Brian Campbell isn't good at throwing a baseball

So our boy Brian Campbell threw out the first pitch at Wrigley a few days ago. And lets quote the great Bob Uecker on this one. "Just a bit outside"

Wait there is video?



Excellent.

Wait they let him sing too?



Oh boy. Gilbert Perrault he is not.

Have fun getting beat up in the Western Conference Brian.

I love stats

One thing I love about sports is the endless amount of stats you can use to prove or disprove a point. You could use stats to make an argument. Well except when it comes to popular opinion and "intangibles" which are overrated. If a guy really has those intangibles it should show up on the stat sheet. NHL.com has a bunch of good stats. But there is a section called RTSS stats. I have zero clue what that stands for but its a bunch of stats that are on the lower side of the score sheet. Blocked shots, Hits, Faceoff %. So I thought who on the Sabres is leading what and it came back with surprising numbers.

Hits
Guess who leads the team in Hits, thats right Paul Gaustad with 133, thats 2.25 hits a game. Our boy Pat Kaleta averages a hit more a game with 3.25 hits per game. But compared to other teams the Sabres aren't physical at all. Dustin Brown leads the league with 255 hits!

Blocked Shots
Nickel and Dime are way ahead of everyone on the blocked shot category, Lydman with 104 Tallinder with 94. Campbell is third with 69. Hey you're plus minus might be better if you got on the ice and stopped a few shots soupy. Of the regular 6 defensemen, only Kalinin is lower in blocked shots per game. Tallinder has the highest number, followed by Lydman and Spacek. Mmm the European defensemen seem more willing to go down then North Americans.

Missed Shots
This I assume is the stat of guys who can't hit the broadside of a barn, and yes your guess is right Thomas Vanek leads the team with 65 missed shots. But Jochen Hecht is right behind him with 62. Our man Campbell is 4th with 59. But Alexander the Great leads the league with an incredible 154 Missed shots. The next guy has 90. Does anyone else shoot the puck for the Caps?

Giveaways
Now this surprised me. Toni Lydman leads this category with 51, then Roy and Vanek of course, then Campbell. Then you look down the list and Nolan Pratt only has 10 giveaways, I knew he played solid, but that is concrete proof. Defensemen leading this category is a concern for me.

Takeaways
Hey our boy D Roy is up there in giveaways, but he tops the list in Takeaways with 31. Compared to the league stats, 31 is low to lead the team Datsyuk leads the league with 105 takeaways.

Faceoff %
I think this is a issue with the Sabres, winning the draw. Gaustad used to have great numbers now hes hovering at 50%, along with Roy. But come playoff time winning draws in your zone is critical. Thats why if they make a trade they need a great faceoff man. Thats why if they trade Campbell to the Blackhawks, Id say throw in Yanic Perrault in the deal. Hes at 65%. I think with a couple decent wingers he'd put up more points as well.

So taking these intangible stats as i shall call them. Lets compare Phaneuf and Campbell since he wants similar money.

Hits
Phaneuf 163
Campbell 52

Blocked shots
Phaneuf 61
Campbell 69

Missed shots
Phaneuf 86
Campbell 53

Giveaways
Phaneuf 40
Campbell 37

Points
Phaneuf 44
Campbell 41

So Campbell isn't as physical, but gives the puck away less, blocks more shots and misses the net less. Plus they score similar amount of points. Uh oh, maybe he is worth 6 million a year.

We will judge years from now.

This offseason Darcy Regier was crucified by letting both Briere and Drury go. They wanted Drury and Drury didn't want them. Briere would have stayed but got too much money and it was obvious management didn't want to pay. They called it the worst offseason ever, and it was the end of things for the Sabres. And with the start of the year and the Christmas New Years hangover, the critics seemed correct. However, the Sabres adjusted to their new situation and have come through all the emotions to acceptance. With the Sabres heading to NY and face Drury, Jagr and the Rangers, lets look at the stats of the big 2.

