JohnC Posted October 20, 2019 Posted October 20, 2019 20 minutes ago, Doc said: So moving Skinner from Eichel's line was a big boost? The Sabres are +13 on five on five with a 7-1-1 record. There is more scoring balance than before and it is translating into wins. The Eichel line is not scoring at the rate hoped for on 5x5 but that doesn't mean that they won't get back on track in the near future.
JohnC Posted October 20, 2019 Posted October 20, 2019 The attached link is an article on two way players written by Alex Prewitt and taken from a SI site. It mentions players who are top tier two way players such as O'Reilly and Barkov, and others. It also mentions some players from earlier eras who top were elite two way players. This is not a short article but also not tiresomely long. You can skip through some sections. https://www.si.com/nhl/2019/10/02/two-way-forward-oreilly-barkov-sissons 1
JohnC Posted October 20, 2019 Posted October 20, 2019 The attached link is a five minute recap of the San Jose game. This link came from NHL.com. ://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-sjs/2019/10/19/2019020123#game=2019020123,game_state=final
OldTimeAFLGuy Posted October 20, 2019 Posted October 20, 2019 1 hour ago, JohnC said: The Sabres are +13 on five on five with a 7-1-1 record. There is more scoring balance than before and it is translating into wins. The Eichel line is not scoring at the rate hoped for on 5x5 but that doesn't mean that they won't get back on track in the near future. ....+13 and leading the division by 3?......they are playing some inspired hockey.....Hutton back to back zeros is pretty impressive.....stopped 47 I believe....... 1
JohnC Posted October 20, 2019 Posted October 20, 2019 2 hours ago, OldTimeAFLGuy said: ....+13 and leading the division by 3?......they are playing some inspired hockey.....Hutton back to back zeros is pretty impressive.....stopped 47 I believe....... Both Hutton and Ullmark are playing well. What is contributing to the good goaltending play is the responsible play of the defenders and forwards. There is a structure to the defense that didn't exist under Housley. And as you suggest Hutton is our #1 goaltender. The coach is smartly utilizing both of his goaltenders because he understands that the compressed schedule this year is going to wear down his primary goaltender if he over uses him. 1
JohnC Posted October 21, 2019 Posted October 21, 2019 The attached link is a Buffalo News article by Lance Lysowski indicating that because of last year's dramatic fall off after the winning streak this team is very aware that they can't take anything for granted. The signs are that this unit is more resilient. It is also pointed out that Johansson replaced Olafsson on the first PP unit. This coach is basing his playing decisions on performance regardless who you are. Dahlin's playing time was reduced and Olafsson seems to already hit a bump in the road. If Olafsson slides it will interesting to see how RK adjusts the lines. https://buffalonews.com/2019/10/20/buffalo-sabres-san-jose-sharks-jeff-skinner-ralph-krueger-zemgus-girgensons-nhl-news-2019/ 1
BillsFan4 Posted October 21, 2019 Author Posted October 21, 2019 https://theathletic.com/1301489/2019/10/17/16-stats-the-surging-sabres-surprising-starts-and-stanley-cup-slumps/ Quote Through the early going the Buffalo Sabres are off to a roaring 5-1-1 start, and are currently sitting above Boston, Toronto and Tampa Bay atop the Atlantic division. Not a single soul likely suspected that at any point this season. Usually, in those cases, there’s a tendency to write off any surprising success story since what we knew about this team two weeks ago shouldn’t have changed much. Generally, it’s a percentage-induced binge. That might not be the case with Buffalo who are shocking some teams out of the gate with their ability to control the play of the game. There are stretches where they’re just skating circles around the other team – that wasn’t happening much last year. That they have a lethal power play that is tops in the league doesn’t hurt either. Will they keep up some of their percentages? Probably not. But the way they’ve managed the puck through their first seven games is impressive. They’re currently rocking a 53 percent Corsi and 54 percent expected goals rate which both rank just outside the league’s top 10. It’s a huge step up from last season