Taro T

Muckler had been on record that the team was going to change directions. And IIRC Mogilny was believed to be on the trade block, but NOBODY expected him to be traded for a handful of magic beans and a used puck bag.

Possible. But could easily see somebody taking a chance on him. Comrie is more likely to clear waivers IMHO even though would personally rather have him backing up Levi than UPL should it come to 1 of the 2 of them backing him up.

Absolutely hated that trade when it went down and the other key pieces leaving as well like Hawerchuk. Looked like the Sabres were throwing in the towel for the long term, not just a single season. But the reality was the Sabres had the third highest payroll in the league and pretty much nothing to show for it.

Well, depends strictly on how we're defining nice and crucial. The Bruins would have been comfortably in a playoff spot had they had Comrie or UPL as the backup to Ullmark. No ####in' way they set RS records for W's and P's with either of those 2 backing him up. But they didn't NEED to set RS records if the goal is a SC championship. And even with that much better backup who got regular usage during the RS, the Bruins went back to conventional wisdom that in the playoffs you run your #1 all the way until after Ullmark had played way more in a row than he'd done since November and it was too late for the now out of a rhythm Swayman to bail them out. So, they definitely would've run Ullmark to the end in the playoffs having one of those other 2 backing Linus up. Heck, Linus might even have been more used to getting a bunch of games in a row if he had a lesser backup and would've been more prepared to run the table so to speak in that case. Really do expect that IF Levi plays the way we're all realistically hoping he can play (meaning playing at the level he's shown so far, not turning into the current Saros or Shesterkin at the mere age of 21) AND the D is as improved as is likely from both Dahlin and Power being 1 year closer each to their peaks, Lyubushkin being a year into the system &/or Jokiharju being consistently a 3rd pairing guy and not dragging down Power, and the addition of Clifton AND they play actual defense in their own end that the team will make the playoffs even stuck with Comrie &/or UPL as the backup provided they show a bit of improvement. And, none of those IF's are remotely unattainable on paper. (One or all could be unattainable in practice, doubt it but possible, but until they play the games, paper is all we have to go on .) So, in that regard, it would be NICE to have better, but not necessarily CRUCIAL because once they get to the playoffs, they AREN'T playing the backup.

That's the thing. It ISN'T a knock on Levi to say the Sabres should have a proven vet to pair with him. Even if he plays 50 games at a high level, there are still 32 games that it would be nice to have better than last year's UPL and Comrie to be the backstop in. And if Levi does succumb to the "21 year old goalies aren't ready for the NHL on a night in night out basis" adage; well then it's not just nice but a necessity to get better play out of the "backup" position. MIGHT Comrie &/or UPL be better this year than last and even so much better to be good enough? Yes. But it is far from a given. (Pretty sure it's a given, should he stay healthy, that Comrie WILL be better than last year. But will it be good enough to withstand the rigors of being forced to be the #1 for a spell? Again, it's possible, but far from a given.)

Which is why the thread title is "favorite" Sabre trades not "best" Sabre trades. And as discussed in the OP it really is meant to be geared towards bringing a guy (or several) into the fold rather than punting them into the sun.

That was another one that was pretty cool when it happened. They ended up getting Chicago to keep 1/2 of his salary (actual salary, no cap yet) plus they got Dumont in the deal. And all for freakin' Grosek. Was pretty happy with getting Mike Grier the 1st time too. For Jakub Klepis. Was actually pretty happy with landing Klepis for Varada because the Otters were really good at drafting F's at that time, but he never panned out and Grier was a huge part of that magical '05-'06 team.

Would be cool if he could. Would mean he's gotten better than Jost, which would be a good thing.

Personally, expect UPL is FINALLY starting to get comfortable with the surgically altered hips. He hasn't been as bad at crossbar shots and even 5 hole this last season as he'd been in the recent past. (But, yes, his glove hand is definitely below average.) So some of those issues you've mentioned COULD get cleared up, but it definitely isn't a given they will. And also believe that all those other issues besides the glove are products of UPL being poor at anticipating plays. It's something that he CAN and should be able to get better at with experience, but it remains to be seen whether he can get good enough at that to allow his size to be an advantage and not a disadvantage (necessarily slower reaction time than a smaller goalie would have when they both twig onto what's going to happen at the same time; but if he's anticipated the play and is set there really are very little areas of the net that a shooter can try for). Your point about Levi coming out high is important as the Sabres need to watch the backdoor and also the below the goalline to the slot pass MUCH better than they currently do because those both will tend to be a prime way to beat Levi (backdoor, because he'll either be forced to make a highlight reel save or will be beat badly; below the line to the slot because there will be a lof of room to the far side before Levi can get out to take the angle back down). Let the kid take the shot and worry about taking away the passing lanes forcing him to move. Even just creating a slight momentary delay in that pass will typically be enough to allow Levi's athleticism to make the acrobatic save we saw (your Rags example being a prime example) several times over just 7 games.

