The offseason so far - Are the Sabres better?

[PerreaultForever]

8 hours ago, DarthEbriate said:

In the case of Byram-Dahlin, they keep the puck out by possessing the puck and threatening the opposition to back off because when either of them gets the puck they can immediately begin the transition to offense.

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/pairings.php?fromseason=20242025&thruseason=20242025&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&rate=n&team=ALL&loc=B&toi=500&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410  Then, sort by GF%. They are better than the other top pairs in the league with big minutes:   Hedman-Moser, Samberg-Pionk, McDonagh-Cernak, their +20 goal differential is the same as Toews-Makar.   In most cases, the B-D pair gives up fewer goals in more minutes than any of those, and in times they do give up more goals, they scored many more, too. What's odd is Ruff didn't play them together more.

Just specific to bad defense, it's not just the D-corps -- we're also underselling the importance of good goaltending (Toews-Makar gave up a ton of goals early in the season because of crap goalies) and the commitment of the forwards to getting the puck out of their own zone.

Give it 12 hours... he may not be. (At this point, I hope they keep him, because I think removing him weakens their blue line and brings Bryson that much closer to the daily lineup.)

Oh there's a whole lot of reasons for bad defense that's for sure. Forwards take a lot of the blame there too. The team is a team. Let me ask you this though, do you honestly think they'd hold up well as a pair in the playoffs against a Florida forecheck? I model everything I want on trying to be good in the playoffs and not just to rack up good stats. 

[PerreaultForever]

6 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Except Byram/Dahlin was a winning formula and Dahlin is a 2way defender 

Okay sure, except we didn't win but whatever. So what's your Sabres D for next season? 7 or 8 D. What you got that will "win"?

[Turbo44]

9 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

Oh there's a whole lot of reasons for bad defense that's for sure. Forwards take a lot of the blame there too. The team is a team. Let me ask you this though, do you honestly think they'd hold up well as a pair in the playoffs against a Florida forecheck? I model everything I want on trying to be good in the playoffs and not just to rack up good stats. 

I think Dahlin is a tough beaaatch and would hold up fine. And, more importantly, if we were playing FLA in the playoffs wouldn’t it have to be in the conference finals? Crazy friggin talk man……dream big

Edited Monday at 11:02 PM by Turbo44

[PerreaultForever]

2 minutes ago, Turbo44 said:

I think Dahlin is a tough beaaatch and would hold up fine. And, more importantly, if we were playing FLA in the playoffs wouldn’t it have to be in the conference finals? Crazy friggin talk man……dream big

You don't think Florida will win the division this year? Toronto should regular season slip back without Marner. Might be a better playoff team in the end but regular season his loss will mean points int he standings. 

[dudacek]

I’m pretty sure Bo Byram has a Stanley Cup ring already.

But more misleading stats.

[WhenWillItEnd66]

Anyone else ready for some serious disappointment this off-season?? I already feel it even though I like what we got in the Jjp trade.  

[DarthEbriate]

36 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

Oh there's a whole lot of reasons for bad defense that's for sure. Forwards take a lot of the blame there too. The team is a team. Let me ask you this though, do you honestly think they'd hold up well as a pair in the playoffs against a Florida forecheck? I model everything I want on trying to be good in the playoffs and not just to rack up good stats. 

I think if Byram-Dahlin had to hold up against the Florida forecheck in the playoffs -- let's say at the end of this season:

a) holy hell, they're in the playoffs, and

b) Yes. That pairing would be the absolute least of the lineup's problems and we'd want them skating 58:00 minutes per night. We'd just want to make sure that he didn't retaliate when they hacked him and he'd have to school himself not to cross the line.

[PerreaultForever]

49 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

I think if Byram-Dahlin had to hold up against the Florida forecheck in the playoffs -- let's say at the end of this season:

a) holy hell, they're in the playoffs, and

b) Yes. That pairing would be the absolute least of the lineup's problems and we'd want them skating 58:00 minutes per night. We'd just want to make sure that he didn't retaliate when they hacked him and he'd have to school himself not to cross the line.

Well I disagree with that but we may never know. 

imo Dahlin, as good as he is,  caves under a heavy forecheck and Byram is just too soft. 

[LGR4GM]

To answer the op question... no we're not better by any perceptible metric. I think there's a chance our overall game is better in terms of grit and character but no idea how that translates to wins. This team was bad last year and Kesselring and Doan and Norris might add a couple of wins but that just makes us... barely less bad. 

If Adams plan is just this, we're going to miss the playoffs again. At best we might be an 85pt team right now if we stay healthy and frankly who gives a *****? Either win or get out Kevyn. 

[7+6=13]

2 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

What is your point? There's trade rumors all over. If we sign him he's still on the team. But we haven't yet. 

We don't have to sign him, he's on our team now.  

[GASabresIUFAN]

58 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

To answer the op question... no we're not better by any perceptible metric. I think there's a chance our overall game is better in terms of grit and character but no idea how that translates to wins. This team was bad last year and Kesselring and Doan and Norris might add a couple of wins but that just makes us... barely less bad. 

If Adams plan is just this, we're going to miss the playoffs again. At best we might be an 85pt team right now if we stay healthy and frankly who gives a *****? Either win or get out Kevyn. 

Agreed!  Unless Levi becomes a star over-night, this team as currently structured is offensively worse than last year, only marginally better defensively and no goaltending to speak of.  How is Adams' "waiting for Levi" plan working out so far. 

One slight quibble, I think this team may be marginally better, but given how Mon, Det and Ott are improving, this could be a 70 pt team. 

[PerreaultForever]

3 hours ago, 7+6=13 said:

We don't have to sign him, he's on our team now.  

So he's just going to show up and play for free? Cool. Terry will be happy. 