where those stretches were rare if not non-existent. It’s the main reason to be optimistic that this time, this team is for real. When the Sabres were briefly atop the league last season it was on the back of sequencing luck from winning a flurry of one-goal games and little about their output screamed it was legit. This? It’s promising. The key to the Sabres’ start has to be new coach Ralph Krueger that has the group playing extremely staunch defense. They rank fourth in shot attempts and expected goals against leading to stingy actual numbers. The Sabres have become difficult to penetrate on most nights which would’ve been hard to believe when looking at the mostly unimposing roster. I still don’t think much of the group of players here outside the stars and wouldn’t be surprised if the team’s shot share comes back down to earth going forward, but it’s clear Krueger has been able to get more out of this group than previous regimes could. Whether he can get enough to bring this team back into the playoffs will be one of this season’s most fascinating storylines. There’s more in the link (athletic subscription required). This is from Dom Luszczyszyn at the Athletic. Here’s his bio for reference: “Dom is a national NHL reporter for The Athletic who writes primarily about hockey analytics and new ways of looking at the game. Previously he’s also worked at The Hockey News, The Nation Network, and Hockey Graphs.” Last year, he was never high on the Sabres, even during the 10 game win streak. He continually pointed out how poor their underlying analytics were. He seems much more impressed with this year’s team. 1
JohnC Posted October 21, 2019 Posted October 21, 2019 10 hours ago, BillsFan4 said: https://theathletic.com/1301489/2019/10/17/16-stats-the-surging-sabres-surprising-starts-and-stanley-cup-slumps/ There’s more in the link (athletic subscription required). This is from Dom Luszczyszyn at the Athletic. Here’s his bio for reference: “Dom is a national NHL reporter for The Athletic who writes primarily about hockey analytics and new ways of looking at the game. Previously he’s also worked at The Hockey News, The Nation Network, and Hockey Graphs.” Last year, he was never high on the Sabres, even during the 10 game win streak. He continually pointed out how poor their underlying analytics were. He seems much more impressed with this year’s team. Prior to the season Krueger was asked about what he as a coach emphasized. He was succinct and clear. It was complete buy-in by the players to play the right way not only when they had the puck but more importantly when they didn't have the puck. He pointed out that if one player on the ice faltered in carrying out his responsibility then the system would fail. Essentially, pressing the puck on defense initiates the offense. It's not a complicated strategy but that is not to say that it is an easy strategy to execute. Again, if everyone on the ice is not playing within the system then there will be a vulnerability in the system. Freelancing a bit on offense is tolerable but not when playing your man or in a defensive posture. When all is said and done there is nothing ingenious about his strategy because it is basic hockey. What is ingenious is the ability to get everyone with their different skill sets to buy in to the team concept. 2
shrader Posted October 21, 2019 Posted October 21, 2019 The oh so common home-and-home series with the Sharks. I can't say I've seen one of those before. Thank god they're back to start times I can actually watch. 1
BillsFan4 Posted October 21, 2019 Author Posted October 21, 2019 another respected analytics guy who likes what is going on in Buffalo. This is weird... I can’t remember the Sabres ever getting love from the analytics community (except for Dahlin, anyway). 1
Greybeard Posted October 21, 2019 Posted October 21, 2019 On 10/18/2019 at 5:51 PM, plenzmd1 said: As i age, i find it harder and harder to sleep past 4AM..so i record most of the night football games and other games like this Sabre game and watch maybe the first half or first period, go to bed, and watch the rest when i wake up at this ungodly hour.I am usually pretty diligent about not looking at my phone, so its like live to me, but this morning i did! Sucks to get old!!!! I have had the same problem for 3 or 4 years. Two weeks ago I started taking Melatonin before bedtime. I still wake up at 4 sometimes but I am now able to fall asleep for another 2 or 3 hours. 1