Liked the Drury trade, but didn't love it. Because had always liked Reinprecht and was pretty happy when the Sabres announced they'd traded for HIM. And then they immediately go and send him to Calgary. Definitely a mixed feelings trade as would've preferred somebody else going out the door on that one. But it worked out very well until that fateful day.

True, but didn't know anything about Robert at the time and Shack was a character. Ended up ecstatic about the trade, but at the time wasn't overly psyched about it.

Yes, it was. But had you read the fine print, this thread is for players that CAME to the Sabres via trade, not players that left. So, the bringing in of Tuch would fit the bill (if in fact that was what you were really happy with).

2 more great ones. Was surprised Darcy was able to get Barnes for Barnaby. Always liked Barnes as a Swamp Cat and a Pen.

The Sabres traded FOR Eichel? Interesting.

Good f'n call.

We have a pretty cool thread about who we hated to see go out the door the most from the Sabres through the years. But who were your favorite guys brought in via trade. Mine were: LaFontaine. Couldn't stand Turgeon and absolutely thought LaFontaine was one of the top 5 players in the entire league. That they pulled that one off was incredible. Hasek. Had Chicago played him rather than Belfour against the Pens, they might've been Stanley Cup champs. Killer pedigree, just could never get the dinosaurs coaching him to give him a break. Didn't expect him to be the best goalie of all time when the trade was made, but DID expect him to be an all-star caliber goalie. Hawerchuk. Couldn't stand Housely and thought Ducks was at least a top 30 player in the league and possibly top 10. Absolutely loved that one. Briere. Thought he was really good as a power play specialist in Arizona. Never impressed by Gratton. Loved the thought of what he MIGHT become in Buffalo. At a minimum, they needed somebody that could help the PP. And Briere would do that. Anything beyond that would be (and was) gravy. Zhitnik. Thought he was LA's 2nd best D-man and thought his ceiling would be way closer to Rob Blake's than it actually was. Plus, he had one of the, if not the, best hockey names of all-time. (Lame reason to love a trade, but still loved it. Still regret never getting a Zhitnik sweater.) So who were you stoked to see play in a Sabres uni after watching them play for somebody else?

LaFontaine SHOULD've been the Hart winner on the Island the year that Bourque and Messier nearly tied for that honor. The games he was out, the Aisles lost and they won most of the games he played. There probably was never a more glaring instance of how "valuable" to a team a guy was. And the Sabres got him for Turgeon (yes, there were other pieces out the door and coming back to make the whole thing balance) but it really was as far as pieces that truly mattered Pete for Patty. That, bringing in Hasek, bringing in Hawerchuk, bringing in Zhitnik (the best hockey name ever and he was a Sabre), and bringing in Briere were my 5 favorite trades in their entire history. (MHO. Clearly YMV. 😉) Hillier was nothing. But Wood was good. And McLlwain was a bigger loss than Hogue. Hogue was a whiny primadonna that had the audacity to actually accuse the Sabres of having an anti-French Canadian bias. Yes, the team that has drafted 2 forwards 1st overall in their entire history and coincidentally both of them were French Canadians, the team whose most famous line ever was the FRENCH Connection, the team that traded away their captain to obtain Joclyn Guevremont, the team that overpaid for Real (Buddy) Cloutier, yes THAT team was run by people who hated French Canadians and played in a city full of anti-French Canadian bigots. Go #### yourself Benoit.

Was going to give the post the "thumbs up" but as a respectable (former) Buffalonian cannot give the "thumbs up" if it might be misconstrued as advocating for pineapple on pizza. 😉

Fair enough. But do Belgians do weird things to their pizza like the French do? By weird things mean stuff like putting a sunny side up egg on top of a pizza. If the answer is 'yes,' will likely take the recommendation for vending machine pizza with a grain of salt. 😉 🍻

Presuming Adams doesn't upgrade the goaltending from what it is currently the question becomes which do you want for the backup role; do you want the guy with the higher floor but lower (and likely significantly lower) ceiling or do you want the younger guy that still MAY be improving who has the significantly lower floor but higher ceiling. Personally, am with you and would rather have the guy with the higher floor. The idea being that he should be primarily getting the easier starts so him not giving up the horrible 5 hole goal that starts a rally against is more important than him not giving up the blocker side goal that is considered a "good" goal even though he'll give up more of those than an actual good goalie would. Want the backup that doesn't give up the killer goal. And weak stuff going in along the ice (whether post or 5 hole) seems more frequently to be a killer than a misplayed glove save (which the other guy has happen too often also). Comrie almost never gives up that goal along the ice.

Not sure why, but your post reminded of this gem.

That's good. But Starseed is better. MHO. YMMV. And the title track from that album is probably this kid's favorite:

Might actually try to see that one in the theatre.

LaPaloma's in Alden IMHO was the best. The crust was absolutely perfect. Light, airy, with a crsipness at the bottom and slightly sweet. Complemented the sauce and cheese so well. If they used cup and char pepperoni the whole thing would've been perfect. Santino's in Elma is excellent too.

Can a slow goalie be good? Sure. Ben Bishop comes to mind. Does an athletic goalie have an advantage? Absolutely. 😉