t even function properly on a day to day basis. Huge gap. 

Darcy said it all in his suffering presser. "It's not about making the playoffs... (correcting himself) it's not about JUST making the playoffs." Terry's all about building a dynasty, not slumming it with those rabble teams that just try to "sneak" into the postseason.

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2 hours ago, Thwomp! said:

Actually, almost $7 million in cap.  ~$6.9 million

And Seabrook gets paid ~$20 million over the next four years including this one to watch American Pickers reruns.  

I get the feeling the Pegulas don't like paying money for nothing.

Most owners understand its a business expense.

If your gonna guarantee the contracts you just hafta let that money go, it's already gone.

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23 minutes ago, Norcal said:

I get the feeling the Pegulas don't like paying money for nothing.

Most owners understand its a business expense.

If your gonna guarantee the contracts you just hafta let that money go, it's already gone.

The 3 Cups makes the pill easier to swallow I'd imagine.

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