doEsN't LosE tWo iN a rOW
- BeadyEyedDouche

Play connected

Cries

Eichel
Olofsson
Reinhart
Risto
McCabe

All on the ice together

Jack Eichel has to exit the zone on his own, enter the zone on his own, make any type of play in the zone on his own. Because Olofsson is kinda garbage and Reinhart isn’t a puck carrier.

Auston Matthews finds open spots on the ice to shoot and gets gimme goals constantly

Jack Eichel gets 0 help and smothered by 4 guys all game long

I’m so tired of it
- sbroads24

I still am an Olofsson believer but i'm with you on the rest.

That pair needs to be broken up. People fortunately can't excuse every odd decision with 9-2-2 anymore, either.

Cries
- jochfr

Shhhh...shhhh...see what you made me do?

The Sabres are soft as silk, which is why I can't figure out why people want to get rid of McCabe? Get rid of McCabe and bring up someone softer... Ive watched the Sabres since their first year of existence, never been happy when they play soft. Seems like the D was standing attackers up at the blue line early in the season, but now they're backing up and giving the blue line up too easy
- Wyohomeboy

Or we could watch the McCabe-Risto pairing not be able to get out of their own zone and get caved in on a nightly basis in shot attempts.

Can’t wait for the new GM to come in, fire Krueger because he wants his coach, trade roster players for picks so he can build his own team.

I'd prefer they get players who don't specialize in being pinned in their own zone. Once the team is actually good and we have to worry about their toughness then maybe we can address it.

Thinking the answer to a basement team is toughness is a joke. They need skill right now.
- robz228

I'm pretending the Sabres aren't a basement team.

I'm pretending the team is "actually good", that's why I'm worried about toughness.

I'm staying positive

Can’t wait for the new GM to come in, fire Krueger because he wants his coach, trade roster players for picks so he can build his own team.
- sbroads24

Can they just hire a VP to come in and slap Botterill's peepee to wake him up from his nap and make a trade

I'm pretending the Sabres aren't a basement team.

I'm pretending the team is "actually good", that's why I'm worried about toughness.

I'm staying positive
- Boss34

Honestly, i'm envious.

The first 5 games are peculiar though. So theres still a sliver of hope for me. But practically none.

This is just exhausting though. We have two sports teams who can't do anything offensively. Give me some fun pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase.

Can they just hire a VP to come in and slap Botterill's peepee to wake him up from his nap and make a trade
- jcragcrumple

Risto for a 2C

Can’t wait for the new GM to come in, fire Krueger because he wants his coach, trade roster players for picks so he can build his own team.
- sbroads24

In a bit of breaking news Wednesday, the Evolving Wild twins updated the 2019-2020 GAR and RAPM metrics to their site, evolving-hockey.com. It created some buzz amongst Sabres twitter because those who ventured over to the site saw a shocking name sitting atop the team in GAR and WAR - Rasmus Ristolainen.


GAR, or goals above replacement, is an attempt to measure a player’s true value on the basis of goals scored for and against when a player is on the ice. This metric is then, theoretically, able to be converted to “wins above replacement”, or WAR for short.

WAR metrics in hockey somewhat mimic the concept of WAR metrics used in baseball, where the stat originated. Evolving-Hockey’s metric takes into account even-strength, power play, and shorthanded situations, as well as penalties drawn and taken.


Evolving-Hockey.com
So why does Rasmus Ristolainen lead the way for the Sabres in GAR totals so far this season?

Well, for starters, Ristolainen has performed above replacement value in nearly every category. He totals a 3.6 GAR in total, but, by measure, his best area in total this season to date has been his even-strength offense at 1.2. His totals take a slight dip in even-strength defense, powerplay offense, shorthanded defense, and penalties taken, which all come in about equal. Penalties drawn is the only category that Ristolainen records at about replacement level so far, which isn’t all too rare for a defenseman.

Ristolainen supporters will take this information and cite improvement. The haters will scoff at this metric and point to his Corsi numbers so far. So which side is right? Well, GAR can tell us a bit more if we dig a little deeper.


