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Today, BUF parted ways with GM Jason Botterill. Let's take a look back the Sabres' final season with GMJB.
BUF leaned "dull" throughout the year, usually not allowing much quality against and slowly creating less and less quality for themselves.
https://www.chartinghockey.ca/daily-team-charts/
BUF leaned "dull" throughout the year, usually not allowing much quality against and slowly creating less and less quality for themselves.
https://www.chartinghockey.ca/daily-team-charts/
"Luck" wasn't much of a factor along the way. At 5v5, shooting hung around league average, though the early saves boost eroded as the season went on.
Generally, BUF kept opponents a little to the outside, allowing below-avg quality shots throughout the year. But BUF relied increasingly on worse and worse shots for themselves, finishing with the fifth-lowest avg xG per shot taken.
After some very positive early results, BUF headed to the dull side in goal results at 5v5 too. The big, consistent trend is that this team couldn't score, which undercut their general ability to limit goals against.
Okay, this is supposed to be a thread about BUF but just watch DET on this one.
This shows expectation vs results. On the y-axis, it's goals saved vs expectation. On the x-axis, goals scored vs expectation.
Early on, BUF was enjoying plus rates in both. Interestingly, they continued outscoring expectation all season long.
But the saves...they dried up.
Early on, BUF was enjoying plus rates in both. Interestingly, they continued outscoring expectation all season long.
But the saves...they dried up.
Heading into 2020, BUF seemed to have settled into average-ish performance, which was an improvement over seasons past.
But the season's final stretch was rough on BUF.
But the season's final stretch was rough on BUF.
After embracing a conservative style, the Sabres staggered into March, picking up pace and allowing more and more chances against. Fair chance things were about to get even uglier in BUF if they had played out their schedule.
https://www.chartinghockey.ca/long-range-xg-trends/
https://www.chartinghockey.ca/long-range-xg-trends/
Eichel's a team-carrying star.
Skinner, Reinhart, and Olofsson look good in the top-9.
Dahlin/Jokiharju are good starts on DEF.
But BUF needs help in goal (UPL?), solutions all over a patchy roster, and need to nail their 1st rd pick in a tricky range.
Anyway, good luck, BUF.
Skinner, Reinhart, and Olofsson look good in the top-9.
Dahlin/Jokiharju are good starts on DEF.
But BUF needs help in goal (UPL?), solutions all over a patchy roster, and need to nail their 1st rd pick in a tricky range.
Anyway, good luck, BUF.
Okay, a couple more things as BUF presumably leans into roster changes over the prolonged off-season.
Ullmark wasn't great but hung around average-ish, so he's probably worth bringing back.
Hutton's mid-season, um, swoon...was brutal.
Ullmark wasn't great but hung around average-ish, so he's probably worth bringing back.
Hutton's mid-season, um, swoon...was brutal.
Krueger's returning (at least, for now?) so I'd guess BUF is intentionally keeping the pace slow.
Girgensons-Larsson-Okposo played a shutdown-ish style well, so they might be worth running back.
Olofsson-Eichel-Reinhart wasn't sharp though and may be best split up.
Girgensons-Larsson-Okposo played a shutdown-ish style well, so they might be worth running back.
Olofsson-Eichel-Reinhart wasn't sharp though and may be best split up.
The defense pairs look a lot like the forwards.
The only pair that plotted in "good" included Scandella, so that's gone. Jokiharju was able to match positively with a few different partners and Dahlin's going to be great. Risto/Montour really jam things up though.
The only pair that plotted in "good" included Scandella, so that's gone. Jokiharju was able to match positively with a few different partners and Dahlin's going to be great. Risto/Montour really jam things up though.
