SalarySwishSalarySwish
Avatar

Shootica

Member Since
Feb. 15, 2017
Favourite Team
Buffalo Sabres
2nd Favourite Team
Vancouver Canucks
Forum Posts
504
Posts per Day
0.2
Forum: Armchair-GMJun. 15, 2021 at 3:15 p.m.
Thread: Elliotte Friedman links Devils to two divisional cap dumps
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Shootica</b></div><div>Lance kinda missed the mark there anyway. Carrick can be replaced by pretty much any cheap vet #7D. He's just depth.

From what I can gather, the Devils' larger problem at RD is that they have nobody signed for term and not many right shot defensemen in the prospect pipeline. And Risto doesn't really help with that unless they're convinced that they can get an extension done with him while he's there. Jersey fans, please correct me if I'm mistaken.</div></div>

The RD depth issue is with Subban up in a year and Severson up in two years.
But RD is not what they are trying to fill as much as trying to find a top-4 defensive d-man, who can break the puck out to possession forwards.
Ty Smith can play RD, Kevin Bahl can play RD...their most likely draft choices (Hughes and Clarke) were both RDs this year.

Connor Carrick is a non-factor...and his departure doesn't create a hole in lineup.
And Risto is not a defensive d-man, doesn't help possession, has low breakout success rate and is pending UFA.

This is simply a beat reporter getting taken for a walk.
Forum: Armchair-GMJan. 8, 2021 at 4:46 p.m.
Thread: One trade
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Skyraider112</b></div><div>WellNot a perfect player and he certainly has holes in his game (what player doesn't?). </div></div> <div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Shootica</b></div><div>I've thought about this idea before and I wouldn't swap Risto for Ghost, even with the pick added in.</div></div> <div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Hammerwise</b></div><div>I don't think you know very much about Ghost to make those observations. </div></div> What a great conversation.
I can hardly believe I read three different comments and not one negative remark.
Let's all agree to agree that there were many good points.
Let's all agree that the trade makes sense for both the Sabres and Flyers RHD for LHD.
Let's all agree that Gostisbehere injury made last season look really bad.
Let's all agree that at the start of '18-'19 Fletcher would have asked for first with Ristolainen.
Let's all agree that neither will be in the running for the best defensive defenseman soon.
Finally, let's all agree that they are strong offensive defensemen.

My goodness I cannot believe a contributor from another team recognizes this "IMO Buff has two young studs, one at RD, with serviceable vets in Montour and Miller at RD, with McCabe and Dahlin at LD." Most Buffalo fans think the Buffalo defense sucks. You my friend nailed it perfectly.

It would certainly make an interesting trade.
IMO Fletcher would want it to be straight up and Adams would want more.
Adams seems to be willing to take a chance and he may make this trade to balance the RHD with the LHD, I would not make this trade.

Great post, great discussion, great comments, loved reading all of them.

My word, what is this world coming to, my second rant of the day.
Forum: Armchair-GMJan. 8, 2021 at 9:56 a.m.
Forum: Armchair-GMJan. 8, 2021 at 4:45 a.m.
Thread: One trade
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Shootica</b></div><div>I've thought about this idea before and I wouldn't swap Risto for Ghost, even with the pick added in.

Risto has looked in over his head on the top pairing while playing some of the heaviest minutes in the league. Ghost has looked in over his head while playing very sheltered offensive third pairing minutes.

With Risto, I think dropping him down to the second pairing and easing up his level of competition will work wonders for his game. And we should be able to do that when Dahlin solidifies himself as our #1 defender.

With Ghost, you can't give him easier minutes than he was already playing last year, and he was playing poorly enough in that role to get benched. You're really just hoping that he's able to fix whatever is broken and turn his career around.

With both of them having similar contracts, I'll put my money on Risto.</div></div>

I don't think you know very much about Ghost to make those observations. Firstly in 2019, he was injured off and on for the first half of the season, and was supplanted to 3rd pairing, (mainly because of his nagging injuries, but more so do to the fact that Philly had 5 guys who could carry the puck and had some offensive flair, 2 of which were Provorov and Sanheim at 1LD and 2LD). And the sheer fact he was still playing through his injuries, was down to his talent.
The injury got worse and Ghost went on IR, bringing in stay at home Hagg and then the team caught fire, going from 8th in east to challenge for 1st and winning the round robin. Once injury free, with the team gelling and Hagg's style the better fit, there just wasn't the place for Ghost (who's game was replaced by 4 other flyers dmen who are 30+ pt guys).
You can say Ghost was benched, but it had little to do with his play and everything to do with the teams play with the stay at home/shot blocking/hitting Hagg (who is a .25 pts a game guy) in his place. The games Ghost did play in the playoffs he looked solid, albeit unspectacular. SO Ghost, with injuries the past 2 years, 3rd pairing time (and PHI plays a PP with only 1 dman, Provorov or Niskanen), struggled, but most PHI fans will point at injuries/minutes/situations and not a drop off in play.

Overall, it comes down to whether you think Ghost is the 50+ pt guy he was his 1st four seasons, or the guy whose been supplanted by team needs and injuries the last 2 years.

Risto is just 1 yr younger and paid 900k more for 1 less year, those things are about even. But forgetting Ghosts offensive output his first 4 years AND the ridiculous +/- of Risto is a bit unfair. Risto has been consistent, but thats not entirely a complement in regards to his defensive progression, whereas with Ghost you can point at team depth and inujuries for a definitive change.
Risto might look better in 2nd pair minutes, but again its about fit for the team. The hope of Risto becoming a more reliable and better defender is almost the risk that Ghost, injury free, will be able to return to what made him a 50+ pt guy for 4 yrs. Sometimes the singularly best player is not the best fit.