You see, the problem with taking GAR totals is that heavy-minutes eaters, such as Ristolainen, are accumulating more of what happens on the ice than their teammates simply because they, themselves, are on the ice for more events. So, in a GAR model such as Evolving-Hockey’s that uses actual goals as its basis, there is a higher chance a goal event happens when this person is on the ice (for better or worse).

To paint a better picture, I personally like to turn to GAR/60, which measures a players goals above replacement per 60 minutes played because this puts every player on the same level as far as ice-time. This better displays what a player is doing with his ice-time given.

Interesting enough, when we look up the Sabres’ GAR/60 numbers, Ristolainen drops to sixth on the team, behind Casey Mittelstadt, Marco Scandella, Sam Reinhart, Jack Eichel, and Kyle Okposo, respectively.


What does the per-60 breakdown help us decipher about Ristolainen’s game? Well, there is one category that he is clearly best in, and it’s not even-strength offense like the totals told us.

His power play offense weighs in at 1.436, which comes to no surprise to those that have followed him closely. He’s always been a really strong asset on the power play, and it has showed in the past in his point totals. The difference this season, of course, is that he has been relegated to the second unit, which clearly receives less time to strut their stuff.

Interestingly, his second-best category has been his shorthanded defense, and then he floats a little above replacement level at even-strength offense and defense as well as penalties taken. Clearly, his even-strength GAR totals have been inflated by the fact that he is Buffalo’s even-strength minutes leader.


What can we conclude?

The answer is pretty much what we’ve concluded about Ristolainen for a few years now. He’s pretty much being overused at even-strength, although through the first 15 games this season he’s been able to remain a positive impact player. There are many teams across the NHL that he could upgrade on the power play, but with Rasmus Dahlin quarterbacking the first unit admirably it’s not likely he’ll get the opportunity in Buffalo going forward.

So in other words, his usage so far this season hasn’t really been to his strengths. He has, however, held up ok in the role he’s been cast. So really, the only question that remains, is, can Ristolainen keep it up?



Sbroads - your the stats guy right?

Can’t wait for the new GM to come in, fire Krueger because he wants his coach, trade roster players for picks so he can build his own team.
- sbroads24

They need to stop the madness.

Botts and Krugs get at least another year, if not two.

They need to stop the madness.

Botts and Krugs get at least another year, if not two.
- Powerslave

Krueger? Yes. Botterill owes it to him to get him some more forward talent though. Not through the draft, not later. Now.

Sbroads - your the stats guy right?
- Boss34

all year hes been dreadful in corsi but decent in xGF which points to them being shelled, but from a low danger

the GAR thing makes that seem correct too.

Its just so confusing that almost every single analyst and fan on earth has been begging for his minutes to be reduced but head coaches don't think so.

Krueger? Yes. Botterill owes it to him to get him some more forward talent though. Not through the draft, not later. Now.
- jcragcrumple

Agreed. No doubt. And I think he will. By all accounts, he's busy working the phones. Something will happen.

It has to.

In a bit of breaking news Wednesday, the Evolving Wild twins updated the 2019-2020 GAR and RAPM metrics to their site, evolving-hockey.com. It created some buzz amongst Sabres twitter because those who ventured over to the site saw a shocking name sitting atop the team in GAR and WAR - Rasmus Ristolainen.


GAR, or goals above replacement, is an attempt to measure a player’s true value on the basis of goals scored for and against when a player is on the ice. This metric is then, theoretically, able to be converted to “wins above replacement”, or WAR for short.

WAR metrics in hockey somewhat mimic the concept of WAR metrics used in baseball, where the stat originated. Evolving-Hockey’s metric takes into account even-strength, power play, and shorthanded situations, as well as penalties drawn and taken.


Evolving-Hockey.com
So why does Rasmus Ristolainen lead the way for the Sabres in GAR totals so far this season?

Well, for starters, Ristolainen has performed above replacement value in nearly every category. He totals a 3.6 GAR in total, but, by measure, his best area in total this season to date has been his even-strength offense at 1.2. His totals take a slight dip in even-strength defense, powerplay offense, shorthanded defense, and penalties taken, which all come in about equal. Penalties drawn is the only category that Ristolainen records at about replacement level so far, which isn’t all too rare for a defenseman.

