Which Sabre(s) has had the most surprising season good or bad?

[GASabresIUFAN]

My candidates.

1.  Dahlin - Sure we all expect Dahlin to be great, but did anyone in our heart of hearts truly believe he'd lead this team to the playoffs for the 1st time in 15 years after losing his unborn child and nearly losing his fiancée just before the season began and then having a rough start while caring that family burden? 

2.  Doan - He had 62 games of NHL experience entering this season with 12g and 16a.  This season, his first full NHL season he puts up 25 goals (so far) 26 apples (so far) and with his unbridled energy help reshape the Sabres attitude about themselves.

3. Samuelsson - he has spent much of the last 4 NHL seasons injured.  Putting up only 7g with 36a for 43 pts over 212 games.  This year (so far) 13g 28a for 41 points over 77/ 80 games and playing shutdown defense and revitalizing the PK.  Anyone who says they saw this coming is full of........

4. The Sabres goaltenders.  Never saw the Ellis claim coming and that he'd play a pivotal role in helping to stabilizing the goaltending when Lyon and UPL were injured.  No one projected Lyon to be very good most of the season and no one predicted UPL would have a career year likely earning playoff No.1 status.  Certainly no one thought entering this season that the goaltending would be the strength of a resurgent Sabres.  Most talking heads predicted the opposite.

5.  Krebs - 1st line playmaker.  Yeah, never thought that would happen this season. New career highs in goals (12), assists (27) and pts (39).  

6. Quinn - This kid was at the top of everyone's trade bait list from last off-season through this deadline.  Talk about a second half turnaround.  Now with a career high in goals (20), points (51) and Lindy playing him in all situations.  Reminds me of McLeod's season from last year.  

7. Malenstyn - I never thought Malenstyn would earn another contract with the Sabres (or anyone else).  He is now the heart and soul of the 4th line and has helped change the culture of the Sabres with his relentless effort and speed.

8. Kesselring - He was thought to be the key piece of the JJP trade.  He was the big, fast, skilled, but physical RHD this lineup desperately needed.  Injuries, and my guess a bad attitude, derailed his season.

9 &10. The rookies - Metsa, a 27 year old rookie, grew on Lindy and the fans by playing smart simple hockey contributing 2g 4a and a stunning +17 over 42 games.  Östlund, who essentially replaced Kulich, played again smart simple hockey contributing depth scoring and playmaking even helping the PP.  He contributed 11g 16a over 60 games with a +11.  

Besides Kesselring, what an accomplished list.  Any others that I missed?

Edited April 11 by GASabresIUFAN

[Nacho Libre]

Samuelsson and the goalies for me were quite surprising in a good way. Doan too, maybe to a lesser degree

Thompson’s advanced metrics are very surprisingly poor

I’m never surprised by Dahlin

[GASabresIUFAN]

9 minutes ago, Nacho Libre said:

Thompson’s advanced metrics are very surprisingly poor

I also don't think Tuch was good all season.  He has had great moments, but there have been times where he was invisible and played poorly.  This was a little surprising, but I think the contract issue has weighed on him this season.  Hopefully he'll find himself in the playoffs.

[Ogelthorpe]

Doan in a fantastic way!

[Doohickie]

Out of the "pleasantly surprised" category, who do you think has the highest ceiling?  Doan?  Quinn?  Krebs?

I'm leaning toward Quinner.

[GASabresIUFAN]

Just now, Doohickie said:

Out of the "pleasantly surprised" category, who do you think has the highest ceiling?  Doan?  Quinn?  Krebs?

I'm leaning toward Quinner.

Depends.  Points? Quinn.  200 foot player with good points? Doan.  

[Nacho Libre]

6 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Depends.  Points? Quinn.  200 foot player with good points? Doan.  

A lot more of Doan’s production came from PP scoring than I expected (only 34 even strength points) and his team relative plus minus is pretty poor. Still put him in the “good surprising” category cause 51 points is 51 points but  I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Quinn panned out better. The “better than Shane” comps were nonetheless premature 

Edited April 11 by Nacho Libre

[GASabresIUFAN]

Just now, Nacho Libre said:

A lot more of Doan’s production came from PP scoring than expected (only 34 even strength points) and his team relative plus minus is pretty poor - to extent I could we Quinn panning out better 

PP will always be part of Doan’s job.  He’s going to inherit Zucker’s net front role after next season.  Quinn is the more naturally gifted offensive player, but I don’t ever see him as a go to the net type of guy like Benson and Doan.  That said, I think he has good passing skills and a wicked shot, it’s why i see him with a higher points ceiling as Doan.  What Quinn isn’t going to become is a great PKer or great two way player, but his back checking has improved dramatically this season.  I think he is finally healthy and his wheels are back at full speed.

