Torrey Krug and Matt Grezlyck say hi.

Pilut and Risto had solid underlying numbers. He can get the puck to forwards and Risto can dump people in front of the net.
- Pegullaville

They can play Defense. Pilut throws huge biscuits up the middle when pressured.

His trade value will never be higher and I think he’s hit his ceiling. He’s a perfect example of one of our many surplus defenseman that has value and could be packaged to get forward help (a Center) that would make the team better.

He’s not a difference maker. Trade him and get someone who is.

I like the top 3 and Pekar.
- mhp

Don't sleep on Rousek, the kid can skate, needs to put on some weight.

Pilut and Ristolainen were crushed 5v5 XGF/60 1.01 XGA/60 1.93
nearly double the expected goals against


His best work was with Miller (probably a more favourable role too)

XGF/60 1.54 XGA/60 0.88
- Michael Ghofrani

“Prior to Pilut’s arrival, Ristolainen’s primary partners in 2018-19 were Jake McCabe and Marco Scandella (482:54 and 291:45 TOI, respectively). In both cases, he posted better relative Corsi, and xG numbers away from them. The contrast was particularly stark in Scandella’s case. Ristolainen’s relative Corsi took more than a nine-percent leap away from him, while his relative xGF percentage jumped a whopping 17-percent (cheers to the current coaching staff for finally splitting them up).

That’s where Pilut comes in. During his 33-game stint with the Sabres last season, Ristolainen was his primary partner by a wide margin. His 223 minutes with the Finnish veteran were more than triple that of his second-most consistent partner, Zach Bogosian. The underlying impact of their chemistry on the back-end was almost immediate.

Every other partner with whom Ristolainen had spent more than 100 minutes in 2018-19 (of which there were a total of five) had a negative impact on him across the board (and vice-versa). None of the other assets on the Sabres’ lackluster blue line had the skill set to allow him to optimize his abilities. It took very little time for Pilut to become one of the team’s top zone-exit players on defense, making him an ideal fit.

Though their deployment as a pair was a bit more even than Ristolainen was previously accustomed (48.05-percent OZS), it still leaned defensive. Their relative Corsi mark of 5.21 and relative xGF percentage of 8.39 was far and away the best Ristolainen had experienced with any other partner since he and Bogosian posted excellent marks together in 2015-16 (122:10 TOI with an OZS rate of 63.04).”


Sure Pilut-Risto maybe did not have as much success this season, however Pilut played 10 games in total and those stats are most likely skewed due to an extremely small sample size.

Pilut is a cost efficient d-man who can be a value contract on our bottom pair who we are pissing off for virtually no reason in yet another lost season. What more do we have to see from McCabe or Bogo that we don’t know already ?

I doubt you'd credit Laine's success to Scheifele the same way you attribute Reinhart's success to Eichel
- jcragcrumple

Both are complimentary players.

Both are complimentary players.
- Pegullaville

Laine isn't a generational sniper anymore?!?

“Prior to Pilut’s arrival, Ristolainen’s primary partners in 2018-19 were Jake McCabe and Marco Scandella (482:54 and 291:45 TOI, respectively). In both cases, he posted better relative Corsi, and xG numbers away from them. The contrast was particularly stark in Scandella’s case. Ristolainen’s relative Corsi took more than a nine-percent leap away from him, while his relative xGF percentage jumped a whopping 17-percent (cheers to the current coaching staff for finally splitting them up).

That’s where Pilut comes in. During his 33-game stint with the Sabres last season, Ristolainen was his primary partner by a wide margin. His 223 minutes with the Finnish veteran were more than triple that of his second-most consistent partner, Zach Bogosian. The underlying impact of their chemistry on the back-end was almost immediate.

Every other partner with whom Ristolainen had spent more than 100 minutes in 2018-19 (of which there were a total of five) had a negative impact on him across the board (and vice-versa). None of the other assets on the Sabres’ lackluster blue line had the skill set to allow him to optimize his abilities. It took very little time for Pilut to become one of the team’s top zone-exit players on defense, making him an ideal fit.

Though their deployment as a pair was a bit more even than Ristolainen was previously accustomed (48.05-percent OZS), it still leaned defensive. Their relative Corsi mark of 5.21 and relative xGF percentage of 8.39 was far and away the best Ristolainen had experienced with any other partner since he and Bogosian posted excellent marks together in 2015-16 (122:10 TOI with an OZS rate of 63.04).”


