Maybe the Sabres like Bryson better

GM sets the roster.
Coach determines lineup.
If the GM hasn't called up Pilut, how does the Coach play him?
- IonSabres

That's a good point, but I would hope the coach/gm discuss players and systems.

Pilut didnt do anything that great to break the line up.

Bogo brought the size and "toughness" that pilut couldnt

Reality is, he's just not that great of an NHL defenseman, despite his AHL accolades.

I disagree that he was worse than a few others employed by this team in 19-20.
- TheSabresTaco

Well put. I liked Pilut...he was OK. But what I definitely noticed - quite frequently - was how easily he could be shoved around by the forwards trying to claim a spot in front of our net. Pilut was small, and it showed.

Its botts defense, the trade deadline is a good time to unload a veteran d , after being eliminated from stanley cup contention.

Probably was the plan, from the start of the season.

Scandella trade was premature
Bogo waived was postmature
- Boss34

I can get on board with the Scandella opinion, because he was actually a useful top 6 with a salary that could be fit.

With Bogo, and like I've said before, you know exactly what other GMs are thinking. Are they even willing to take half the salary for him? The book is written on Bogo, there are no surprises. No hidden value. He is what he is and his play is degrading already. He could have easily been waived and it wouldn't change the opinion of a single GM in the league. His value was null at his contract. No one wanted to commit 2.6M (minimum) to him, as expected. There is no justifiable excuse that he should have been on this roster once healthy.

Well put. I liked Pilut...he was OK. But what I definitely noticed - quite frequently - was how easily he could be shoved around by the forwards trying to claim a spot in front of our net. Pilut was small, and it showed.
- kritter65

👍

On a Sabres team that was already small and being pushed around.

The only redeeming bogo qualities were:

Not being pushed around
Having size and strength
Nhl veteran leadership- which ended with the trade request
Likeability among his teammates. Jack especially was fond of bogo.

Maybe the Sabres like Bryson better
- Buff36

I hope this for a lot of reasons. Not that I want Pilut to be a bum, but I want a success story of "The Process", Sabres version.

That's a good point, but I would hope the coach/gm discuss players and systems.

Pilut didnt do anything that great to break the line up.

Bogo brought the size and "toughness" that pilut couldnt
- Boss34

Toughness is horsesh1t without ability.

I can get on board with the Scandella opinion, because he was actually a useful top 6 with a salary that could be fit.

With Bogo, and like I've said before, you know exactly what other GMs are thinking. Are they even willing to take half the salary for him? The book is written on Bogo, there are no surprises. No hidden value. He is what he is and his play is degrading already. He could have easily been waived and it wouldn't change the opinion of a single GM in the league. His value was null at his contract. No one wanted to commit 2.6M (minimum) to him, as expected. There is no justifiable excuse that he should have been on this roster once healthy.
- TheSabresTaco

Great post taco

I'm actually surprised a few teams wanted him after he was waived. Tampa paid I believe 1.6 , which was what buffalo owed him.

Tampa is lacking the things bogo brings.

Size and toughness of d
Good teammate

Wonder how he looks after this long break?

Maybe the Sabres like Bryson better
- Buff36

He certainly played better last season...

Well put. I liked Pilut...he was OK. But what I definitely noticed - quite frequently - was how easily he could be shoved around by the forwards trying to claim a spot in front of our net. Pilut was small, and it showed.
- kritter65

The analytics crowd can't grasp this concept and it irrationally bothers me.

Yes, he can move the puck. Moving the puck does not make you a good defenseman, it makes you a good puck mover.

Maybe the Sabres like Bryson better
- Buff36

The Sabres are also typically wrong

Toughness is horsesh1t without ability.
- TheSabresTaco

Toughness is still part of hockey.

Why did the Lightning sign him otherwise?

Certainly not playoff experience

He was playing a regular shift for Tampa before the nhl pause.

The analytics crowd can't grasp this concept and it irrationally bothers me.

Yes, he can move the puck. Moving the puck does not make you a good defenseman, it makes you a good puck mover.
- TheSabresTaco

😀

Great post taco

I'm actually surprised a few teams wanted him after he was waived. Tampa paid I believe 1.6 , which was what buffalo owed him.

