dudacek

You're just getting optimism from me today. Zach Benson, Josh Norris, Jack Quinn and Owen Power will have career years. Justin Danforth and Shane Doan's boy are going to be more popular than anyone imagined when they were acquired.

I ***** hate the Rangers and all the national ballwashing of Mike Sullivan, Adam Fox and their decrepit forward corps. Id like to see the Sabres start off by giving them a good curb-stomping that launches New York on an inexorable march to a bottom 5 finish that ends with Drury looking for a new job. Let's go Buffalo.

Well, if you want to get technical, Sabre goalies combined for 153 NHL starts last year. 😜 Don't imagine many teams have more.

Sabrespace was already taken. 😜 You guys know we're utterly predictable and the biggest bunch of curmudgeons in the Sabrehood, right?

They have pretty clearly made an organizational decision that he was starting the season in Rochester regardless.

Jesus, didn’t think Tuch would be the last man standing.

So very quietly, with the opening night rosters in place, the Sabres have come in at $2.1 million under the cap. They've spent more than 20 other teams. https://puckpedia.com/

Personally I don’t think outworking anyone is enough for this crowd any more. Or being exciting and explosive. Or thumping bodies. I don’t know that we’d even recognize those things if and when they happen. It’s only about winning enough games to make the playoffs. Anything else is meaningless.

I wonder if their thinking is kinda like some of ours: “if you’re going to use him a lot Mike, you can keep him. If not, we’ll send him down.”

Considering Lindy was talking about implementing (planned in the summer) changes during camp while he knew UPL was in doubt and Lyon was the other guy, and that there is no indication UPL is going to be out for an extended period, I kinda doubt they are suddenly changing again. I think the kinda changes he was talking about were aimed at limiting high-danger chances, which ultimately should benefit goalies of any size. But I think your premise that the system was designed with UPL in mind is a strong take. To borrow a Josh Allen-ism, UPL is exposed most when he has to play hero puck. Behind a stable, predictable system I think he can deliver starting calibre goaltending.

You’ve got it right. i was not talking about 1-way deals. I was referring to the 50 NHL contract slot limit as opposed to AHL-only deals. Typically, a team carries 2 of 23 in the NHL and 2 of 20-ish in the AHL, and some teams carry a 5th in one of the “taxi squad” slots. It’s not often an NHL team is forced to go to a 5th goalie, so they will often rely on a trade or sign an AHLer when they get into an emergency situation, like the Sabres did with Houser a few years back. Edit @DarthEbriate thanks for doing the legwork. Definitely PTOs and I’m pretty sure junior players (slide) don’t count toward the 50-contract limit.

I would say given their respective track records Georgiev was a swing with a much higher upside than Houser. As low as my opinion of him is, I can’t imagine there was a higher-upside option out there available at the price. And that includes guys like Reimer. Lyon already had “safe” covered and “safe” would likely still be available come October.

Yeah, I thought Georgiev was gonna fail from the beginning, but I’ve got no issues with trying, failing and quickly moving on when the alternative was doing nothing except crossing your fingers UPL was going to be OK

I'm not prepared to dig in again, but the number of 6-9 defencemen that have come through here over Adams' tenure is off the charts long.

This is interesting to me. I'd say for a large portion of this board it's more of a love-hate relationship: most seem to care deeply but it's not a warm and forgiving win-or-lose kinda love, more the love of a repeatedly let down or betrayed spouse or parent. Very few around here are the "we'll get 'em next time" types. I have no frame of reference for the more typical fan in and around Buffalo, but I suspect Sabrespace is not reflective of the "typical" fan. But I think back to the '80s Canucks teams of my youth who had a similar level of success to the Adams Sabres. Sure plenty of fans grumbled and tickets were easy to come by, but generally they still loved their Tony Tantis, hated the Flames and Oilers, and were ready to jump back on the bandwagon given the slightest opportunity. Those kinda fans just kinda fade when things aren't good, whereas most Sabrespace types stay invested and spend their time venting to their online friends.

It's almost like the couldn't get him to sign a PTO, so they paid him a year's salary to essentially be on one.

I've read mixed reviews of Jack Quinn's pre-season, so I thought I'd add Marty Biron's take from Sabres Live last week: Marty said that after watching him practice for a few weeks, he's flat out predicting 30 goals.

Wasn't going to spend any time worrying about a Tuch deal until the evening of the regular season. (Checks calendar)

I think they can thank Josh Doan for this is. Kid was working that Tim Horton's drive-thru window hard.

I don’t disagree with you. But I’m pretty sure Lindy Ruff does. I said in the summer that Geertsen was targeted - by Lindy - to be used in this specific role, I’ve seen nothing to change my mind. This is a coach who has already got - from his own mouth - three Swiss Army knives on the roster (Danforth, Krebs and McLeod). It’s a coach who likes to roll his top 9 hard and use his 4th liners situationally. And it’s a coach who sat Andrew Peters on the bench for 55 minutes a game, and played him 55 games a year. I’d say it’s less deterrent than it is response, but Geertsen is getting the final roster spot.

He’s the next shoe to drop. Probably as soon as Thursday when Power is cleared to play. The next one is the interesting piece; Who goes first when Greenway or Kesselring is ready: the 3rd goalie or the 8th defenceman?

I can’t see any circumstance where that isn’t the plan unless the both play and Georgiev is dramatically better. Why would you claim Ellis otherwise?

Damn, listening to Lindy’s presser (which happened before Ellis became official) he is not happy with Lyon or Georgiev. After listening, I’m convinced this pickup is a clear indictment of the camp Georgiev and Lyon have had and the team’s lack of faith in them. They must have really been committed to Levi starting in the AHL.

Power on IR is unexpected. Gotta think he and/or Kesselring have to be close and this is prudent paperwork. Or are they really OK with being one undercooked piece of chicken from starting Mason Geertsen on D?

Why does a sad part of me think this is mostly about what he did in his last 5 appearances? It’s Isak Rosen’s U18s all over again.