I can’t believe I’m giving u this ammo right now, but...
on the “31 thoughts” podcast yesterday,
they talk about losing faceoffs in the offensive zone on purpose

Basically...
If u win the faceoff,
u have control of the puck, but since it’s at the point u need to get it past everyone on defense to get it through to the net & get a scoring chance
VS
Lose the faceoff,
and forecheck strong to create a turnover near the net & be in better position for a scoring chance

It’s an interesting theory,
but here’s my issues with it...

1) if u win the faceoff, it’s not like u have to shoot it from the point. No reason u can’t pass the puck around for a better look

2) if u lose the faceoff, what’s to say u can turn the puck over? I’d bet it gets cleared way more often then it gets turned over


I’d be interested to see if someone compiled stats to show which resulted in more scoring chances

They mentioned how one team did it for a season, and the numbers were better when u lost the faceoffs (i can’t imagine that holds up with a bigger sample size though)

And how the Ducks used to do it on purpose, but that was bc they sucked at winning faceoffs
In that case, it actually makes sense
I could see it differ from team to team

With us for example...
try to win it with ROR, since he’s good at it

But when someone like Larsson, etc is taking the faceoff & probably gonna lose it...
have him do so on purpose
That way the wingers know & can attack the defense right away knowing they’re gonna get the puck


Anyways...
i thought you’d find that interesting


- jdfitz77

It’s definitely interesting.

I think for the most part, faceoff’s and possession off them are crapshoots.

Pay close attention to them next game (not claiming you don’t already) but see how many actually result in immediate zone control or scoring chances. I don’t think many do

That's what I was thinking, some blend of a number of factors. Is that the order you'd place as well?
- RhinoFan

Different things factor more or less in different games

Thing is...
if we play as a unit, we can keep it close for the most part

When we are doing all those things on a nightly basis...
that’s when we will be able to consistently win
Instead of looking good one night & terrible the next

Growing pains of a young club,
but looks like we are heading in the right direction

Lindholm- John Carlson
Guhle - Ristolainen

A lot of ppl actually had Svechnikov #1 over Dahlin to start the season
But with the injury to Svechnikov & him missing time...
Dahlin played so well that he’s pretty much locked in at #1 now
- jdfitz77

Svechnikov to Dahlin is like Eichel to McDavid. Different positions of course comparing a d-man to a winger but Dahlin will know where he’s going by the time the last lottery ball pops up.

It’s definitely interesting.

I think for the most part, faceoff’s and possession off them are crapshoots.

Pay close attention to them next game (not claiming you don’t already) but see how many actually result in immediate zone control or scoring chances. I don’t think many do
- sbroads24

I think that’s partly due to how the game tends to not have many scoring chances in general
Teams collapse to the net & block shots WAY more than back in the day

If the NFL can buck their traditions to help increase scoring...
why the f#ck can’t the NHL get it together?

I’m sick of them making (keeping) the rules so that the Adam Mair’s can stay in the league at the expense of letting our STARS actually play
And increasing scoring, which will help make the game MUCH more interesting for fans

Bettman f#cking ruined hockey

?-Eichel-Zadina/Svech
?-ROR-Reinhart
?-Mittelstadt-Okposo/Pominville
Girgensons-Josefson-Okposo/Pominville

Scandella-Risto
Guhle-Nelson
Beaulieu-Antipin
Bogo

Ullmark
?
- Pegullaville

Defense is still an issue and we have to address all the questions marks. Hopefully Nylander and CJ Smith can claim the middle line spots. But we need a 1st line LW. And this is even barring we are in a position to draft Svech/Z. Maybe we draft TK as he is a left winger. Makes the above a little more interesting.

A lot of ppl actually had Svechnikov #1 over Dahlin to start the season
But with the injury to Svechnikov & him missing time...
Dahlin played so well that he’s pretty much locked in at #1 now
- jdfitz77

I at no point ever saw Dahlin not 1.

Svechnikov to Dahlin is like Eichel to McDavid. Different positions of course comparing a d-man to a winger but Dahlin will know where he’s going by the time the last lottery ball pops up.
- Pegullaville

Position has a lot to do with that too
Stud defensemen are much more rare than stud wingers

I was just trying to say how highly regarded Svechnikov was before his injury

I’d still take Dahlin #1, no question

I at no point ever saw Dahlin not 1.
- TheSabresTaco

There were some last summer who had Svechnikov #1, or had it as a toss up

I really nerd out on the draft though
so i check every source i can find, listen to podcasts & interviews, check every scouting report i can find, etc

I’ve even signed up to scouting websites as part of a fake hockey program so i can gain more access to reports