Drury 59 games 18 goals 22 assists 40 points and -11. Salary 7.1 Million

Briere 57 games 21 goals 33 assists 54 points and -20. Salary 10 Million

Those are decent numbers, but not what you would you would expect when you pay 17 Million dollars. Plus Philly is in 6th and the Rangers are in 9th in the conference. Philly spent a lot of money to get better with trades and now are in a bad stretch. The reason why Philly struggles? Simon Gagne is out of the lineup. I did a little research and found when Gagne is in the lineup the Flyers are 16-8-1 and are 14-14-4 without him. So Danny isn't really the difference, he helps, but Simon Gagne is the Flyers. And is Drury really the difference for the Rangers? He seems like he is the guy to groom Nigel Dawes. But what about the Sabres who are the guys taking over their positions?

Jason Pominville 16 Goals 35 Assists 51 points +11. Salary .925 Million

Jochen Hecht 17 goals 20 Assists 37 Points +6. Salary 2.350 Million

These guys have stepped in and stepped up. Jason can play both Power Play and Penalty Kill. And Jochen is a excellent two way forward and a two time captain this year. Mmm a leader and a two way player. Sounds familiar. They are paying 3.3 Million dollars for similar production and actually more complete play. You can add Derek Roy to this list as well

21 Goals 25 assists 46 Points +9 Salary 3 Million

The Sabres aren't a team that can win with a couple superstars, they have to play as a team, and thats why they can't go and overpay for 1 or 2 guys. Sure they are guys you can market a team around. But you can market around Ryan Miller, Derek Roy, Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville and others. This is why I am in the trade Brian Campbell group. I don't think you can pay him 6 million dollars, when he isn't your best defenseman. He might be 4th best. He has offensive skill, but is that worth 6 million? Especially when Lydman and Tallinder in a couple years combined will make that money. Darcy signed them to longer deals for a reason. Thats why he knows he has a valuable asset he can use to build for the future.

Can they make a run this year? Sure. Can they win the cup? No. Thats why you need to look ahead to succeed rather then being stuck in the present.

The LQ reacts to Brian Campbell waiting for Free Agency

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(The LQ enters his office and starts sifting through the Buffalo News. And stops dead on the front of the sports page.)


LQ: WHAT! Brian Campbell is cutting off negotiations? Who in the hell does he think he is? No one stops talking to the LQ until the LQ wants to stop talking to him. DORIS GET ME CAMPBELL!!!

Doris: I think hes at practice sir

LQ: Practice for what? Sucking? They haven't won since before Christmas. That looks bad for the LQ.

Doris: Well I'm sure after practice he'll have time.

LQ: Probably not, he probably has some dumb commercial to film. Look at him, what a yahoo. Hey why isn't the LQ all over the TV, I'm a handsome guy. Who wouldn't want to buy the product the LQ endorses.

Doris: I like Brian, he's always nice to me

LQ: Shutup Doris no one cares what you think, this "team player" is trying to extort money from us! Doesn't he know we have a budget around here and no one player is above that system. We WANT TO BE THE PATRIOTS OF THE NHL. You know create a uniform no one really likes, win often, then let our stars walk when they are paid too much money. We have a system.

Doris: Um the Patriots win Superbowls

LQ: DORIS! How many times have I told you not interrupt the LQ when he's on a roll!

Doris: Sorry sir

LQ: You'll be if we have to pay this red headed clown. We'll probably have to lay off staff. Or outsource stuff to India. Mr Golisano didn't become a Billionaire by overpaying people.

Doris: We'll I think it would be a good sign for the rest of the players and free agents that you would pay top dollar for guys.

LQ: Doris you.just.don't.get.it Thats not what we are about. The Sabres are about extracting as much possible while paying the least we can. Why do you think you work 50 hours for no pay?

Doris: Well Um, why do I work here again?

LQ: People just can't leave the LQ.

Doris: Brian Campbell does

LQ: DORIS!!!!!!!