Ghost is the bigger risk, no doubt, whether he can return to his 40+ pt capability with pp and 2nd pairing minutes. This trade above favors the Flyers, but not by much.

I proposed it as it fits what both teams need more. IMO Buff has two young studs, one at RD, with serviceable vets in Montour and Miller at RD, with McCabe and Dahlin at LD. Im not saying BUF is at a win now, but you don't promise Eichel help and sign Hall to a 1 yr without a bit of urgency or change. A BUF defense of Dahlin-Miller, Ghost-Montour, McCabe-Joki looks better to me than with Risto in it and McCabe on 2nd Pair and Joki playing LD.
Forum: Armchair-GMJan. 7, 2021 at 10:13 p.m.
Thread: Apparently there is some loophole where leafs could spend 5m over at the TDL
If you want to calculate it yourself do it like this (basically I don't want to calculate it but I can give you the outline of how to easily):

<strong>Step 1</strong> - Divide the cap ceiling (81.5M) by the numbers of days in this season (January 13th to April something). <em>*this is the maximum cap you can spend per day*</em>
<strong>Step 2</strong> - Divide the teams cap post camp roster (or what you expect it to be) by the number of days in the season. <em>*this is the cap your team is paying per day*</em>
<strong>Step 3</strong> - Subtract your teams "cap per day" from the "maximum cap per day." <em>*this will give you the amount of cap space you accrue per day*</em>
<strong>Step 4</strong> - Take the "accrued cap per day" from <strong>Step 3</strong> and multiply it by the amount of days until the Trade Deadline. <em>*this will give you the total accrued cap space by the TDL*</em>

This will give your total accrued cap space by the TDL
*should be noted that this assumes zero injuries and zero roster changes
Forum: Armchair-GMJan. 3, 2021 at 4:22 p.m.
Thread: Montreal-Buffalo Trade
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Shootica</b></div><div>You're probably right. I think he's pretty equivalent to Jake McCabe in talent, but he would be an upgrade to our left side.

But I agree with <a href="/users/Bdawwwgy1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@Bdawwwgy1</a>, he is overpaid in my opinion. He just isn't a guy I'd want to be tied to for four years at his price.

There's two big problems with this, and they both go back to the fact that he was a UFA this offseason. One, if Buffalo wanted him at that price, we could have just signed him ourselves. And two, teams don't just sign players and immediately trade them. It's a huge abuse of trust.</div></div>

I think Edmundson was acquired and signed before FA opened so he was not available for the Sabres to sign if they wanted to.

I know it is not usual for players to be signed then traded, it does happen though occasionally. Like I said in the discription though it would only happen if Romanov took a top 4 role right out of camp.
Forum: Armchair-GMJan. 1, 2021 at 11:37 p.m.
Thread: Line thoughts after todays practice
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Jdfitz77</b></div><div>I see what you’re trying to do with spreading the scoring onto 3 lines... and i generally agree
But i just have no faith in Tage in the top6
He’s barely looked good in the AHL, &amp; he just can’t skate well enough to play with Eichel &amp; Hall

Also....
what’s the thinking in having all those young guys on the taxi squad???
They need to be playing so they can develop, NOT sitting in the press box nightly
Idk why ppl keep doing that here? Makes no sense</div></div>

I actually like Tage on the top line... IF he can play in the corners. Girgensons would be another good choice for the top line, but in theory Tage would be better because he’s faster and more skilled. All you really want him to do is fight for pucks in the corners and get them to Eichel or Hall in the slot. Keep those guys in scoring/playmaking positions, not in the corners. Kunitz served in this role for Crosby and was great at it.
Forum: Armchair-GMDec. 21, 2020 at 10:35 a.m.
Thread: No Moves and 5 Man Taxi Squad
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>sabres89</b></div><div>I think rieder is in. He is here to help the pk. I could be wrong, but it wouldn't shock me if it cost Thompson or okposo. Remember our pk was historically bad. Also, ruotsalainen is gonna make a push for Thompsons spot.</div></div>

<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Shootica</b></div><div>I could definitely see Rieder cracking the lineup for exactly that reason. If Thompson comes into camp looking flat, I think that's what happens, but I think Thompson comes in and impresses. The team has confidence in him, he looked good before injury last year, and he's done all the right things in the off-season.

I think Ruuts can definitely make a push, but the fact that he's waivers exempt and Thompson isn't really works against him. And I think with him coming from Liiga, they'll see the AHL as a natural development step rather than just jumping straight to the NHL. But I could be wrong.</div></div>

I could see these players in the line up.
Good job.

Some random thoughts, facts and opinions.
Arttu could fit nearly anywhere in the line up:
https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-prospect-rewind-arttu-ruotsalainen/c-317003272
He can win faceoff, as well as PK and PP.

Outside of the 2018-'19 season Eakin's stats over the last four years are not much different than Larsson, If he is the third line center Buffalo will not be a playoff contender.

Rieder had a record tying playoff, but other than that his last 3 years are much below Zemgus and Kyle who he would need to better than to be in the line up.

Thompson bulked up and he was the Amerks best player in the 2019 playoffs, the best young Sabre in the prospect challenge and the best Amerk during his stint last year.
Big players take longer to develop, few players are bigger than he.

Finally, the players were not the problem with the PK, it was the system.
Just as the players stood around on the PP, the players were too passive killing penalties.
They let the other teams set up without challenging the puck carrier.
If that continues this year, new personnel will not change the results.
Forum: Armchair-GMDec. 17, 2020 at 7:05 p.m.