He said all the right things
- cabin

Rex Ryan has stressed he wants new OC Anthony Lynn to get the ball in Sammy Watkins' hands, but Watkins says he isn't necessarily asking for that to happen. In fact, he says No. 2 receiver Robert Woods has been open and needs the ball more often.

Rex Ryan has stressed he wants new OC Anthony Lynn to get the ball in Sammy Watkins' hands, but Watkins says he isn't necessarily asking for that to happen. In fact, he says No. 2 receiver Robert Woods has been open and needs the ball more often.
- homiedclown

Would think getting the ball to whoever is open on any particular play is more important

I come bearing a gift. The gift of humor.

http://www.thehockeynews....on-preview-buffalo-sabres

Here's one of my favorite quotes, on Cody Franson:

he’s also underrated and underused on a team where most guys are below replacement level

Or the one that Kris Baker pointed out:

Think about how bad Buffalo has been the past few years; they’re even worse with Ristolainen on the ice.

I won't spoil it all but give it a read. It brightened my Monday.

Rex Ryan on Rob Ryan: "I think my brother's done in this league."
- homiedclown

Fixed for accuracy

Would think getting the ball to whoever is open on any particular play is more important
- cabin

Only thing I'll say on the Bills is I hope they don't mess this up. You're 0-2, going to start 0-4. There's no coming back from that. So fire Rex, ditch Whaley, and tank the year. Don't need to do the whole rebuild like the Sabres did, you already have talent. Keep as many of the good players as you can, I'd use the option to get out to T2s contract, and draft high this year. You'll have Ragland, Lawson play next year and can draft a top talent and add them to an already OK roster.

A better coach, a top talent, and the team we have now and you can finally try to win. It's too late this year, next year is another year.

Plus, finishing last in our division will give us a favorable schedule next season too.

I come bearing a gift. The gift of humor.

http://www.thehockeynews....on-preview-buffalo-sabres

Here's one of my favorite quotes, on Cody Franson:



Or the one that Kris Baker pointed out:



I won't spoil it all but give it a read. It brightened my Monday.
- Zschalberg

He openly admits the data is incorrect though. It still factors in the tank year, you take that out and replace it with other key statistics that give you a better understanding and you likely get a more accurate prediction. Im actually in the process of doing one for the sabres (Ha nerd! i know) right now but was stalled for real life things but i can say with a lot of confidence that 76.5 is unlikely.

He openly admits the data is incorrect though. It still factors in the tank year, you take that out and replace it with other key statistics that give you a better understanding and you likely get a more accurate prediction. Im actually in the process of doing one for the sabres (Ha nerd! i know) right now but was stalled for real life things but i can say with a lot of confidence that 76.5 is unlikely.
- Sabresfan-365

I think youre being rather generous to the writer. He admits his data includes the tank years, but he doesn't reject it, and then says "Whether that’s fair is in the eye of the beholder." and "players that did play on that horrific team were the ones making those on-ice results a reality"

Even the comments call the article a red hot mess.

I think youre being rather generous to the writer. He admits his data includes the tank years, but he doesn't reject it, and then says "Whether that’s fair is in the eye of the beholder." and "players that did play on that horrific team were the ones making those on-ice results a reality"

Even the comments call the article a red hot mess.
- SomeoneGerman

You're right I am, he's a friend so Im just being nice about it

You're right I am, he's a friend so Im just being nice about it
- Sabresfan-365

It's a hot mess. A real friend would rip into him and tell him to do better...

It's a hot mess. A real friend would rip into him and tell him to do better...
- Stripes77

Hey we're not THAT close . I made my feelings clear last year when he wrote something similar for the sabres. This time im just gunna do my own and make myself feel better

It's a hot mess. A real friend would rip into him and tell him to do better...
- Stripes77

Or offer him a view of the unappealing hair.

Hey we're not THAT close . I made my feelings clear last year when he wrote something similar for the sabres. This time im just gunna do my own and make myself feel better
- Sabresfan-365

Like he has the Sabres being worse than last year...that alone shows he's out to lunch

Like he has the Sabres being worse than last year...that alone shows he's out to lunch
- Stripes77

I mean its possible they could be but to project them that way is a bit much. The model he's using doesnt really work to well for the sabres because as he mentioned the stench of 14-15 affects the numbers hes using. Thats why Franson shows well and Risto doesnt.

