I don't think that's the issue. Brady has stated he wants to play into his 40s. Mallett is already in his 4th season and has seen no real action. His rookie deal is probably close to being done. Trading him so they don't lose him for nothing is a smart move.
- Pierceme69

That's fine, and Brady can say - or think - anything he wants. Does the team share his enthusiasm for playing that long? He is declining. And, at 37, for him to say he wants to - or think he can - play "into his 40s", would have him playing at least another 3-5 years, whereby his stats and, more importantly, physical ability would continue to decline.

That's neither here nor there, though. I'm no football scout. That's his and the team's decision.

I guess my point was, if Mallett was the heir apparent, NE would find a way to keep him. As we all know here in Buffalo, good quarterbacks are hard to find.

For gizmo:

[quote=stashu]For gizmo:


Quick paint job?

[quote=stashu]For gizmo:


Quick paint job?
- hubie

ehh?? It's a picture from the tournament/camp that's going on now.

ehh?? It's a picture from the tournament/camp that's going on now.
- stashu

no no, meaning paint the cindy macfarlane and make a reinhardt. Stick can be flipped

no no, meaning paint the cindy macfarlane and make a reinhardt. Stick can be flipped
- hubie

Ohhh, I thought that was an image from NHL 14 or something.

Ohhh, I thought that was an image from NHL 14 or something.
- stashu

ahh no no just one of the 5000 figures they make of him.

Baptiste article:

His namesake, Sudbury Wolves wing Nick Baptiste, also shone during Canada's 6-3 win over Russia on Thursday. The Buffalo Sabres third-rounder who has next-level speed formed an effective line with Curtis Lazar and Michael Dal Colle as they tallied four goals.
Baptiste tallied in the second, moving out from the half-wall to wrist a shot by goalie Ilya Sorokin. Coach Benoît Groulx used Baptiste in all situations.
"I think it's him [Groulx] knowing I can play in every single role," says Baptiste

https://ca.sports.yahoo.c...canada-win-025744237.html

Dismiss my post all you want, but while a garbage team like Edmonton is at least on the right track to getting better, your garbage team (the worst in the league by far) is only getting worse. I hope you'll enjoy losing for at least the next five years!
- MrData

Leaf fan here!! This post is so wrong on so many levels. As a LEAF fan, I am envious of the prospect pool the Sabres have along with all the picks they have stockpiled.

As a Sabre fan, I would hope Murray at least considers analytics into the equation when making decisions in regards to a trade, draft pick, etc. At the end of the day, it should be a combination of your most trusted scout(s) opinion, yours, and raw data.

Leaf fan here!! This post is so wrong on so many levels. As a LEAF fan, I am envious of the prospect pool the Sabres have along with all the picks they have stockpiled.

As a Sabre fan, I would hope Murray at least considers analytics into the equation when making decisions in regards to a trade, draft pick, etc. At the end of the day, it should be a combination of your most trusted scout(s) opinion, yours, and raw data.
- PhilMcCracken

Sabres have had analytics dept. for 2 years . Just have not made a big deal about it. It is a useful tool when you used in conjunction with observations of scouts . But not the only thing you should base building your team with.

- stashu

That has to be like body-surfing, only much much stickier.

That's fine, and Brady can say - or think - anything he wants. Does the team share his enthusiasm for playing that long? He is declining. And, at 37, for him to say he wants to - or think he can - play "into his 40s", would have him playing at least another 3-5 years, whereby his stats and, more importantly, physical ability would continue to decline.

That's neither here nor there, though. I'm no football scout. That's his and the team's decision.

I guess my point was, if Mallett was the heir apparent, NE would find a way to keep him. As we all know here in Buffalo, good quarterbacks are hard to find.
- grand-magus

While I acknowledge you don't just pick star Quarterbacks off the quarterback tree. The Bills do make things exceptionally hard on themselves.

While I acknowledge you don't just pick star Quarterbacks off the quarterback tree. The Bills do make things exceptionally hard on themselves.
- Buffalo-Sabres

Seems when they have a good QB they dont have the WR now they have the WR's but is the QB right?

I still feel there will be a big regret not having a 1st next year. Similar to the Iles trading their 1st to us. WHen you see whats a year away you have to wonder what youre giving up.

So, to be honest - though I work with statistics in part for a living, NHL stats don't interest me in the slightest. It's just because of how my brain works and the role that things like Hockey play in it.

I can work the numbers, there are times when I even enjoy it - but it's something I make myself do for work. My left brain works for me.

But it's my right brain I turn to when I'm trying to kick back and relax, and this is what Hockey helps me do. My right brain is there for my enjoyment.

So I think it's as simple as this - I prefer to think of hockey as a narrative, in terms of characters and themes - villains and heroes and strife and conquest. It's because the other 'things i think about when i'm not thinking about work' follow the same pattern - i read books, i play video games that tend to have complicated story arcs, I drink beer brewed by monks who developed their recipe as a tonic against the bubonic plague... whatever.