I’ve got issues though

Lindholm- John Carlson
Guhle - Ristolainen
- gerbe75pts

That would be amazing

Defense is still an issue and we have to address all the questions marks. Hopefully Nylander and CJ Smith can claim the middle line spots. But we need a 1st line LW. And this is even barring we are in a position to draft Svech/Z. Maybe we draft TK as he is a left winger. Makes the above a little more interesting.
- Pegullaville

Mittelstadt will be our top line LW. Maybe Eichel even moves to LW eventually. Casey and Jack are destined to play together

That would be amazing
- jdfitz77

Hopefully the ducks like Sam then

I at no point ever saw Dahlin not 1.
- TheSabresTaco

Yea I will agree with taco here

Big if but IF Okposo or Bogo (or both) are taken off the books, Carlson could make sense. Kinda goes against what Bott said regarding free agents...but I feel like Carlson is one of the better fits I’ve seen for this team via free agency in years

?-Eichel-Zadina/Svech
?-ROR-Reinhart
?-Mittelstadt-Okposo/Pominville
Girgensons-Josefson-Okposo/Pominville

Scandella-Risto
Guhle-Nelson
Beaulieu-Antipin
Bogo

Ullmark
?
- Pegullaville

Forgot McCabe at LD 2/3
Okposo is ahead of Pommer, but he did play some LW for NyI, so maybe he can switch over

That does look fairly accurate with no major changes though
Obviously still needs some work

Mittelstadt will be our top line LW. Maybe Eichel even moves to LW eventually. Casey and Jack are destined to play together
- MCGUIZZY

To be determined

Hopefully the ducks like Sam then
- gerbe75pts

The Ducks aren't trading Lindholm

I at no point ever saw Dahlin not 1.
- TheSabresTaco

He’s been highly regarded for years. Same with Dahlin. I do believe at one point he was considered the top pick for the 2018 draft.

To be determined
- jdfitz77

Well Jack needs a top flight winger/linemate. He’s the best bet

He’s been highly regarded for years. Same with Dahlin. I do believe at one point he was considered the top pick for the 2018 draft.
- MCGUIZZY

So the Sabres get a gem if they get pick #1 or 2 it sounds because I've never seen Sam play either.

Bring on the tank!!

He’s been highly regarded for years. Same with Dahlin. I do believe at one point he was considered the top pick for the 2018 draft.
- MCGUIZZY

Not by everyone
Some had Svechnikov at the top though

Regardless of all that...
just trying to show that he’s also been very highly thought of for a while now

Well Jack needs a top flight winger/linemate. He’s the best bet
- MCGUIZZY

Does he though?
Jack has been producing at basically a ppg level, and just about everyone who’s played with him have been productive to different degrees

If that continues to be the case...
u could make the point that having Mittelstadt play 3C over Larsson or E Rod, so that line can be more of a scoring threat, could actually be more helpful than having Casey on Jack’s wing

That might not be ideal...
but i believe 3 lines that can score consistently is a very important key to winning for us

Does he though?
Jack has been producing at basically a ppg level, and just about everyone who’s played with him have been productive to different degrees

If that continues to be the case...
u could make the point that having Mittelstadt play 3C over Larsson or E Rod, so that line can be more of a scoring threat, could actually be more helpful than having Casey on Jack’s wing

That might not be ideal...
but i believe 3 lines that can score consistently is a very important key to winning for us
- jdfitz77

I stopped here. The answer is yes

It fascinates me how you can always root for what’s in the worst interest of this team long term, and tell other people to find a new team.

You like meaningless Feb/March wins, and get especially giddy over them, regardless of the fact that they actually will hurt our chances of ever being very good, or great.

You never want anyone from a 30th/31st team traded, as if this caliber of hockey actually entertains you.

And the only person you vocally advocated to be dismissed was the only coach who has experience winning championships.

It’s truly fascinating
- sbroads24

I don't like meaningless February or March wins any more than any other win.
I like all wins.

"Giddy" connotes the extreme. I'm not giddy. I just like when my team wins.

If there is anyone on this board who is extreme, its you. You're the one who finds a single luck event (PDO I think you call it) in the entire 8 game stretch, and attributes all the team's success to luck.

Your comments in the last two months have nothing to do with "our chances of ever being very good, or great." Your comments nearly universally bash this franchise and its players. I don't say you should find another team because you aren't rooting for wins. I say you should find another team because you're rooting against this one.

Not by everyone
Some had Svechnikov at the top though

Regardless of all that...
just trying to show that he’s also been very highly thought of for a while now
- jdfitz77

I don’t think we are disagreeing