Rielly faced significantly higher QoC, had a better Corsi Rel to QoC, the competition QoC was worse when facing Rielly, Corsi QoT(eamates) was MUCH better with Rielly.

Basically, he played tougher minutes on a signficantly worse team, and had better possession stats and he improved his teammates stats more than Risto did.

Oh... and hits and blocked shots mean you don't have the puck


(disclaimer... all this presumes that I actually understand the stats I am looking at. Given that I spent about 30 seconds gathering this data, that is by no means, a given)
- Aetherial

I wasn't arguing over who's better (I personally havent' seen either guy play enough to have an opinion)....but in typical Axl fashion he makes a big huge blanket statement without actually looking at the facts.

perhaps rielly is better, but he's not better by much, and he's CERTAINLY not better in "every way"

No team is more dependent on one player than MONTRÉAL. Pens are still competitive without Crosby. Price is the difference between 100+ points in Montreal and a bottom 5 finish.
- DoubleDown

Respectfully, Pittsburgh was floundering until Crosby turned it up several notches in the second half. Mike Sullivan decided to let Crosby do his thing - something Johnston was reluctant doing - and guess what? After that change the Penguins were far and away the best team in the NHL and won the Cup with Crosby taking the Conn Smythe.

It's patently ridiculous that Crosby lost the Hart trophy to Kane last year. Crosby was that good.

Don't get me wrong, Price is the best goaltender in the NHL and is clearly a perennial Hart candidate. But is he worth more to his team than Sid? Nahh... they're both in the same conversation.

Risto is younger, bigger, had more points, more hits, more blocked shots........how do you figure he's better in "every way"
- sensarmy_11

You are not allowed to use logic with leaf fans. They all think they will be great, win cup, mathews will win mvp and calder, Reilly will win norris and Anderson will win Vezina.

I think had the habs had a good back up (not playing rookies most of the season) they would have been better than bottom 5..........it almost felt like when price went down they decided to just tank. had they brought in a competent goalie (enroth or someone similar) I think they would have flirted with a playoff spot.

no doubt they do rely heavily on him though. the only 2 other teams who I can think of who would be as sunk if they lost one player would be Ottawa (karlsson) and the islanders (Tavares)
- sensarmy_11

The Gallagher injury hurt them also.

After that, I think it all just snowballed ( ). There were clearly problems in the room and the "roomers" about a rift with Subban and whoever were also true. It was a total organizational implosion that is not likely to be repeated.

You are not allowed to use logic with leaf fans. They all think they will be great, win cup, mathews will win mvp and calder, Reilly will win norris and Anderson will win Vezina.

- hanleyaj

he will.......and take Ottawa all the way to the cup.

I wasn't arguing over who's better (I personally havent' seen either guy play enough to have an opinion)....but in typical Axl fashion he makes a big huge blanket statement without actually looking at the facts.

perhaps rielly is better, but he's not better by much, and he's CERTAINLY not better in "every way"
- sensarmy_11

Having not seen Risto enough, and not being a huge believer in any stat telling the whole story, I can't really say.

I do know that Rielly looks signficantly improved in the WCH and the pre-season.

Respectfully, Pittsburgh was floundering until Crosby turned it up several notches in the second half. Mike Sullivan decided to let Crosby do his thing - something Johnston was reluctant doing - and guess what? After that change the Penguins were far and away the best team in the NHL and won the Cup with Crosby taking the Conn Smythe.

It's patently ridiculous that Crosby lost the Hart trophy to Kane last year. Crosby was that good.

Don't get me wrong, Price is the best goaltender in the NHL and is clearly a perennial Hart candidate. But is he worth more to his team than Sid? Nahh... they're both in the same conversation.
- mjones242

I think Crosby is going to tear NHL up this season he just looked scary good in world cup. I hope Price comes back and is the stud he was before injury because NHL needs more studs like him. But missing a whole year is big deal especially to a goalie. I just dont think you can say he is best goalie without really seeing him play.

World Cup Does not count look at the team in front of him. I could of played goalie.

I'm still not doing that thing you like, more than once in a while.
- Aetherial

I actually agree with pretty much everything you've said. One has to expect Eichel and Reinhart to progress from their rookie seasons and Okposo is an underrated (for some reason?) addition to the offense.

Goaltending and defense is where things look to be a bit shakier -- but surely they're at least comparable to what the Leafs have.

Having said that, I'm a huge Leafs fan and I have no love for Buffalo -- but I don't seem to have the same Sabre hate a lot of people have here. They're definitely ahead of the rebuild than Toronto - maybe not by a lot - but they are further along. This year they should compete for a playoff spot unless something horrific happens.

I think Tampa and Florida run away with the division while the rest of the pack are pretty close in totals. The Leafs? Anywhere from 6th or 8th but with an increase in points from last year. Then again, there's just too many question marks for the Leafs to know if they'll somehow surprise or will falter again...
- mjones242

If anything Okposo is overrated.

You are not allowed to use logic with leaf fans. They all think they will be great, win cup, mathews will win mvp and calder, Reilly will win norris and Anderson will win Vezina.

- hanleyaj

Good Lord.

he will.......and take Ottawa all the way to the cup.
- sensarmy_11

well done

If anything Okposo is overrated.
- Cptmjl

Meh, he's a 55-65 points player. I don't think anyone really considers him much more than he is.