Sure Pilut-Risto maybe did not have as much success this season, however Pilut played 10 games in total and those stats are most likely skewed due to an extremely small sample size.

Pilut is a cost efficient d-man who can be a value contract on our bottom pair who we are pissing off for virtually no reason in yet another lost season. What more do we have to see from McCabe or Bogo that we don’t know already ?
- Pegullaville

Sorry I misunderstood. I thought you were referencing there time together this year before he got sent down

“Prior to Pilut’s arrival, Ristolainen’s primary partners in 2018-19 were Jake McCabe and Marco Scandella (482:54 and 291:45 TOI, respectively). In both cases, he posted better relative Corsi, and xG numbers away from them. The contrast was particularly stark in Scandella’s case. Ristolainen’s relative Corsi took more than a nine-percent leap away from him, while his relative xGF percentage jumped a whopping 17-percent (cheers to the current coaching staff for finally splitting them up).

That’s where Pilut comes in. During his 33-game stint with the Sabres last season, Ristolainen was his primary partner by a wide margin. His 223 minutes with the Finnish veteran were more than triple that of his second-most consistent partner, Zach Bogosian. The underlying impact of their chemistry on the back-end was almost immediate.

Every other partner with whom Ristolainen had spent more than 100 minutes in 2018-19 (of which there were a total of five) had a negative impact on him across the board (and vice-versa). None of the other assets on the Sabres’ lackluster blue line had the skill set to allow him to optimize his abilities. It took very little time for Pilut to become one of the team’s top zone-exit players on defense, making him an ideal fit.

Though their deployment as a pair was a bit more even than Ristolainen was previously accustomed (48.05-percent OZS), it still leaned defensive. Their relative Corsi mark of 5.21 and relative xGF percentage of 8.39 was far and away the best Ristolainen had experienced with any other partner since he and Bogosian posted excellent marks together in 2015-16 (122:10 TOI with an OZS rate of 63.04).”


Sure Pilut-Risto maybe did not have as much success this season, however Pilut played 10 games in total and those stats are most likely skewed due to an extremely small sample size.

Pilut is a cost efficient d-man who can be a value contract on our bottom pair who we are pissing off for virtually no reason in yet another lost season. What more do we have to see from McCabe or Bogo that we don’t know already ?
- Pegullaville

Nice read Pegs, unfortunately does Risto go back with McCabe. Wonder if they keep him and Montour together.

Nice read Pegs, unfortunately does Risto go back with McCabe. Wonder if they keep him and Montour together.
- Buff36

I mean it’s credit to Anthony Sciandra from Die By The Blade.

McCabe-Risto would be a tank move.

Don't sleep on Rousek, the kid can skate, needs to put on some weight.
- Buff36

If he turns into another VO that would be awesome. Gotta hit on late round picks.

Both are complimentary players.
- Pegullaville

Sorry I misunderstood. I thought you were referencing there time together this year before he got sent down
- Michael Ghofrani

I appreciate your analytical approach to go along with your blogs. Where do you find those relative numbers ?

If he turns into another VO that would be awesome. Gotta hit on late round picks.
- mhp

Yeah, we definitely need a few of those

They can play Defense. Pilut throws huge biscuits up the middle when pressured.

His trade value will never be higher and I think he’s hit his ceiling. He’s a perfect example of one of our many surplus defenseman that has value and could be packaged to get forward help (a Center) that would make the team better.

He’s not a difference maker. Trade him and get someone who is.
- Pairo11

Like Ristolainen last night on the play many have posted about their love for...?

I mean it’s credit to Anthony Sciandra from Die By The Blade.

McCabe-Risto would be a tank move.
- Pegullaville

Well we aren't going anywhere this year again, but those 2 are brutal together.

When is Darcy gonna make a trade?
- Jinxed716

As soon as someone notices the fax machine is unplugged.

As soon as someone notices the fax machine is unplugged.
- PrinceChill

Well rumor has it they have cut staff

I appreciate your analytical approach to go along with your blogs. Where do you find those relative numbers ?
- Pegullaville

I used to go to corsica back when Manny was still running it but these days Natural stat trick is my go to.

Hockeyviz is pretty good if you want a better visual representation of rel stats.