JohnC Posted October 21, 2019 Posted October 21, 2019 2 hours ago, BillsFan4 said: another respected analytics guy who likes what is going on in Buffalo. This is weird... I can’t remember the Sabres ever getting love from the analytics community (except for Dahlin, anyway). I have a basic analytic that rarely fails me. I trust my eyes! ? Effort isn't usually a quantifiable metric. However, when you see it (win or lose) you recognize it. So far I have seen plenty of it. 1
plenzmd1 Posted October 21, 2019 Posted October 21, 2019 38 minutes ago, Greybeard said: I have had the same problem for 3 or 4 years. Two weeks ago I started taking Melatonin before bedtime. I still wake up at 4 sometimes but I am now able to fall asleep for another 2 or 3 hours. I just invested in a CBD startup, going to try that ASAP 1
JohnC Posted October 21, 2019 Posted October 21, 2019 This link is an article that WGR's Paul Hamilton wrote about the California trip. It points out the coach's belief in the importance in off ice bonding of the players that contribute to team success. https://wgr550.radio.com/articles/news/sabres-got-know-each-other-better-california This link is a WGR 10 minute press conference with Ralph Krueger. He is a pleasure to listen to. When he is at the podium there are few clichés. He gives a lot of genuine analysis with an impressive level of verbal dexterity. He is enjoyable to listen to. https://wgr550.radio.com/media/audio-channel/10-21-ralph-krueger
K-9 Posted October 22, 2019 Posted October 22, 2019 3 hours ago, JohnC said: This link is an article that WGR's Paul Hamilton wrote about the California trip. It points out the coach's belief in the importance in off ice bonding of the players that contribute to team success. https://wgr550.radio.com/articles/news/sabres-got-know-each-other-better-california This link is a WGR 10 minute press conference with Ralph Krueger. He is a pleasure to listen to. When he is at the podium there are few clichés. He gives a lot of genuine analysis with an impressive level of verbal dexterity. He is enjoyable to listen to. https://wgr550.radio.com/media/audio-channel/10-21-ralph-krueger Two words: mental acuity. Four more words: the anti Phil Housley.
BillsFan4 Posted October 22, 2019 Author Posted October 22, 2019 Nice! I’ve been pretty anxious to see how he looks in the AHL.
JohnC Posted October 22, 2019 Posted October 22, 2019 2 hours ago, BillsFan4 said: Nice! I’ve been pretty anxious to see how he looks in the AHL. The current GM has invested in stocking the system with talent and allowing it to develop. The previous GM, Murray, was more inclined to deal talent for immediate help. Giving up a first round pick for Lehner, a goalie that the Senators were probably not going to keep, was foolish. Lehner had a short stint with the Sabres and the traded pick could have been a forward who would have been ready to play on the second line. The more patient approach is the most proven and sustainable approach for success. You have to be happy with the way Botterill has run the operation. 2
Doc Posted October 22, 2019 Posted October 22, 2019 What are the Sabres' 2-1st round picks doing this year?
K-9 Posted October 22, 2019 Posted October 22, 2019 (edited) 4 minutes ago, Doc said: What are the Sabres' 2-1st round picks doing this year? Cozens is kicking ass for Lethbridge in the WHL and Johnson is four games into his freshman year at Minnesota. Edited October 22, 2019 by K-9 1
JohnC Posted October 22, 2019 Posted October 22, 2019 4 minutes ago, Doc said: What are the Sabres' 2-1st round picks doing this year? I can't speak to their lower first round pick but Cozens is doing well with 4 goals and 4 assists. I think he is going to be with the big club next year, and if not he will be there in two years. He is eventually going to be our second line center. https://www.rotowire.com/hockey/player.php?id=5965 3 minutes ago, K-9 said: Cozens is kicking ass for Lethbridge in the WHL and Johnson is four games into his freshman year at Minnesota. In another year or two we are going to have a strong middle. I do like Mitts but I think that Cozens is eventually going to be our second line center with Mitts as our third center. The expectation is that Johansson will move back to the wing. 1
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