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Forums :: Blog World :: Michael Pachla: The 2020-21 season is upon us. A look at the Buffalo Sabres
Author Message
Camel
Season Ticket Holder
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Sudbury, ON
Joined: 04.25.2009

Feb 7 @ 2:57 PM ET
That's a pretty good lineup - I like putting top goal-scorer Jeff Skinner with Jack Eichel (what coach WOULDN'T do that ?). And I realize this will NEVER happen, but here's what I'd do :

Skinner Eichel Reinhart

Hall Staal Oloffson

Thompson Mittelstadt Cozens (I don't care, I like this, F you)

Asplund Ruotsalainen Quinn (might as well bring all of them together up here, it at least makes this season interesting)

I would totally look forward to watching a game if I knew that was going to be our lineup every night. Right now I'm all "meh, I guess I'll watch them ?". Plus, the current lineup just isn't getting it done.

And I don't care how it happens, but I never want to see Okposo, Eakin, or Reider in a Sabres uniform ever again, and the only way Sheahan or Lazar see the ice in in case of injury.

Oh, last thought. For F's sake, let Mittelstadt play ! 8th overall pick, MVP of the World Junior Championship ... it's time he was given a fair shot. We cannot write this SOB off, and most of you seem to want to jettison him to the moon.

- kritter65


I’m with you. Maybe not all but playing the kids helps with building a long term plan. Play them and then determine if they fit in or not. I’d rather see that scenario than trading prospects and picks for a goalie. If Eichel and Hall want to walk at the end of the year that’s fine. I’d only say if Eichel wants to leave that’s a slap in the face to an organization that pays him well, calls him the franchise leader and allows his voice to be heard in probably every decision. If he wants to go he’s worth a bundle and clears cap room.
Boss34
Buffalo Sabres
Location: BUFFALO , NY
Joined: 12.03.2015

Feb 7 @ 3:02 PM ET
Gibson doesn’t get many wins because he plays in Anaheim.

Huge reason why he is not drafted higher in fantasy hockey formats.

- Pegullaville


Yes, but win's aren't the only category.

Is there anyone who thinks Gibson is the best goalie in the league?

How about vaslevsky?


IonSabres
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I said that months ago, keep up!, FL
Joined: 03.10.2013

Feb 7 @ 3:02 PM ET
But, hasn't skinner had plenty of opportunities?

Is it bad line management that is preventing skinner from scoring on his opportunities?

I like olo, now change olo and skimmer.

Is skimmer gonna have more than olo's 10 points handcuffed to eichel?
What if he Is equally snake bitten, as he is on line 4?

What's olo doing by himself... probably not in his game
Skimmer being a 10 year vet and guy that hasnt had a top center thru out his career....
Skinner needs to score, don't blame the coach %100.
Guys making 9 million and has been put in a position to score. He just isnt.

- Boss34


Of Olo's 10 points only 2 are at EV. So no one, absolutely no one would miss him off Jack's wing. He can still play on the PP to get 80% ov his points. However, I do like the chemistry Olo and Staal, and with Hall had on L2. They seemed to mesh IMO.

Yet Skinner is Top 5 in 5v5 Goals and Top 5 in Game-winning/game-tying goals.
But Galaxy Brain Krueger decides to minimize Skinner's EV TOI.

Why can't Krueger maximize both lines. It's so friggin obvious.
He can, but refuses...that is bad, bad asset management and even worse, being of a small, antiquated mind set.
Boss34
Buffalo Sabres
Location: BUFFALO , NY
Joined: 12.03.2015

Feb 7 @ 3:08 PM ET
Again Boss no it isn't, but that still doesn't mean he is optimizing his line Combos and proof out there that
Skinner Eichel Rhino can actually kill it together. Did I agree with spreading out scoring last year, YES, this years a little different, cause they have the personal to build 3 decent lines, and a 4th that can contribute.

- Buff36


I disagree, respectfully.

