NHL.com work-up on the Sabres

[7+6=13]

17 hours ago, dudacek said:

It seems like you did. Basically I'm just comparing the 2023 team with the guy who took his roster spot and/or role.

Incrementally, we got harder in most positions. it's not much on a player for player level, but across half a team its significant.

(incidentally, I neglected Benson. Asplund and or Hinostroza were the next two for the 23 team in terms of games played)

I think I may have been thrown off by you using the word spectrum.  

I think we agree there's little doubt we should be more physical and harder to push around.  The question mark, for me is, will they fill out the other definitions of being tougher.  Will they play for each other, stand up for each other, protect a lead, go to the net, etc.

I think they will and if they do, will more than make up for Pererka's goals.

[PerreaultForever]

2 hours ago, DarthEbriate said:

Goals allowed, with rank in league and goal differential shown

2024-25   287   (29th)     -22
2023-24   243   (11th)      +1
2022-23   297   (26th)     -4
2021-22    287   (25th)     -58
2020-21    196   (T-29th)  -62 
2019-20    215   (T-20th) with EDM  -22   (EDM was +8)

Okay but if that stats explains it why'd they not make the playoffs in 2023-24?

[DarthEbriate]

34 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

Okay but if that stats explains it why'd they not make the playoffs in 2023-24?

Well, +1 is the very least you can be over even. They weren't outscoring the opposition. Just like this past season where they had a top offense 5-on-5 but still finished the year with a negative differential. Terrible defense outdoes good offense.

 

In the case of 2023-24, though, it looks like the underlying concern is loser points. The two teams that made the playoffs as wild cards were the Islanders and Capitals. Experienced defense-first grinding teams that scored less, but got to overtime. That season, the Sabres picked up 6 loser points (and missed the playoffs by 8).

Detroit (+4 goal differential) also didn't make it and had 9 loser points, losing the tiebreaker with WSH.

Isles -17 goals, but nabbed 16 loser points and the Caps at a gaudy -37 goal differential !!! snuck into the final WC spot tied with Detroit but won the breaker -- had 11 loser points. They had two losses that got them past Detroit. The Sabres had the same number of regulation wins as the Isles and finished 10 points back in the standings.

Because of the scoring system, if you keep the game 1-1 it's more advantageous over the length of the season than trying to run-and-gun to 5 goals. If you lose, lose big -- and in all other games, grind it out.