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Man, Rob is obviously expected to be a spokesperson for the organization. He struggled to say any bad thing atoll.

Levi

I voted UPL worst. I didn't vote for the other two because none of them have shown to be adequate long term. UPL's flash several seasons ago combined with Adams extending him has led to this quagmire of hockey without a legitimate goalie and a seeming unwillingness (inability) to move on from him. Watching UPL in the crease is like Groundhog Day, with Sabres fans the Bill Murray character dropping the toaster in the bathtub and still waking up to "I Got You, Babe" the next morning.

He can babble all he wants...

Hasek... wait...what was the question ?

I absolutely feel he doesn’t care. What has Terry done that shows he cares? A new roof and scoreboard? Hiring people on the cheap?

You are always seeking distracting inconsequential side issues in order to avoid the ugly issue of a generation of failure. The central issue that you often refuse to face is the record. When you close your eyes you will not be able to see.

As far as stats go, there are wins, but that is more of a team stat. GAA, save percentage, and others, but Goals saved above average is the most encompassing. (Expected goals which includes the shots weighted by the location/quality of the scoring chance, +/- the actual goals allowed). Basically its not 100% perfect, but it takes into account the defense in front of the goalie making mistakes as those mistakes lead to shots that are of higher quality. So far this year, goals saved above average: Lyon +2.14 Ellis +0.19 UPL -2.33 The numbers show the performane this year favors Lyon first, Ellis 2nd, and UPL third. Now, Ellis had ONE game that was a lot worse than all of his others. Take out each goalies single worst game, and it raises Ellis the most. In terms of how reliable of a stat is it? Well, the one thing is it is a 'total' stat (meaning the more games you play, the greater the opportunity you have for a higher number), but in the past 2.5 seasons, the best in the league in this number are: Hellebuyck, Vasilevsky, Stolarz, Logan Thompson, Shesterkin, Sorokin, Gustavsson, Oettinger, and Kuemper. The worst Goalie over that time period? Georgiev. My 2nd favorite number is what is the goalies High Danger save percentage (basically, how good are you at making tough saves, like when your team in front of you had their heads in the clouds and leaves you out to dry). -The best in the league the past 3 years (minimum 50 games played over the last few years combined): Spencer Knight, Hellebuyck, and Sororkin. How do the Sabres rank this year? Lyon .800 Ellis .780, UPL .746

Is it not cool that I voted the same player for all 3 questions?

While that's true, I have two points. 1. Ruff is trying to win hockey games, not showcase a goalie for a trade. He's going to play who he thinks gives the team the best chance to win (whether he's correct or not is another story). 2. The Sabres are not fooling anyone. NHL GM's have seen UPL play, they've seen his stats, they know the size of his contract, etc. He is who he is and there are no secrets. Could another team overvalue UPL because he's 6'5", had a high draft position, and plays for a terrible defensive team? Sure. But I don't think that would have much to do with how the Sabres are acting. GM's also know Lyon's history and know that Ellis was a waiver-wire acquisition. So the Sabres aren't getting much back in a trade for any of them.

My continued theory has been that Pegula is a well-intentioned idiot. He loves his teams and is a fan of said teams but as a fan he also wants to have his hands on them like any fan would. His Sabres issue is that he trusts KA for unknown reasons and KA likely spins a grand story to protect his employment. Pegula doesn't trust the NHL's suggestions while being equally deluded into his own competence which only is reinforced by KA.

Ellis, Lyon.....UPL. If you are trying to trade a player you can't act like you have no faith in him.

I have no idea, and sadly, neither does the coaching staff. Ellis is the guy we know the least about, as he's only played a handful of NHL games. Outside of getting shelled in one or two games (which all of them have) Ellis seems to be demonstrating the most upside. He seems to have quicker reflexes and is more capable of making a clutch save. Lyon appears to be the most technically sound, but has the least upside and the least physical ability. UPL - very hard to get my head around his game. All I can say is that he rarely make the save that he isn't supposed to. If it's a breakaway, 2 on 1, guy alone in the slot, etc., the puck is as good as in the back of the net. These goals are not really the goalie's fault, as the defense allowed a bad situation, but he never rises above it and steals one. That said, based on draft status (which all of the "experts" agreed on at the time - he was not a reach by the Sabres), and one great 1/2 season at the NHL level, he SHOULD be the best of the three. He just isn't.