Laine isn't a generational sniper anymore?!?
- jcragcrumple

He’s on pace for 30. Would give him 4 straight 30 goal season to open a career.

As good as Scheifele is, he’s also not Eichel.

Yeah, we definitely need a few of those
- Buff36

Looking at the drafts from 2013-17 and picks from rds 4-7, here is the list of potential players that have a shot

2017- Bryson, Weissbach
2016- Murray
2015- Borgen
2014- VO (nuff said)
2013- zip

I didn't count 2018 and '19, just seems to early to judge those picks although Kukkonen, Cronholm and Rousek do show promise.

I realize i'm a nobody around here and I don't post often, but here's a list of things i'm sick of in here - and in life in general :

"Asking for a friend". Eff you with this already

"I was told..." (Oh my God I'm so sick of that)

"but, but, but, but...." (childish)

"This."

This font : "hI I'M JaSOn bOtTeRiLl"

Sentences that start with "I mean..." (so fricken sick of that and it seems like everyone does it)

"Boomer"

The shortening of Ukka Pekka Luukkonen to 6K or UPL (stupid)

How just about every Sabre has to have a stupid nickname (ex : Skunk, 6K)

Stupid slang nowadays ("it's a bop", "stan", "basic", or other annoying social media sayings...)

Social media

And puffy vests. What good are they ? My arms are freezing in the winter - why would I wear a stupid vest coat that offers no protection ? Do people wear them because they think they look cool ? When I see someone wearing one I say "what a moron". They make you look stupid, not cool.

That is all - for now. Enjoy your day.

(back to mostly lurking)

He’s on pace for 30. Would give him 4 straight 30 goal season to open a career.

As good as Scheifele is, he’s also not Eichel.
- Pegullaville

He's on pace for the same amount of goals and 8 more points than the most disappointing 2nd overall pick in the history of the NHL, Sam Reinhart. The way I see it, either Laine is a disappointing 2nd overall pick too, or sam Reinhart is better than people give him credit for

I realize i'm a nobody around here and I don't post often, but here's a list of things i'm sick of in here - and in life in general :

"Asking for a friend". Eff you with this already

"I was told..." (Oh my God I'm so sick of that)

"but, but, but, but...." (childish)

"This."

This font : "hI I'M JaSOn bOtTeRiLl"

Sentences that start with "I mean..." (so fricken sick of that and it seems like everyone does it)

"Boomer"

The shortening of Ukka Pekka Luukkonen to 6K or UPL (stupid)

How just about every Sabre has to have a stupid nickname (ex : Skunk, 6K)

Stupid slang nowadays ("it's a bop", "stan", "basic", or other annoying social media sayings...)

Social media

And puffy vests. What good are they ? My arms are freezing in the winter - why would I wear a stupid vest coat that offers no protection ? Do people wear them because they think they look cool ? When I see someone wearing one I say "what a moron". They make you look stupid, not cool.

That is all - for now. Enjoy your day.

(back to mostly lurking)
- kritter65

U B Fd UP

Well we aren't going anywhere this year again, but those 2 are brutal together.
- Buff36

Buf, did you hear back from your Blackhawks friend on Strome yet.
Their are inconsistencies in the databases from several sites.
Looks like tha Dobber's site that was shared yesterday shows line combinations in alphabetical order, not position...although Daily Faceoff shows him at RW on L3, while Hockey Reference shows him as C with Line 2 minutes.
All over the board.

Looking at the drafts from 2013-17 and picks from rds 4-7, here is the lost of potential players that have a shot

2017- Bryson, Weissbach
2016- Murray
2015- Borgen
2014- VO (nuff said)
2013- zip

I didn't count 2018 and '19, just seems to early to judge those picks although Kukkonen, Cronholm and Rousek do show promise.
- mhp

We need some of these guys to hit, even if they become good bottom 6, are system in just so bare from all the trades.

Buf, did you hear back from your Blackhawks friend on Strome yet.
Their are inconsistencies in the databases from several sites.
Looks like tha Dobber's site that was shared yesterday shows line combinations in alphabetical order, not position...although Daily Faceoff shows him at RW on L3, while Hockey Reference shows him as C with Line 2 minutes.
All over the board.
- IonSabres

Yeah, don't know how true but he said that the Sabres are in contact about him and the other kid Kubalik, said names discussed going back are Mitts, Pilut