I think he is an upgrade over Pysyk, not a huge upgrade but an upgrade nonetheless
- Stripes77

I think it's equal in terms of talent. Kulikov is more physical. Pysyk is the smarter player.

Are you trying to convince someone ?
- cabin

shhhh

Too many Americans.....TSN will never allow it
- feetontheair22

Gaudreau is also American. So it doesn't matter if you put Matthews or Gaudreau on that line, it's still 2 Americans and 1 Canadian.

CF and CA are your most basic possession stats. C standing for corsi so these two would be corsi for and corsi against. Corsi refers to the number of shots on net and shot attempts towards the net (including shots that are blocked) that the player is on the ice for. Corsi Against would be the amount of shot attempts against you were on the ice for.

The idea here is that if you have a higher CF than your CA it means your team usually controls the puck more often than not when you're on the ice. It's also the most outdated and often misread stat of them all but thats my opinion. Hope that helped.
- Sabresfan-365

And to add, if you're just looking at corsi style stats, there's always variables. One could say, "He's a bum, his line never shoots and gets shot on." Another could say "His role is a defensive role where he is deployed only on defensive faceoffs in order to clear the puck and to keep the shots on the perimeter." It's a boring and vague stat that defines overall team performance much better than individuals.

From last nights game

- cabin

Team Europe is going to get destroyed in this tournament

And to add, if you're just looking at corsi style stats, there's always variables. One could say, "He's a bum, his line never shoots and gets shot on." Another could say "His role is a defensive role where he is deployed only on defensive faceoffs in order to clear the puck and to keep the shots on the perimeter." It's a boring and vague stat that defines overall team performance much better than individuals.
- TheSabresTaco

To me, it's a stat like +/-, but at a team level. It's a stat that can reinforce other stats. But looked at individually doesn't give a very good picture overall.

And to add, if you're just looking at corsi style stats, there's always variables. One could say, "He's a bum, his line never shoots and gets shot on." Another could say "His role is a defensive role where he is deployed only on defensive faceoffs in order to clear the puck and to keep the shots on the perimeter." It's a boring and vague stat that defines overall team performance much better than individuals.
- TheSabresTaco

it'll be interesting to see where florida goes this year...they did an overhaul of their defense and leaned heavily towards analytics..."analytic darling" mark Pysyk joined analytic friendly, offensive-minded defensemen Keith Yandel and Jason Demers while trading bigger, harder-nosed d-men like Kulikov and eric gudbranson as well as moving on from willie mitchell

it'll be interesting to see where florida goes this year..
- Michael Pachla

bolts, panthers, caps and pens

they are the class of the east

bolts, panthers, caps and pens

they are the class of the east
- homiedclown

as well they should be...all bottomed out and all have at least one first overall pick on their rosters

I think it's equal in terms of talent. Kulikov is more physical. Pysyk is the smarter player.
- HonkFortheGoose

I normally would agree with that since I was a Pysyk fan, but last year he made many more dumb plays than good ones, and for a finesse-type guy he does not have the tools to make up for it, imo. By end of the year I stopped defending him here cuz he was not playing smart, which is his calling card.

- homiedclown

Nice. My first game was '75 playoffs vs Montreal. I was 6 , we won, and I drank coffee for the first time. Now that I think of it I probably inhaled half a pack of ciggarete smoke since 3/4 of the crowd, including my Dad, smoked in the Aud.

I normally would agree with that since I was a Pysyk fan, but last year he made many more dumb plays than good ones, and for a finesse-type guy he does not have the tools to make up for it, imo. By end of the year I stopped defending him here cuz he was not playing smart, which is his calling card.
- LandlordTom

He wasn't exactly given a partner that would allow him to succeed either. But he did have a few headscratchers. Overall, I didn't think his play was poor.

it'll be interesting to see where florida goes this year...they did an overhaul of their defense and leaned heavily towards analytics..."analytic darling" mark Pysyk joined analytic friendly, offensive-minded defensemen Keith Yandel and Jason Demers while trading bigger, harder-nosed d-men like Kulikov and eric gudbranson as well as moving on from willie mitchell
- Michael Pachla

I believe you need a balance between the two. The irony here is we'd make great trade partners. Bogo, Kulikov, Risto, McCabe...we could use an analytics darling or two. I would've gone after Demers in FA.

Nice. My first game was '75 playoffs vs Montreal. I was 6 , we won, and I drank coffee for the first time. Now that I think of it I probably inhaled half a pack of ciggarete smoke since 3/4 of the crowd, including my Dad, smoked in the Aud.
- LandlordTom

I was 6 or 7, we played the Devils and lost. We left early to beat the traffic which I always hated doing. Miro Satan and Brodeur became my favorite players that day

He wasn't exactly given a partner that would allow him to succeed either. But he did have a few headscratchers. Overall, I didn't think his play was poor.
- HonkFortheGoose

His play wasn't great either. I liked Pysyk but we got something that we needed more than him. Needed that LD that could play with Risto and we got it. Pysyk will do fine in Florida.