Skinner is to blame, more than krueger.

If he scores on a few of his chances, Krueger looks smart playing him on the 4th.

It's not a lack of opportunities these past 10 games.
The coach has put him in a position to succeed.

If he was doing absolutely nothing on the 4th line sure.
But, skimmer has been very noticeably getting opportunity. He just hasnt cashed in.


I'm not defending any of the other decisions.
Especially starting tage with jack...
Pegullaville
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Toronto
Joined: 03.16.2011

Feb 7 @ 3:11 PM ET
Yes, but win's aren't the only category.

Is there anyone who thinks Gibson is the best goalie in the league?

How about vaslevsky?

- Boss34


They would both be in my top 5
Boss34
Buffalo Sabres
Location: BUFFALO , NY
Joined: 12.03.2015

Feb 7 @ 3:15 PM ET
Of Olo's 10 points only 2 are at EV. So no one, absolutely no one would miss him off Jack's wing. He can still play on the PP to get 80% ov his points. However, I do like the chemistry Olo and Staal, and with Hall had on L2. They seemed to mesh IMO.

Yet Skinner is Top 5 in 5v5 Goals and Top 5 in Game-winning/game-tying goals.
But Galaxy Brain Krueger decides to minimize Skinner's EV TOI.

Why can't Krueger maximize both lines. It's so friggin obvious.
He can, but refuses...that is bad, bad asset management and even worse, being of a small, antiquated mind set.

- IonSabres


Still love you uncle ion, gonna give you a big NOPE though.

Jack has only (1) 5 x 5 goal.

Is he having a bad season?

Serious question: Is olo bringing Jack's line down 5 x 5?

How many 5 x 5 points should olo have in a 56 game season?

* I'm sitting here b!itching back and forth here, because your buddy cuomo has only 1 parent rule at the games.
Let the wife go first... 😉
1st game of the season.

After 1 period
Down 1-0 and a -1 (probably 5 x5 ) 😐
Boss34
Buffalo Sabres
Location: BUFFALO , NY
Joined: 12.03.2015

Feb 7 @ 3:17 PM ET
They would both be in my top 5
- Pegullaville


Big f'in deal 🙂

Answer the question.

Has anyone mentioned vaslevsky as the BEST nhl goaltender.

Yes

Anyone mention Gibson as the best goalie in the nhl?

No

Mahomes is top 5 ☝️
homiedclown
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We want 1, FL
Joined: 02.24.2008

Feb 7 @ 3:23 PM ET
Big f'in deal 🙂

Answer the question.

Has anyone mentioned vaslevsky as the BEST nhl goaltender.

Yes

Anyone mention Gibson as the best goalie in the nhl?

No

Mahomes is top 5 ☝️

- Boss34

https://www.laxsportsnati...e-best-goalie-in-the-nhl/
3rd GM's the charm
Columbus Blue Jackets
Location: Look, it's a situation where thats a great question, OH
Joined: 07.01.2020

Feb 7 @ 3:27 PM ET
great classic super bowl match-up of the best two run and stop the run teams in the nfl, with the 2 best star running backs
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Feb 7 @ 3:28 PM ET
It’s weird how skinner isn’t signing right now vs when he signed it. Ok I’ll play. Girgs is worth 0 dollars now because he can’t play this year. Or is that a stupid way to look at it?
- SDSabre

Oh my
Boss34
Buffalo Sabres
Location: BUFFALO , NY
Joined: 12.03.2015

Feb 7 @ 3:31 PM ET
https://www.laxsportsnation.com/2019/10/16/john-gibson-is-the-best-goalie-in-the-nhl/
- homiedclown


October of 2019.

Good pull.