Tampa is lacking the things bogo brings.

Size and toughness of d
Good teammate

Wonder how he looks after this long break?
- Boss34

Like I said, no surprises. Yes, he's tough, but he constantly makes his team worse. Even Tampa, and they're one of the best. I believe in toughness, but I don't believe in toughness without ability.

DBTB pondered what makes a good defenseman on twitter. And if you're a good dman if you can pass the puck.

It was one of their dumber moments.
- TheSabresTaco

Unless I misread the tweets, there was more to it then the bolded above.

I believe they also discussed shot suppression and shot quality against as factors.

The Sabres are also typically wrong
- mattmoulson

Bryson was the better player last year.

Toughness is still part of hockey.

Why did the Lightning sign him otherwise?

Certainly not playoff experience

He was playing a regular shift for Tampa before the nhl pause.
- Boss34

That's a great (frank)ing question. He's bad, and he proved it on both teams this year. 1.6M is a whole lot for what he provides, which is solely, undoubtedly, depth.

Tampa offered him regular playing time on a playoff team. At an amazing deal for him. He brings elements the other players don't bring, including IQ and skill.

Unless I misread the tweets, there was more to it then the bolded above.

I believe they also discussed shot suppression and shot quality against as factors.
- kingcong39

They did indeed. And while those are admirable traits, pairings and competition play a key part in that. And he was caved in against good players.

Keeping the puck out of the deep end is important. Moving the puck, once you have it, is important.

But what about if the other guy has it and charges the net. What if you can't stop him from crashing the net? Are you still a good defenseman? Or are you simply a good puck mover?

DBTB pondered what makes a good defenseman on twitter. And if you're a good dman if you can pass the puck.

It was one of their dumber moments.
- TheSabresTaco

The existing Adv Stats doesn't provide enough clear info to be an effective tool specific to Dmen, IMO. Further, too much focus is applied to the offensive aspect, and it is difficult to assign "responsibility" between a Goalie and a Skater.
I.e. when a goal is scored against, the data does not assign responsibilty to a specific player ...so when Hutton loses the puck because he couldn't track it properly all players suffer even though they may have played their part perfectly.

Reality is, he's just not that great of an NHL defenseman, despite his AHL accolades.

I disagree that he was worse than a few others employed by this team in 19-20.
- TheSabresTaco

Can you expand further on the above sir, as those two thoughts seem to oppose each other.

The existing Adv Stats doesn't provide enough clear info to be an effective tool specific to Dmen, IMO. Further, too much focus is applied to the offensive aspect, and it is difficult to assign "responsibility" between a Goalie and a Skater.
I.e. when a goal is scored against, the data does not assign responsibilty to a specific player ...so when Hutton loses the puck because he couldn't track it properly all players suffer even though they may have played their part perfectly.
- IonSabres

I agree here. I also agree that Pilut was not given enough time to refine his shortcomings, especially at the expense of Zach (frank)ing Bogosian.

Can you expand further on the above sir, as those two thoughts seem to oppose each other.
- kingcong39

Luke Adam

Like I said, no surprises. Yes, he's tough, but he constantly makes his team worse. Even Tampa, and they're one of the best. I believe in toughness, but I don't believe in toughness without ability.
- TheSabresTaco

That's what surprised me the most.

8th defenseman on the sabre= 6th best tampa defenseman

New environment- new results?

He's terrible, but their was a market or 2 for him

That's a good point, but I would hope the coach/gm discuss players and systems.

Pilut didnt do anything that great to break the line up.

Bogo brought the size and "toughness" that pilut couldnt
- Boss34[/quote]

Theoretically yes. In reality, it was very, very clear Bogo wasn't himself, he purposely stayed away from physical play, unlike in past years.

Toughness is still part of hockey.

Why did the Lightning sign him otherwise?

Certainly not playoff experience

He was playing a regular shift for Tampa before the nhl pause.
- Boss34

Depth plus Coburn, Hedman, and McDonough were dealing with injuries.