Good pickup by the Sabres if you ask me.

I think had the habs had a good back up (not playing rookies most of the season) they would have been better than bottom 5..........it almost felt like when price went down they decided to just tank. had they brought in a competent goalie (enroth or someone similar) I think they would have flirted with a playoff spot.

no doubt they do rely heavily on him though. the only 2 other teams who I can think of who would be as sunk if they lost one player would be Ottawa (karlsson) and the islanders (Tavares)
- sensarmy_11

they were so mentally soft last season it was astounding. they were a bunch of (frank)ing crybabies and that stemmed from the whiny GM/coach right through to the last guys on the roster. has anything changed? not sure but at least it was addressed.

You are not allowed to use logic with leaf fans. They all think they will be great, win cup, mathews will win mvp and calder, Reilly will win norris and Anderson will win Vezina.

- hanleyaj

Thank god we have you to bring us all back to reason and reality.

Meh, he's a 55-65 points player. I don't think anyone really considers him much more than he is.

Good pickup by the Sabres if you ask me.
- Scabeh

Exactly. Top line winger? Maybe not (can fill in if needed) Top six forward? I think you'd be hard-pressed to say no to that. For not having to give anything (assets) for him, good pickup indeed.

Respectfully, Pittsburgh was floundering until Crosby turned it up several notches in the second half. Mike Sullivan decided to let Crosby do his thing - something Johnston was reluctant doing - and guess what? After that change the Penguins were far and away the best team in the NHL and won the Cup with Crosby taking the Conn Smythe.

It's patently ridiculous that Crosby lost the Hart trophy to Kane last year. Crosby was that good.

Don't get me wrong, Price is the best goaltender in the NHL and is clearly a perennial Hart candidate. But is he worth more to his team than Sid? Nahh... they're both in the same conversation.
- mjones242

totally agree about Pittsburgh. but Montreal literally went from first to last when CP went down. they had the best record in the NHL on Dec 1, the worst record in the NHL from Dec 1 on. and it wasn't even close.

Good Lord.
- Aetherial

Then please use logic and tell me why Reilly is better then Risto because every stat tells You Risto is superior and he is younger.

Also why mathews will put more point then Eichel did. It is just not fair for him. Eichel had luxary to play behind O'Reilly. I am not saying one is better then the other because we just dont know and we wont know until Mathews is able to get some players to play with.

Also how leafs will make playoffs/ have more points then sabres because on paper sabres are better by far.

Meh, he's a 55-65 points player. I don't think anyone really considers him much more than he is.

Good pickup by the Sabres if you ask me.
- Scabeh

He's extremely weak on the puck and an abortion defensively. The power fwd label he somehow was given is a joke. That's why we made no effort to resign him. I don't think it's a bad move he may find some chemistry with someone and who knows after that but to say he's under rated isn't accurate. Quite the contrary.

He's extremely weak on the puck and an abortion defensively. The power fwd label he somehow was given is a joke. That's why we made no effort to resign him. I don't think it's a bad move he may find some chemistry with someone and who knows after that but to say he's under rated isn't accurate. Quite the contrary.
- Cptmjl

He will be on a line with ROR so he is allowed to suck defensively

Then please use logic and tell me why Reilly is better then Risto because every stat tells You Risto is superior and he is younger.

Also why mathews will put more point then Eichel did. It is just not fair for him. Eichel had luxary to play behind O'Reilly. I am not saying one is better then the other because we just dont know and we wont know until Mathews is able to get some players to play with.

Also how leafs will make playoffs/ have more points then sabres because on paper sabres are better by far.
- hanleyaj

You are asking the wrong questions.
The answers you seek, are within.

He's extremely weak on the puck and an abortion defensively. The power fwd label he somehow was given is a joke. That's why we made no effort to resign him. I don't think it's a bad move he may find some chemistry with someone and who knows after that but to say he's under rated isn't accurate. Quite the contrary.
- Cptmjl

Well you've obviously seen him play more than I did so i'll have to take your word for it.

I was under the impression it was Okposo who didn't want to resign with the Islanders but clearly I was misinformed.

Exactly. Top line winger? Maybe not (can fill in if needed) Top six forward? I think you'd be hard-pressed to say no to that. For not having to give anything (assets) for him, good pickup indeed.
- SDSabre

Best part is it only cost us 6million a year which was same as Backes and lucic. I thought if he was coming to buffalo it was going to be for 7-7.5 million a year.

totally agree about Pittsburgh. but Montreal literally went from first to last when CP went down. they had the best record in the NHL on Dec 1, the worst record in the NHL from Dec 1 on. and it wasn't even close.
- DoubleDown

It didn't help that Montreal's offense shriveled up. Frankly, I think that entire team last year was playing out of their minds for the first half and when they lost Price they pretty much gave up on every possible front.

Well you've obviously seen him play more than I did so i'll have to take your word for it.

I was under the impression it was Okposo who didn't want to resign with the Islanders but clearly I was misinformed.
- Scabeh

There was no push to resign him by Snow. I'm not saying the guy is Moulson but he's completely overrated if anything. Like I said who knows maybe he'll find some chemistry with someone and who knows but let's not forget he played with one of the best centers in the league most of the time.

He will be on a line with ROR so he is allowed to suck defensively
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

If it were only that easy.