Garth type homer

NHL Top 10: Who are the league's best goalies right now?
04 8. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning. ...
05 7. Semyon Varlamov, New York Islanders. ...
06 6. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets. ...
07 5. Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh Penguins. ...
08 4. Robin Lehner, Chicago Blackhawks. ...
09 3. Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins. ...
10 2. Darcy Kuemper, Arizona Coyotes. ...
11 1. Ben Bishop, Dallas Stars
Pegullaville
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Toronto
Joined: 03.16.2011

Feb 7 @ 3:32 PM ET
great classic super bowl match-up of the best two run and stop the run teams in the nfl, with the 2 best star running backs
- 3rd GM's the charm


The Bucs are the top rushing defence in the NFL.

Also have a top 10 rushing attack when Ronald Jones is healthy, which he is.

Brady will need both today if the Bucs are going to win today
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Feb 7 @ 3:35 PM ET
Casey Mittelstadt doesn’t have a goal in like over a calendar year

He was put on the ice when we needed a goal over Skinner

Yeah, it’s totally Skinner’s fault over Krueger

3rd GM's the charm
Columbus Blue Jackets
Location: Look, it's a situation where thats a great question, OH
Joined: 07.01.2020

Feb 7 @ 3:36 PM ET
So there's a few of you on here who enjoy Kobra Kai, right?

I finally watched some of it and I have to say, it might honestly be the worst show I have ever watched. It's incredibly bad.

You guys get into this crap and take it seriously? It's so laughably bad... I had to ask myself repeatedly if they were serious or it was intentionally funny and bad?

But they are so beyond serious, I'm very confused.
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Feb 7 @ 3:37 PM ET
So there's a few of you on here who enjoy Kobra Kai, right?

I finally watched some of it and I have to say, it might honestly be the worst show I have ever watched. It's incredibly bad.

You guys get into this crap and take it seriously? It's so laughably bad... I had to ask myself repeatedly if they were serious or it was intentionally funny and bad?

But they are so beyond serious, I'm very confused.

- 3rd GM's the charm

I just started watching Sneaky Pete for the first time and that’s super good
Boss34
Buffalo Sabres
Location: BUFFALO , NY
Joined: 12.03.2015

Feb 7 @ 3:38 PM ET
Casey Mittelstadt doesn’t have a goal in like over a calendar year

He was put on the ice when we needed a goal over Skinner

Yeah, it’s totally Skinner’s fault over Krueger

- sbroads24


Yeah, sabres won the cup right after they traded ryan oreilly.

Yeah that was a good trade
3rd GM's the charm
Columbus Blue Jackets
Location: Look, it's a situation where thats a great question, OH
Joined: 07.01.2020

Feb 7 @ 3:46 PM ET
I just started watching Sneaky Pete for the first time and that’s super good
- sbroads24

Altered Carbon was excellent and I finally finished The Good Place but I've never been much of a TV series type. Too much time to invest.
jdfitz77
Buffalo Sabres
Location: buffalo, NY
Joined: 05.21.2007

Feb 7 @ 3:49 PM ET
You get what you pay for.

The coach clearly liked both guys.

With 12 goals last season and a 15 goal season under his belt, girgs could play up and down the line up.

Ufa's are different. Had to anti up , to keep him.

Why constantly bring up the extra 1/2 million per, for a guy that played well last season ( a contact year)

Skimmer is getting paid 4 or 5 million too much

- Boss34


Why CONSTANTLY bring up SkiNNer?
He has nothing to do with Girgs or Kahun???
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Feb 7 @ 3:50 PM ET
Yeah, sabres won the cup right after they traded ryan oreilly.

Yeah that was a good trade

- Boss34

No the Sabres finished in last place the year they still had ROR.

He was super vital here. He definitely didn’t pout his way out of town.

Great call
3rd GM's the charm
Columbus Blue Jackets
Location: Look, it's a situation where thats a great question, OH
Joined: 07.01.2020

Feb 7 @ 3:51 PM ET
*Brings up Kuemper, a player from another team, constantly

*Ask others why they bring up Skinner, an actual player on the team.
IonSabres
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I said that months ago, keep up!, FL
Joined: 03.10.2013

Feb 7 @ 3:54 PM ET
Says the guy that has vasleski and gibson in the same tier. 😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀

Career stats are similar, but how about the past 3 or 4 years 😀😀😀


Maybe I put too much into fantasy hockey drafting, but vaslevsky went 7th overall, gibson not even drafted.
200 picks...