He wasn't exactly given a partner that would allow him to succeed either. But he did have a few headscratchers. Overall, I didn't think his play was poor.
- HonkFortheGoose

Injury bug got him, too. Oh well, Kuli should be a nice addition. Wonder who he sticks with, or if Disco Dan is still juggling d-pairs come April...

His play wasn't great either. I liked Pysyk but we got something that we needed more than him. Needed that LD that could play with Risto and we got it. Pysyk will do fine in Florida.
- Zschalberg

This is the part I disagree with. We got the LD part, but I don't agree that it's one that can play with Risto.

He's a 2nd pair guy. I'm not trying to say he's bad or that Pysyk was better or anything. I just don't think it's that significant of an upgrade over what we had, if any. I hope to god I'm wrong. I just have a gut feeling I'm not.

That doesn't mean that our D would be better had we not made the trade. The entire idea one way or the other for me is just "Meh."

Injury bug got him, too. Oh well, Kuli should be a nice addition. Wonder who he sticks with, or if Disco Dan is still juggling d-pairs come April...
- LandlordTom

Very true, and I think it hurt him for sure. I'm still a bit leery of the weird heart thing that happened at the end of the season 2 years ago too. They never found anything that could point to a cause, so that makes me nervous it could happen again at any given time.

I like Pysyk, so I hope he does well in Florida. They're not a team that's hard for me to root for, and I like a lot of the pieces they have there, so it's definitely a team I'll try to watch a bunch this year.

And to add, if you're just looking at corsi style stats, there's always variables. One could say, "He's a bum, his line never shoots and gets shot on." Another could say "His role is a defensive role where he is deployed only on defensive faceoffs in order to clear the puck and to keep the shots on the perimeter." It's a boring and vague stat that defines overall team performance much better than individuals.
- TheSabresTaco

Scoring stats are better for forwards, possession stats are better for top 4 defenders IMO.

If you are a top 4 defender, you will be playing with decent teammates regardless of your role. So they carry more weight.

That's why I never cared too much for Pysyk's possession numbers. He was always in a bottom 2 role, playing against easy comp. He did well, which means he's probably a good #4 or #5, but not a #2 like some suggested he was (WGR, looking at you)

Points per 60, IMO is a great stat for forwards. Shows what they do relative to ice time

Gaudreau is also American. So it doesn't matter if you put Matthews or Gaudreau on that line, it's still 2 Americans and 1 Canadian.
- HonkFortheGoose

Too many....McDavid need's his own line

This is the part I disagree with. We got the LD part, but I don't agree that it's one that can play with Risto.

He's a 2nd pair guy. I'm not trying to say he's bad or that Pysyk was better or anything. I just don't think it's that significant of an upgrade over what we had, if any. I hope to god I'm wrong. I just have a gut feeling I'm not.

That doesn't mean that our D would be better had we not made the trade. The entire idea one way or the other for me is just "Meh."
- HonkFortheGoose

Agreed. By deadline day he'll either be on the 2nd pair because were close enough or in a playoff spot that we made a move for someone better or he'll be gone because we're too far away from a playoff spot likely stemming from the fact that Kulikov really isnt a solution for the top pair. Given the choice between re-signing him at 4.3 mil+ or keeping mccabe at 1.3 mil on the 2nd pair....well thats not much of a choice.

I think it's equal in terms of talent. Kulikov is more physical. Pysyk is the smarter player.
- HonkFortheGoose

Not smart enough to change his name.

Agreed. By deadline day he'll either be on the 2nd pair because were close enough or in a playoff spot that we made a move for someone better or he'll be gone because we're too far away from a playoff spot likely stemming from the fact that Kulikov really isnt a solution for the top pair. Given the choice between re-signing him at 4.3 mil+ or keeping mccabe at 1.3 mil on the 2nd pair....well thats not much of a choice.
- Sabresfan-365

I think now's the time to throw McCabe into his big boy pants. Put him on the 1st pair with Risto and see what happens. Let's see if they have any type of chemistry. If it really doesn't seem to work, put him back on the 2nd pair with Bogo and try Kulikov there like it seems they planned on anyway.

Scoring stats are better for forwards, possession stats are better for top 4 defenders IMO.

If you are a top 4 defender, you will be playing with decent teammates regardless of your role. So they carry more weight.

That's why I never cared too much for Pysyk's possession numbers. He was always in a bottom 2 role, playing against easy comp. He did well, which means he's probably a good #4 or #5, but not a #2 like some suggested he was (WGR, looking at you)

Points per 60, IMO is a great stat for forwards. Shows what they do relative to ice time
- sbroads24

Yes and no. In theory you should be out there with some of the best players on your team. However if the best on your team is say a 19 year old rookie centre still adjusting and learning how to play defense at the nhl level, a 36 year old has been your idiotic coach has a hard on for and a D partner who may literally need new legs...well that doesnt do much for you.