I realize the role analytics must play in building a successful NHL team in this day and age, but my brain rejects the effort to find a place in my left brain for something my right brain cherishes so much. And since I'm not a GM, this works for me. I credit people who (accurately) throw around Coris and Fenwick analyses, but within the space between my own two ears, I only give it as much consideration as "this guy helps drive possession" - which is an important element to success in a more narrative sense.

Thanks for letting me bore you today,
nfph.

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/team-rankings/

and this was before the 2014 draft




post less
read more
- homiedclown

I want to see it after the 2015 draft

So, to be honest - though I work with statistics in part for a living, NHL stats don't interest me in the slightest. It's just because of how my brain works and the role that things like Hockey play in it.

I can work the numbers, there are times when I even enjoy it - but it's something I make myself do for work. My left brain works for me.

But it's my right brain I turn to when I'm trying to kick back and relax, and this is what Hockey helps me do. My right brain is there for my enjoyment.

So I think it's as simple as this - I prefer to think of hockey as a narrative, in terms of characters and themes - villains and heroes and strife and conquest. It's because the other 'things i think about when i'm not thinking about work' follow the same pattern - i read books, i play video games that tend to have complicated story arcs, I drink beer brewed by monks who developed their recipe as a tonic against the bubonic plague... whatever.

I realize the role analytics must play in building a successful NHL team in this day and age, but my brain rejects the effort to find a place in my left brain for something my right brain cherishes so much. And since I'm not a GM, this works for me. I credit people who (accurately) throw around Coris and Fenwick analyses, but within the space between my own two ears, I only give it as much consideration as "this guy helps drive possession" - which is an important element to success in a more narrative sense.

Thanks for letting me bore you today,
nfph.
- nfph

Good post.

I think this is sort of similar to what Stripes said yesterday, having someone in the media who has the balls to use the quote "I don't have to watch the games to know who is good or who plays well" sort of ruins it for everyday fans.

We love hockey because we love to watch hockey, not because we love doing math or reading graphs.

Me personally, I enjoy statistics. I like reading the #'s on extraskater as much as the next person, but when it doesn't add up to what my eyes see on the ice, that's when I have a problem with it.

I don't need to look at advanced stats to know that Shea Weber is a great defensemen, yet his advanced numbers 5 on 5 wouldn't tell me he is a top 5 defensemen this season. So really what am I doing looking in the first place.

Seems when they have a good QB they dont have the WR now they have the WR's but is the QB right?

I still feel there will be a big regret not having a 1st next year. Similar to the Iles trading their 1st to us. WHen you see whats a year away you have to wonder what youre giving up.
- hubie

When did they have a good QB?

So, to be honest - though I work with statistics in part for a living, NHL stats don't interest me in the slightest. It's just because of how my brain works and the role that things like Hockey play in it.

I can work the numbers, there are times when I even enjoy it - but it's something I make myself do for work. My left brain works for me.

But it's my right brain I turn to when I'm trying to kick back and relax, and this is what Hockey helps me do. My right brain is there for my enjoyment.

So I think it's as simple as this - I prefer to think of hockey as a narrative, in terms of characters and themes - villains and heroes and strife and conquest. It's because the other 'things i think about when i'm not thinking about work' follow the same pattern - i read books, i play video games that tend to have complicated story arcs, I drink beer brewed by monks who developed their recipe as a tonic against the bubonic plague... whatever.

I realize the role analytics must play in building a successful NHL team in this day and age, but my brain rejects the effort to find a place in my left brain for something my right brain cherishes so much. And since I'm not a GM, this works for me. I credit people who (accurately) throw around Coris and Fenwick analyses, but within the space between my own two ears, I only give it as much consideration as "this guy helps drive possession" - which is an important element to success in a more narrative sense.

Thanks for letting me bore you today,
nfph.
- nfph

I prefer to think of hockey as a narrative, in terms of characters and themes - villains and heroes and strife and conquest.



THIS

Seems when they have a good QB they dont have the WR now they have the WR's but is the QB right?

I still feel there will be a big regret not having a 1st next year. Similar to the Iles trading their 1st to us. WHen you see whats a year away you have to wonder what youre giving up.
- hubie

What did the 1st rounders do for us the last 15 years?

If Sammy is a star, I'll take him over the Aaron Maybins and Donte Whitner's of the world any day

When did they have a good QB?
- Buffalo-Sabres

Bleadsoe was pretty good imo granted he was at the end of his career

It was sad to see Nassib outshine every QB we put out there

What did the 1st rounders do for us the last 15 years?

If Sammy is a star, I'll take him over the Aaron Maybins and Donte Whitner's of the world any day
- sbroads24

WHen you have idiots make choices thats what you get.

Bleadsoe was pretty good imo granted he was at the end of his career

It was sad to see Nassib outshine every QB we put out there
- hubie

It will be great to see if Nassib's career outshines EJ's career. What will that say about Marrone if it actually happens?

It will be great to see if Nassib's career outshines EJ's career. What will that say about Marrone if it actually happens?
- RynoBull

That would be so Bills. He basically showed up every quarterback on Sunday night.