Ristolainen supporters will take this information and cite improvement. The haters will scoff at this metric and point to his Corsi numbers so far. So which side is right? Well, GAR can tell us a bit more if we dig a little deeper.


You see, the problem with taking GAR totals is that heavy-minutes eaters, such as Ristolainen, are accumulating more of what happens on the ice than their teammates simply because they, themselves, are on the ice for more events. So, in a GAR model such as Evolving-Hockey’s that uses actual goals as its basis, there is a higher chance a goal event happens when this person is on the ice (for better or worse).

To paint a better picture, I personally like to turn to GAR/60, which measures a players goals above replacement per 60 minutes played because this puts every player on the same level as far as ice-time. This better displays what a player is doing with his ice-time given.

Interesting enough, when we look up the Sabres’ GAR/60 numbers, Ristolainen drops to sixth on the team, behind Casey Mittelstadt, Marco Scandella, Sam Reinhart, Jack Eichel, and Kyle Okposo, respectively.


What does the per-60 breakdown help us decipher about Ristolainen’s game? Well, there is one category that he is clearly best in, and it’s not even-strength offense like the totals told us.

His power play offense weighs in at 1.436, which comes to no surprise to those that have followed him closely. He’s always been a really strong asset on the power play, and it has showed in the past in his point totals. The difference this season, of course, is that he has been relegated to the second unit, which clearly receives less time to strut their stuff.

Interestingly, his second-best category has been his shorthanded defense, and then he floats a little above replacement level at even-strength offense and defense as well as penalties taken. Clearly, his even-strength GAR totals have been inflated by the fact that he is Buffalo’s even-strength minutes leader.


What can we conclude?

The answer is pretty much what we’ve concluded about Ristolainen for a few years now. He’s pretty much being overused at even-strength, although through the first 15 games this season he’s been able to remain a positive impact player. There are many teams across the NHL that he could upgrade on the power play, but with Rasmus Dahlin quarterbacking the first unit admirably it’s not likely he’ll get the opportunity in Buffalo going forward.

So in other words, his usage so far this season hasn’t really been to his strengths. He has, however, held up ok in the role he’s been cast. So really, the only question that remains, is, can Ristolainen keep it up?



Sbroads - your the stats guy right?
- Boss34

Personally I hate WAR/GAR stats. They say Erod is great.

But I also don’t think Risto has sucked. He’s been decent.

Just shouldn’t be playing top minutes still

Or we could watch the McCabe-Risto pairing not be able to get out of their own zone and get caved in on a nightly basis in shot attempts.
- Swedish_Jesus

Or the team could try and score more than 9 goals in 6 games. Just a thought.

Or the team could try and score more than 9 goals in 6 games. Just a thought.
- Wetbandit1

Incroyable!

It really sucks to be us sometimes.

We ask so little

all year hes been dreadful in corsi but decent in xGF which points to them being shelled, but from a low danger

the GAR thing makes that seem correct too.

Its just so confusing that almost every single analyst and fan on earth has been begging for his minutes to be reduced but head coaches don't think so.
- robz228

Yeah, I agree.

But risto "doesn't suck" and his toughness is important to our already frail team of softies.

I'm a risto fan, and the stats always look worse then the eyes to me. He makes terrible bone head passes and turnovers. They all do....

Yeah, I agree.

But risto "doesn't suck" and his toughness is important to our already frail team of softies.

I'm a risto fan, and the stats always look worse then the eyes to me. He makes terrible bone head passes and turnovers. They all do....
- Boss34

ive seen less of this from him, and more just not being able to exit his zone

ive seen less of this from him, and more just not being able to exit his zone
- sbroads24

I think he's a had good season.

I'm seeing mistakes from other guys too. Today was rough for joker.

Was Dahlin still eating native candy while the game was going on?

It really sucks to be us sometimes.

We ask so little
- sbroads24

A cup/superbowl.


Playoffs would be nice once in 10 freaking years

I'll be at the Staples Center tomorrow if anyone wants to chill before the fight..

And tough L but I'm still not worried you just have to stay positive and things will work out