Yes the puck hits Tuch's glove; but yet CGY's 1st goal did the same and went directly in. Both cases had a player unintentionally on purpose touch the puck with his glove and create a goal. However that somehow equates to a hand pass for us and a "deflection" for CGY. McDavid's tying goal was not clean by any means; Draisital kicks the leg out from Lyon. If you want to say that Byram pushed him in, ok, but then shouldn't the goal where Thompson got shoved into the goalie, a while back, despite his great effort be ruled the same? Same could even be argued for the one where Benson was somewhat steered into a goalie. Then we have the Tuch and Quinn commentary which is where I always get a kick out of the all of you NHL/Ref defenders and how its obviously always the Sabres fault. You guys can hate the owner and be bitter about the playoff drought but that doesn't equal sounding less like a fan and more like you are just rooting against them. Quinn did try to fight through it; it isn't easy to keep balance when someone is trying to surf on your jersey. If the refs saw it as a flop then I have at least 2 earlier calls on us where Oilers flopped at much less. Including the call on Dahlin in the 3rd. As for Tuch, he cross-checked the guy then went over him with strength. A make-up call doesn't matter there, just call the cross-check if that's the case. They happened within 5 seconds and no puck possession had changed yet. To call a hook on that play makes zero sense seeing as Tuch's stick had literally nothing to do with the play. You can't "hook" a guy with your arm in hockey. What I'm sick of is the Sabres seemingly getting wacked with Goalie Interference calls to the letter while we see teams against us get far more leeway in similar circumstances. I'll live with a non-icing call if they can better the offside challenge 1. NO Timeout prior to asking for a challenge 2. The Offside must of occurred within 30 seconds of the goal and is voided if the opposing team gains full possession (not a touch, like a pass or attempted clear) 3. Refs have 1 minute to find this; if not the call on the ice stands

Hope so. Diggs hasn't been particulary anything to write home about the last 4-5 games; but he'll have his A game on Sunday.

Tough question to answer because IMHO UPL is adequate, even kinda good, at home but isn't close to good enough on the road. At home, especially if the team can be limiiting chances early like they often do, would go off the board and say it's UPL. On the road, one of the other 2. Expect most will say Ellis, but personally expect it's likely Lyon. They're different, but the results there are fairly similar. Just believe that Ellis playing a more controlled game gives him an edge; though can see wanting Ellis' reflexes to try to steal you a save. And, should he continue to get regular action, expect he could pass Lyon (if he hasn't already) with more experience at the NHL level.

Chemistry is very important for the success of any organization, and that certainly applies to the on-field/court/ice product of a professional sports team. Every team needs high skill guys, physical gritty guys, intellectual guys, leadership guys, younger guys, veteran guys, etc. It's getting the right mix of each that the great GMs can do. Then it's on the coach to get the best of out each individual and also out of the group. I thought Granato did very well getting the most out of individuals (lots of guys having "career years" while playing for him), but not necessarily out of the team as a whole. Ruff in the 90's got the most out of the team. Guys like Drury, Briere, Dumont, Pomminstein, etc. were not first team All-Stars, but were clutch players who worked well together as a team. Having Dominick Hasek and prime Ryan Miller certainly helped a lot, but all of those guys mentioned (and others) made a lot of clutch plays to win hockey games. Not sure I can put my finger on what's happening right now, but whatever it is, it's certainly not working.

So, does Benford track Diggs all over the field as he has with opponent's best WR's for the past 4 weeks or so?

I wouldn't but Pronman would https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6858899/2025/12/10/nhl-draft-2026-top-prospects-gavin-mckenna/

Who?

You're joking, right?