Selon Shayna Goldman, les Sabres ont encore un très long chemin à parcourir pour devenir prétendants à la coupe.
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Spiritual_Bourbon
@Sabres de Buffalo
Selon Shayna Goldman, les Sabres ont encore un très long chemin à parcourir pour devenir prétendants à la coupe.
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Spiritual_Bourbon
17 Comments
What does any of this mean?
Is this list saying we need all of these things to be a contender?
Any team with an elite center, elite winger, elite dman, elite goalie, 5 additional top 6 forwards (a total of 7 top 6 fowards), three additional top pair dman on top of the elite dman (4 top pair dmen?) wouldn’t just be a contender, they’d be an absolute dynasty powerhouse.
### Her take on what a winning roster has:
– Elite first-line center that’s among the very best players in the world.
– Elite first-line winger to support the elite center.
– Two other top-line wingers on each of the top two lines.
– Top-line center to play behind the elite center.
– Two more top-six forwards for depth in the middle six.
– Elite No. 1 defenseman.
– A second No. 1 defenseman to play behind him.
– A top-pairing defenseman to help anchor a strong second pair with the No. 2.
– Another top-pairing caliber defender to crush soft minutes on the third pair.
– A top-10 caliber starting goaltender.
### Cup Checklist Legend
– Red X: Falls below the range entirely
– Grey checkmark: Passable, but below the average champion
– Black checkmark: Above average relative to the average Cup winner
– Gold checkmark: Exceeds the range entirely
### How she scored the Sabres
A year ago the Sabres looked like a team on the rise that just needed time to cook. But this year’s stumbles raised some red flags. There were individual and team-wide offensive struggles that held Buffalo back which led to a coaching change.
There are some positives to build on — Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was a difference-maker back in net and Devon Levi could be ready to split playing time after time with Rochester. Tage Thompson started to look like himself toward the end of the year. JJ Peterka emerged as a legit top-six forward and they’ll have more offensive reinforcements if Jack Quinn is healthy this year. Plus Bowen Byram should adjust to his new team and expanded role next year. Still, even if everyone gets back on track there could still be room for another difference-maker on the wing to take this team up a notch.
#### On the 12 positions to score for next season Buffalo has:
– 1 above average player in Dahlin
– 3 passable players
– 8 players who are not even in range
Keep in mind she is basing all of this on a single metric of Game Score Value Added (GSVA), which is a gift from Dom Luszczyszyn. So take it with a grain of salt.
Good thing GSVA’s a junk stat
All it really takes to know this is true is to watch any one of the Boston Florida games. There is no way the Sabres could contend with the physicality of those two teams, and this is only the 2nd round. Let’s just focus on making the playoffs. Babysteps.
here is what she wrote: A year ago the Sabres looked like a team on the rise that just needed time to cook. But this year’s stumbles raised some red flags. There were individual and team-wide offensive struggles that held Buffalo back which led to a coaching change.
There are some positives to build on — [Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/player/ukko-pekka-luukkonen-TiDc9Ig5qAqq8MNE/) was a difference-maker back in net and Devon Levi could be ready to split playing time after time with Rochester. [Tage Thompson](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/player/tage-thompson-QJ9nNkEI4pWrRUR9/) started to look like himself toward the end of the year. [JJ Peterka](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/player/jj-peterka-22TbAkfKd8XjHGkJ/) emerged as a legit top-six forward and they’ll have more offensive reinforcements if [Jack Quinn](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/player/jack-quinn-QAYpnhYD022kzO6h/) is healthy this year. Plus [Bowen Byram](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/player/bowen-byram-4OsjPobkLpSkey0E/) should adjust to his new team and expanded role next year. Still, even if everyone gets back on track there could still be room for another difference-maker on the wing to take this team up a notch.
Which I think everyone can agree with. I think the sentiment is that KA is hoping for a 3rd line center and top line winger. We are missing the players that need to be elite, but those types of players don’t grow on trees, and the hope has to be someone we drafted can step into that role. Can JJ develop a 200 foot game? Can rosen / kulich / savoie become elite? That has to be the hope. There is only one team that can win the cup every year, and you can’t do it by spending on overpriced vets.
So her assumption is that UPL’s good season was a fluke, but that Thompson’s bad season was not. Cool model!
The team can’t even make the playoffs, of course they’re not a cup contender.
The GM doesn’t even say he wants to be a contender anymore. In his latest interviews, his new goal and measurement of success is just making the playoffs. Low bar and low expectations for the management of this team.
She forgot to add shitpost flair to her article.
I don’t need a cup contender, I’ll take getting swept in a playoff, if it means playoffs
lol if those are all the things a “contender” needs, there aren’t any contenders in the NHL. I cannot think of a single team that has 6 1st line forwards plus another 2 1st-2nd line forwards, 2 #1 D plus another 1st-2nd pairing D, and an elite goalie. Unless we’re counting all-star teams?
You’re kidding!?!?
Alright, now do vancouvers from last year to this year…… basing off one season is terrible analysis
This is a bit traditional though ultimately
Sabres could definitely develop an « ensemble cast » contender in future if things continue developing well, with the best precedent being of course… the Sabres
As good as Briere was around 2005 he only got fringe Hart voting at best so they didn’t truly have an elite player, didn’t matter tho given their awesome top 6 F among other things
I guess it’s fair that few teams win a cup with only one elite player (Dahlin)
I don’t think this means you need more to do so necessarily, but I think moreso having an underpaid star like MacKinnon for Colorado is a huge cup predictor fittingly
Edit:
Miller never was up and down even at his peak in terms of GSAA so I wouldn’t count him either
Let’s make the playoffs first… *eyeroll*
The problem with GSVA (Game Score Valued Added) in relation to the Sabres is that the statistic takes into account a player’s last three seasons overall. The Sabres are still one of the youngest teams in the NHL. Three years ago JJ Peterka played in two games the entire season. So the projected fits based on what the Athletic lays out seem way off, when it’s mostly because guys haven’t finished developed as players. I think a lot of people agree that JJ can be a Top line Winger and/or Power can be a Top Pair defenseman
I don’t understand what any of this means.