The truth is Benny, Quinn and Doan could be the backbone of this forward group for the next 5 plus years, maybe with Östlund and Helenius as their centers. 

[Nacho Libre]

I don’t see why Quinn can’t become a good too way player. Much of that is learned behaviour 

I’m also not convinced Doan is proficient 2 way as is being proclaimed 

Just mo 

[JKB1646]

Power has turned his game 180! He was always considered a offensive dman and now he has become a shut down Dman. His skating, stick work and puck moving skills are looking fantastic! if he can just find a bit of an attitude the sky is the limit for this still kid!

[Taro T]

51 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

My candidates.

1.  Dahlin - Sure we all expect Dahlin to be great, but did anyone in our heart of hearts truly believe he'd lead this team to the playoffs for the 1st time in 15 years after losing his unborn child and nearly losing his fiancée just before the season began and then having a rough start while caring that family burden? 

2.  Doan - He had 62 games of NHL experience entering this season with 12g and 16a.  This season, his first full NHL season he puts up 25 goals (so far) 26 apples (so far) and with his unbridled energy help reshape the Sabres attitude about themselves.

3. Samuelsson - he has spent much of the last 4 NHL seasons injured.  Putting up only 7g with 36a over 212 games.  This year (so far) 13g 28a for 41 points over 77/ 80 games and playing shutdown defense and revitalizing the PK.  Anyone who says they saw this coming is full of........

4. The Sabres goaltenders.  Never saw the Ellis claim coming and that he'd play a pivotal role in helping to stabilizing the goaltending when Lyon and UPL were injured.  No one projected Lyon to be very good most of the season and no one predicted UPL would have a career year likely earning playoff No.1 status.  Certainly no one thought entering this season that the goaltending would be the strength of a resurgent Sabres.  Most talking heads predicted the opposite.

5.  Krebs - 1st line playmaker.  Yeah, never thought that would happen this season

6. Quinn - This kids was at the top of everyone's trade bait list from last off-season through this deadline.  Talk about a second half turnaround.  Now with a career high in goals (20), points (51) and Lindy playing him in all situations.  Reminds me of McLeod's season from last year.  

7. Malenstyn - I never thought Malenstyn would earn another contract with the Sabres (or anyone else).  He is now the heart and soul of the 4th line and has helped change the culture of the Sabres with his relentless effort and speed.

8. Kesselring - He was thought to be the key piece of the JJP trade.  He was the big, fast, skilled, but physical RHD this lineup desperately needed.  Injuries, and my guess a bad attitude, derailed his season.

Besides Kesselring, what an accomplished list.  Any others that I missed?

It has to be Samuelsson and the goalies.  Samuelsson and Dahlin were playing well together when they got put back together towards the end of last season once the season was lost and they were in the garbage time of the season, so there was the possibility that he'd pick up the shutdown portion of the game if he came in healthy and in shape.  And if you said he'd get 25-30 points, sure could see that, with a solid number of 2ndary assists.  And that would've been a good season relative to where he'd been.

But the offensive explosion was a very pleasant cherry on the top of the rest of his game.  He truly has been a legit 2-way D-man this year.

And all 3 goalies did everything that was asked of them.  All 3 had brief scary stretches, but overall they really gave the team an opportunity to find itself.

 

Would add Carrick to the list.  He's been the prototype of exactly what you'd hope to have in a 4C and don't believe he ever showed as well as he has since switching to blue and gold.  And he seemed to find some serious chemistry with Malenstyn.

And would add Byram to the list too.  Last year the only partner he looked good playing with was Dahlin.  He and Power were an absolute disaster when playing together too.  He couldn't seem to find a guy to mesh with this year either and then when he ended up back with Power it clicked and now he can play with any of the other D and not have the defensive zone issues he had before.  Hoped he could pick his game up, but wasn't hopeful of it if he wasn't playing with Ras.  Now, he's really been a huge part of this team's success.

