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 5 hours ago 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.