He openly admits the data is incorrect though. It still factors in the tank year, you take that out and replace it with other key statistics that give you a better understanding and you likely get a more accurate prediction. Im actually in the process of doing one for the sabres (Ha nerd! i know) right now but was stalled for real life things but i can say with a lot of confidence that 76.5 is unlikely.
- Sabresfan-365

True, but if the data is bad then don't include it. Or at least don't base your article on it.

Not to mention, when two of our "Key Departures" had a total of 0 GP for us last year (McCormick and Donovan) it's evident the author did a quick search of the team, used his data that he admitted was basically garbage, and threw together a quick article so that THN could say they did a piece on each team.

Overall it's a pretty bad piece that throws a few advance stats at you with a graph and says "take our word for it, we're the hockey news".

I mean its possible they could be but to project them that way is a bit much. The model he's using doesnt really work to well for the sabres because as he mentioned the stench of 14-15 affects the numbers hes using. Thats why Franson shows well and Risto doesnt.
- Sabresfan-365

He really just should have used a different analysis. I feel like they just didn't care enough to put that work in. I'm not upset about it, it's just funny that this is a professional piece

I'm skeptical of Risto's ceiling, but us being "better" without him is moronic

He really just should have used a different analysis. I feel like they just didn't care enough to put that work in. I'm not upset about it, it's just funny that this is a professional piece
- Zschalberg

the first sentence should have been a real good clue.

The Sabres rebuild has taken longer than expected but there is suddenly a lot of talent in the lineup.

I'm skeptical of Risto's ceiling, but us being "better" without him is moronic
- sbroads24

Agreed. If he was really that "bad" why would the coaching staff use him so much?

And why would the Finland coach use him over 22 minutes yesterday? (22:28, Vatanen had 22:39 and Maatta had 23:02).

He's not perfect by any means, but I don't see how Franson (concrete feet) could be considered better than him in any way.

Agreed. If he was really that "bad" why would the coaching staff use him so much?

And why would the Finland coach use him over 22 minutes yesterday? (22:28, Vatanen had 22:39 and Maatta had 23:02).

He's not perfect by any means, but I don't see how Franson (concrete feet) could be considered better than him in any way.
- HonkFortheGoose

He's not. What it boils down to is that by the numbers, Franson is a better #5 than Risto is a #1. Which is a horrible way to look at it.

They don't consider ice time/quality of comp. etc.

He's not. What it boils down to is that by the numbers, Franson is a better #5 than Risto is a #1. Which is a horrible way to look at it.

They don't consider ice time/quality of comp. etc.
- sbroads24

For sure. We don't know that Risto is for sure a #1, but he's as close as we've got right now. And I don't quite think he's hit his ceiling yet. He might be close to it, but I think there's still some room for improvement. Even just reducing his ice time a bit might help him be better overall since he won't be so worn down by the end of each game.

For sure. We don't know that Risto is for sure a #1, but he's as close as we've got right now. And I don't quite think he's hit his ceiling yet. He might be close to it, but I think there's still some room for improvement. Even just reducing his ice time a bit might help him be better overall since he won't be so worn down by the end of each game.
- HonkFortheGoose

He is still too young to put that tag on him. 2 years from now we will know for sure.

He is still too young to put that tag on him. 2 years from now we will know for sure.
- cabin

I think he's close. But I feel like we haven't really seen the best of him yet either. Especially when you take into account who he's had as his partner.

I don't hate Gorges. I think he's a sufficient NHL defenseman. But I don't think he's a #2. You can get away with him on your 3/4 pairing, but he really should be on the 5/6 pairing.

I think he's close. But I feel like we haven't really seen the best of him yet either. Especially when you take into account who he's had as his partner.

I don't hate Gorges. I think he's a sufficient NHL defenseman. But I don't think he's a #2. You can get away with him on your 3/4 pairing, but he really should be on the 5/6 pairing.
- HonkFortheGoose

Agreed. And from how he is playing in the WC, he seems to still be heading in that direction.

So....

Okposo is NOT Chinese???

So....

Okposo is NOT Chinese???


- JVince11

Hey Vince