Straight Talk: 1st Line: what do Sabres really have on this roster?

[GASabresIUFAN]

6 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

It's a funny thing but there are always lots of good stats on Sabres teams but there we are, last place with the lowest win percentage in the east. 

It takes more than some improvement on defense to change the team.  Why are we still are the bottom? 
1. Terrible goaltending.  Below average save % overall and 5 in 5 illustrates that despite the improved defense, the goalies are allowing to many goals.  

2.  The offense is down year over year.  Last season we scored 3.28 goals per game, now we are at 2.96.  Injuries are a factor, but our shooting % has fallen from nearly 12% down to just over 10%.  

Our differential last season was -20 for the season.  We are already at -10 for 25 games.   With the goaltending worse and scoring down, this is a worse team than last year despite an incremental improvement on defense.  1 step forward two steps back.  

 

7 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Adams doesn't add to the top 6, he just switches it up. Cozens out for Norris. Peterka out for Doan. Even if these players are upgrades (no Norris jokes please) how much can 1 guy really do when we aren't talking about McDavid or MacKinnon? The one trade Kevyn Adams cannot and has not completed is trading X, Y, Z for an established top 6 player. Closest we have is Savoie for McLeod.

Shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic?

[PerreaultForever]

6 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

It takes more than some improvement on defense to change the team.  Why are we still are the bottom? 
1. Terrible goaltending.  Below average save % overall and 5 in 5 illustrates that despite the improved defense, the goalies are allowing to many goals.  

2.  The offense is down year over year.  Last season we scored 3.28 goals per game, now we are at 2.96.  Injuries are a factor, but our shooting % has fallen from nearly 12% down to just over 10%.  

Our differential last season was -20 for the season.  We are already at -10 for 25 games.   With the goaltending worse and scoring down, this is a worse team than last year despite an incremental improvement on defense.  1 step forward two steps back.  

 

Shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic?

Stats will never give you the answer. 

The difference between winning and losing always comes down to effort at key moment, discipline, good coaching decisions (and a good system), leadership to rise to the occasion, attention to detail so you don't make mistakes, and just the will to give it your all and get it done. None of that will show up in stats on zone time or shooting percentage or goals for or whatever. Those are just interesting overall assessments. What really matters is effort, and effort at key moments.