Sabretooth
Registered User
You're missing my main point - this team isn't performing any worse than it was last season.
If you look at the first 10 Sabres games in 13/14, statistically there are almost no changes in terms of the number of goals scored (11 vs. 13) or points acquired (4 vs. 3). Also, early this season the opposition that they've faced has been of higher quality when compared to 13/14. Arguably, the Sabres overall have even less talent than they did a year ago (no Miller/Vanek/etc.).
The team is certainly performing worse. Goals and points are only loosely correlated with how the team is actually performing. All the possession stats show the sabres as starting much worse than last year, and its really not close.
As for opponents, maybe you forgot who we opened the season against last year?
2013: @wings, Sens, @pens, Lightning, Jackets, @Blackhawks, Wild, @Islanders, Canucks, Avalanche, (Bruins), (@Panthers), (@Lightning), (Stars), (@Rangers), (Ducks), (@Sharks), (@Kings), (@Ducks), (Kings)
2014: Jackets, Blackhawks, Ducks, @Hurricanes, Panthers, Bruins, @Ducks, @Kings, @Sharks, @Leafs, (Bruins), (@Pens), (Wings), (Habs), (Oilers), (Pens), (@Blues), (@Wild), (Leafs), (Sharks)
2013 Playoff teams: 7/10 [wings, pens, bolts, jackets, hawks, wild, avalanche], (16/20) [bruins, bolts, stars, rangers, ducks, sharks, kings, ducks, kings]
2014 teams in 2013 playoffs: 7/10 [jackets, hawks, ducks, bruins, ducks, kings, sharks], (15/20) [bruins, pens, wings, habs, pens, blues, wild, sharks]
In the first 10 games, we've played the same number of 2013 playoff teams this year as we did in the first 10 games last year. Ultimately, I don't see much of a difference between last years first 20 games (before Rolston got fired) and this year's schedule. Its about 80% the exact same opponents. This year we get the canes, panthers, leafs x2 and oilers as the non-playoff teams. Last year we had the sens, islanders, canucks, and panthers.
I'd probably give a slight edge to 2013 being the tougher schedule but the gap is so small it really doesn't matter. Both seasons started with extremely tough schedules, and both seasons the sabres played exceptionally bad against tough opponents, and who was coaching doesn't really make much of a difference on the results.
Its not that people are pulling out the pitchforks just because we're as bad as most of us realized we'd be. Its that for the past 9 months or so all we've been hearing about from some is how much better a coach Nolan would be and how hard he'd have the team playing even to the point where the mythical Nolan effect on its own would elevate the team from burried in the dirt below the cellar to out of the McDavid sweepstakes. When I pointed to the schedule and stats last year to show how Nolan wasn't performing any better than Rolston was and any differences in the results could very easily be explained just by looking at the quality of opponents, it was pretty much largely ignored. Its ironic to me now to see the schedule being used in defense of Nolan, but the results don't surprise me at all. I told you all last year how the team looked just as bad under Nolan as Rolston when they played against similar strength opponents, and the results so far this year are only confirming what the stats already showed for those who cared to look. Even add in the downgrades in the roster and its not hard at all to see and admit that yes, the team is worse than last year, so far.
If people want Nolan gone, it shouldn't be because of the results so far this year. The team is going to continue being bad regardless who the coach is. It should be because the things Nolan was supposed to bring - Hard work, no nonsense, blue collar, grind-it-out, give 100% and leave it all on the ice effort just doesn't seem to be there. And maybe the team just doesn't have that effort in them and there's nothing nolan can do to bring it out of them, but if thats the case then I think people would rather see structure and systems and proper handling and development of the youth - things that Nolan doesn't seem to bring to the table as strongly - and let say Gorges be the one to get in everyones faces and get them fired up and playing with some effort and pride. Its easy to tune out a coach, but nobody wants to let their teamates down.