 

What a really fun season.  There really weren't many passengers on this ride this year.

[Nacho Libre]

6 minutes ago, Taro T said:

What a really fun season.  There really weren't many passengers on this ride this year.

You know what - this is the most salient thing. It occurred to me when reading it that, really, it might be most surprising how much the individual numbers (aside from the goalies) *don’t* jump off the page. No art Ross or Richard chases, no one close to 100 or even 90. It’s most surprising how much contribution we’ve gotten all across the roster, as you point out 

and it’s why I haven’t liked the “sabres are 50-0 with metsa/benson/whoever” stats: they’ve generally been really good when guys have gone out too. With different individuals picking up the slack 

Edited April 11 by Nacho Libre

[GoPuckYourself]

Samuelsson for me, I was hearing buyout types of rumors before his turnaround but not only is he showing he can score but he can also play with an edge (not as much as I'd like) which has been great to see. I have been the hardest probably of most posters on here for Krebs and UPL, they have both been playing really well, I hope it continues in the playoffs. 

[Doohickie]

37 minutes ago, Nacho Libre said:

I don’t see why Quinn can’t become a good too way player. Much of that is learned behaviour 

He is becoming a good two way player.

[pi2000]

42 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

He is becoming a good two way player.

he improved from a -18 last season to a +5 this year

[Pimlach]

All the players listed are having career years except Kesselring.  

Dahlin is 1 goal and 1 point from tying career highs, which is incredible when you look at his entire game and the adversity he had to overcome.  

Kesselring was thought of as a possible top 4, and right now is grouped within 7/8/9.  

Edited April 11 by Pimlach

[PerreaultForever]

It was Doan for me. Can you imagine if Doan was only the bottom 6 guy most of us thought he might be (or not even on the roster) and Kesselring was just what he is. The view of that trade would be a whole lot different. So I guess it's Doan positive, Kesselring negative. 

I still don't know what happened to Samuelsson but we did have high hopes for him before and the idea of pairing him with Dahlin was there a few years back. 

[SabreFinn]

It’s the goaltending imo. Being better yes, being good - maybe, but great - no chance. 

Then I am surprised that Dahlin has played all season without a slump and just a few shorterleaveof absence. After what happened he could suddenly have a month or two when he's too tired of focusing on hockey. 

I am a bit surprised by Samuelssons offensive production. His defensive game has always been there, it has just been a question of staying healthy. And him being healthy all season is a surprise itself.

[SabreFinn]

And then there is one Zach Metsa also. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

1 hour ago, SabreFinn said:

And then there is one Zach Metsa also. 

Forgot about him.  Östlund also.

[GASabresIUFAN]

Is Zucker’s contribution at his age a surprise, or what was expected after last season? He maybe the best FA signing ever my the Sabres.

[SabreFinn]

13 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Is Zucker’s contribution at his age a surprise, or what was expected after last season? He maybe the best FA signing ever my the Sabres.

The biggest surprise might be that there has been so many surprises. And all these pieces put together for a great success. 

As for Zucker, I would love to see him retire as a Sabre. But the way he is playing now, he can be a contributing player for years as long as he stays healthy.

[Night Train]

Muel.  Not even close. 

He went from a mistake/injury prone failure to a good NHL player

[LGR4GM]

9 hours ago, pi2000 said:

he improved from a -18 last season to a +5 this year

I like Quinn. 3yrs ago I was all in on him being better than Peterka. That injury almost ended that chance. He's getting pp time and he is getting some choice matchups because teams are going to match up Thompson/Tuch and Norris/Doan I think before they matchup Quinn/McLeod. That's not to take away from Jack, just add context. He's needed those minutes to get confidence and to truly grow as a player. He's ok defensively and not very physical but he doesn't need to be. If Jack Quinn can take just 1 more step and be a 25g, 35a guy with consistency for 4-5yrs he will have done well. Great year from him. 

[LGR4GM]

Goalies are mine. I thought Lyon might play okay but figured UPL would be awful and for 2 months, he was. Then Lyon found his groove and UPL was able to get going too. Ellis has been okay and it's good to know he can make a spot start. Truly amazing though that our goalies have been so good for so long.