- Boss34


Hmmmm.
I wonder if quality of teammate has anything to do with it?

Last season was a poor season for The Ducks, while Tampa enjoyed the ultimate success...so their roster were anything but similar. I would think you would agree.

So go back the 2 previous seasons ('17-'18 & '18-'19), their stats were unbelievably similar...but a quick check for the previous 3 seasons (starting with '16-'17)...represented the same story. Stats from Natural Stat Trick.

VASI. GIBBY.
118. 118. Games Played
7,028. 6,661. TOI
3,788. 3,712. Shots against
3,493. 3,420. Saves
0.922. 0.921. SV %
41.88. 38.12. Goals Saved Above Average
919. 1,112. High Danger Shots Against
759. 938. HD Saves
0.826. 0.844. HD SV %

In fact, given not all shots, and therefore saves, are the same...look at the High Danger SV %.

I'll stick to the fact they are eerily similar and therefore I'm right once again.

ProTip: I wouldn't base an argument on fantasy btw, lol!
homiedclown
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We want 1, FL
Joined: 02.24.2008

Feb 7 @ 3:56 PM ET
October of 2019.

Good pull.

Garth type homer

NHL Top 10: Who are the league's best goalies right now?
04 8. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning. ...
05 7. Semyon Varlamov, New York Islanders. ...
06 6. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets. ...
07 5. Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh Penguins. ...
08 4. Robin Lehner, Chicago Blackhawks. ...
09 3. Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins. ...
10 2. Darcy Kuemper, Arizona Coyotes. ...
11 1. Ben Bishop, Dallas Stars

- Boss34

If you put gibson on any fringe playoff team, their numbers are better right away

If you put gibson on the oilers, leafs, colorado or islanders they become much better cup contenders then they are today
jdfitz77
Buffalo Sabres
Location: buffalo, NY
Joined: 05.21.2007

Feb 7 @ 3:59 PM ET
He’s not really better. They’re all mediocre with the exception of Kahun.

Oilers fans already like him a ton, just like Hawk fans did and Penguins fans.

Adams made a mistake. We’d have been better off letting Girgensons walk. He can’t even play this year

- sbroads24


Kahun has a WHOPPING 4pts while playing in the Top6 in EDM with McDavid & Draisaitl
That’s pretty disappointing so far

He’s tied with LAZAR,
who’s been playing on our 4th line

Looks to me like we aren’t missing out on much from Kahun at all



***and for those who were making horrible Kyle Turris suggestions.... he’s not doing sh!t either :
(3pts, & a -10)
jdfitz77
Buffalo Sabres
Location: buffalo, NY
Joined: 05.21.2007

Feb 7 @ 4:01 PM ET
great classic super bowl match-up of the best two run and stop the run teams in the nfl, with the 2 best star running backs
- 3rd GM's the charm


Tell us more about it in your 1st blog post please
Can’t wait!!! 😂😂😂
IonSabres
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I said that months ago, keep up!, FL
Joined: 03.10.2013

Feb 7 @ 4:03 PM ET
October of 2019.

Good pull.

Garth type homer

NHL Top 10: Who are the league's best goalies right now?
04 8. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning. ...
05 7. Semyon Varlamov, New York Islanders. ...
06 6. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets. ...
07 5. Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh Penguins. ...
08 4. Robin Lehner, Chicago Blackhawks. ...
09 3. Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins. ...
10 2. Darcy Kuemper, Arizona Coyotes. ...
11 1. Ben Bishop, Dallas Stars

- Boss34



All good goalies...nice list with zero data to back it up...
Are those Fantasy Round Average selection in n numbers before their name?
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