[7+6=13]

7 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

So he's just going to show up and play for free? Cool. Terry will be happy. 

Oh I'm sorry, Ithought you knew he was an RFA.  All the players get paid for playing.  The team has control of the player.  

Did you think we were trying to trade an UFA?  That's probably where I lost ya.  Teams can't trade UFA's.  

[MISabresFan]

Funny - I was thinking, why the sudden change in direction with the team?  Who put the bug in KA's arse to change midstream and not want to play with speed and skill?  Where did this come from?  I am 100 percent positive it did not come from KA.  Did that person know it would take more than 2 years to flip the roster and change direction?  Another few years of fans going off along with social media, with no playoffs in sight? If not, there is a bigger problem than just the GM.

 

[Demoted]

I think with Lindy making more of the hockey decisions than KA who is just a lame duck GM right now the team got better. Playoff better is still yet to be seen and far away IMO.

[LGR4GM]

2 minutes ago, MISabresFan said:

Funny - I was thinking, why the sudden change in direction with the team?  Who put the bug in KA's arse to change midstream and not want to play with speed and skill?  Where did this come from?  I am 100 percent positive it did not come from KA.  Did that person know it would take more than 2 years to flip the roster and change direction?  Another few years of fans going off along with social media, with no playoffs in sight? If not, there is a bigger problem than just the GM.

 

I dont think this is accurate. It isn't "we don't want to play with speed and skill" it is "we need more grit with speed and skill". Doan and Kesselring are fast and skilled.

1 minute ago, Demoted said:

I think with Lindy making more of the hockey decisions than KA who is just a lame duck GM right now the team got better. Playoff better is still yet to be seen and far away IMO.

I can see Adams being moved to an advisor/team president job, Lindy to POHO and Jarmo to GM at the end of the year.

[Gatorman0519]

No. We switched tougher defense in exchange for goalscoring getting rid of JJ. 2 steps forward 2 steps back. 80 l-85 point team as is. 

[JP51]

Bigger yes, tougher probably, talented no, economically yes...More points...  I dont see us at this point (pre any free agent signings) as better or moving up the rankings... I think we began to change the type of player... a bit, I think we probably have lost or stayed the same in the over all skill department...  if we are better next year its because a few catalysts have brought out the development and progress of the existing core... I.e Power is now much better because ... or Benson works well with Doan.. blah blah...  Over all view... I hope we show better next year... might be nice to see people engage physically more... but W/L I just don't see us moving the needle one way or the other in a significant way...  at this point... lets see what happens in FA... I do suspect not much...  but who knows. 

Edited 10 hours ago by JP51

[GASabresIUFAN]

Here is where the roster stands

Forwards
Thomspon Kulich Tuch

Benson Norris Quinn

Zucker McLeod (RFA) Greenway

Malenstyn Krebs Doan (Kozak-RFA)

Defense

Dahlin Byram (RFA)

Power Kesselring

Samuelsson Timmins (RFA)

Johnson Bryson

Goalies

UPL, Levi (RFA) and possibly Lyon (UFA-unsigned)

Assuming all the listed RFAs are re-signed, including Byram on a bridge deal ($6 mill?), the Sabres currently project at just under $ 86 million.

Despite Adams moving around deck chairs on the Titanic, this team is not much better than last year’s failed squad.

Edited 8 hours ago by GASabresIUFAN

[LGR4GM]

2 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Here is where the roster stands

Forwards
Thomspon Kulich Tuch

Benson Norris Quinn

Zucker McLeod (RFA) Greenway

Malenstyn Krebs Doan (Kozak-RFA)

Defense

Dahlin Byram (RFA)

Power Kesselring

Samuelsson Timmins (RFA)

Johnson Bryson

Goalies

UPL, Levi (RFA) and possibly Lyon (UFA-unsigned)

Assuming all the listed RFAs are re-signed, including Byram on a bridge deal ($6 mill?), the Sabres currently project at just under $ 86 million

Terry smiling and breathing heavy in Adams ear "almost 9mil under the cap"

[GASabresIUFAN]

1 minute ago, LGR4GM said:

Terry smiling and breathing heavy in Adams ear "almost 9mil under the cap"

…. And they are congratulating each other on a con-job well done.

[Thorny]

4 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

…. And they are congratulating each other on a con-job well done.

Ya I mean if you purchase what they are selling at this point it can only be on you 

[Taro T]

3 hours ago, MISabresFan said:

Funny - I was thinking, why the sudden change in direction with the team?  Who put the bug in KA's arse to change midstream and not want to play with speed and skill?  Where did this come from?  I am 100 percent positive it did not come from KA.  Did that person know it would take more than 2 years to flip the roster and change direction?  Another few years of fans going off along with social media, with no playoffs in sight? If not, there is a bigger problem than just the GM.

 

 

3 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

I dont think this is accurate. It isn't "we don't want to play with speed and skill" it is "we need more grit with speed and skill". Doan and Kesselring are fast and skilled.

I can see Adams being moved to an advisor/team president job, Lindy to POHO and Jarmo to GM at the end of the year.

Yeah, they aren't getting away from speed and skill; but they are moving towards the Murray model - size with speed and skill.  The team is becoming heavy but still see it not playing that hard game that LA was doing when Murray decided to emulate it nor that FLA is playing that KA seems to be now trying to emulate.

[Thorny]

22 minutes ago, Taro T said:

 

Yeah, they aren't getting away from speed and skill; but they are moving towards the Murray model - size with speed and skill.  The team is becoming heavy but still see it not playing that hard game that LA was doing when Murray decided to emulate it nor that FLA is playing that KA seems to be now trying to emulate.

We’ve deceased in skill 

[Weave]

1 minute ago, Thorny said:

We’ve deceased in skill

Freudian slip?