dudacek

I’m probably selling Dom short. But I am surprised you guys think that was a bad goal: right-handed shot, one-timer from the left dot, uncovered, off a no-look pass? That’s the 2nd-toughest save in the game IMO. I just watched it again. Perron put it right under the bar. And it’s not like he doesn’t have a history of scoring goals like that.

Leads all rookies in that stat. And to emphasize that, most of the other guys atop the rookie leaderboard are minus players despite playing far fewer and much easier minutes. The only other notable rookie who is a double digit plus is Beniers, who, IMO, is Power’s only reasonable competition for the award.

9 assists in his past six games, +4

Just for the record: Ellis: Forwards. 14 seasons of pro hockey as a player, maybe half of that in the NHL. Moved over to the academy of hockey when he retired, then spent half a season in the Sabres front office before moving in as an interim assistant when Krueger was fired and never leaving. Wilford: Defence. 14 seasons of pro hockey as a player in the minors and Europe. Became an AHL assistant immediately after retiring, spending 6 seasons with the Ducks minor league affiliate, before being promoted to the big club for four more. Known for helping develop the Ducks blueline including guys like Montour, Theodore, Manson, Fowler and Lindholm. Moved directly from there to Granato’s Buffalo staff. Bales: Goalies. Spent 9 years playing minor pro in North America followed with another 9 in Europe. Started as a development coach for Pittsburgh shortly after retiring, promoted to goalie coach after 2 years. Spent 4 years working with Fleury and others, winning 2 cups, then spent 2 years in Carolina. Came to Buffalo when offered status as a full assistant, rather than just goalie, and spent the past 4 years here. Christie: General. 10 years is a minor pro player, some of it under Granato, then moving directly into 20 years as the winningest head coach in ECHL history, interrupted by 2 as an AHL assistant. Also spent a lot of his ECHL time doubling as a director of hockey ops. On the surface, Bales and Wilford are well-credentialed, Matt Ellis is a relative neophyte as a coach, and Christie is an unusual choice and probably a Granato crony. I’m not really sure what his role is.

LOL, he finally got a taste of what the Sabres defence is capable of. First was the kinda goal we’ve seen beat UPL and Comrie many times this year and the 2nd he was screened, but he also completely misread (guessed?). The other 4 I doubt Dom could have stopped. Be interesting to see how he responds.

Poor decision-making? He’s just outside the top 50 for assists in the entire NHL. He’s got 1 less than Point, Matthews and Kopitar. Since Jan. 1 he has 29 assists in 43 games. That’s tied for 22nd. I don’t think all those decisions have been poor.

And Dahlin for most of the same period, and for a shorter period, Tuch

Be nice if he could actually score a few to round out his game. He's getting chances and his hands are good enough, it just looks like he’s in his own head.

Freddie

I’m no goalie expert, but when a guy is that athletic, that technically sharp and that mentally focused I find it pretty easy to believe he might be for real. I’ve been saying he’s their best prospect for months because this is what I’ve been seeing in him. Now I did not expect him to step in and grab the crease immediately - because goalies don’t do that. But the ability is there and his mental acuity is rare. So I’m not going to dismiss it out of hand. Kevyn Adams just might know more than me.

Yes. But it does seem to happen mostly with more limited guys like a Patrick Lalime or Andrew Hammond comes out of nowhere and gets on a hot streak. Most goalies who combine well-rounded technique with good athleticism don’t have a pronounced weakness for the tape to reveal. When they struggle, it will largely be mental. Also, remember, hockey is chaotic, so, if a goalie struggles in a particular area, the game and the defence has to present opportunities to exploit that area. It’s not like football where you can design a game plan to consistently take away a QB’s strengths.

I expect him to shop around the goalie market, find out that the small group of available goalies on short-term deals either “cost too much to acquire,” or “aren’t significantly better” than UPL or Comrie and let the three of them battle it out in training camp. That’s a battle I expect Levi to win, and Adams does too. Again, it’s not what I would do. I would throw a $6 million AAV two-year offer at an Andersen or Varlamov, or pay the necessary price for a similar-level goalie with a year or 2 left on his contract. I’d fully expect Levi to supplant him - maybe even immediately - but it’s a price I’m willing to pay for the security blanket.

It's not what I would do, but i expect it is what Adams will do. Fingers crossed Devon will justify the faith.

Silver lining things, but if I am reading their personalities correctly, I think this finish — particularly their personal finishes — are going to be very potent motivational fodder for our current core of Tuch, Dahlin and Thompson. I also expect Jack Quinn to take a jump and hope some of Krebs, Peterka, Power, Samuelsson and UPL may follow. I could group Cozens in both this category and the one above. Finally, whether or not he is or should be in the NHL next year, I'm reasonably confident Levi is capable of providing better goaltending than we got this year. So I am expecting this team to be improved regardless of Stillman, Greenway, Savoie, Kulich, Rousek or any other moves we may (and should) make.

Agreed, but has to learn to use his body better for leverage and defending. He's never had to use his size in the way lesser talents are forced to. Nick Lidstrom is what he should be aiming for.

3C (I'm defining that in terms of ice time) will almost certainly be Peyton Krebs. That's the player they think can grow into that role. He's been trained for the defensive part of the role between Girgs and KO for the 2nd half of the season. Hes killing penalties, taking D-zone faceoffs and has been getting 15 minutes a night down the stretch, good for 7th in ice time among the forwards.

Levi's level of play, the way he's been handled, and the way the Sabres have handled prospects in general lead me to believe the plan since last summer was Anderson and Comrie this year while giving UPL every opportunity to shove his way to the front and Comrie and UPL next year, giving Levi every opportunity to push his way to the front. I wonder if that plan still holds.

It's only two games, but it's looking like the plan may very well be to give him the opportunity. Which kinda precludes bringing in a Saros or a Demko. The question then becomes can they find somewhat in a sweet spot of being good enough to carry the load if Levi falters yet disposable enough to gracefully step aside if he doesn't. Because it doesn't feel like Comrie or UPL is that player.

Not hugely meaningful, but fun to dream about: 104 goalies have played in the NHL this year. UPL ranks 80th at .892. Eric Comrie ranks 91st at .886. Levi? He's 3rd with a .942

Losing sucks. My team doesn’t.

It's really incredible how much he's elevated as the season has gone on.

LOL. I was responding to your misinterpretation of my post. Come on man, are you actually telling me that you know what I meant better than I did? 😜

I think that fits nicely under transformation of the player culture

The core of Adams rebuild comes down 3 things, IMO: 1) The transformation of the front office: Karmanos, Ventura, Forton, the increased reliance on analytics and player development, and the implementation of a "team" philosophy where everyone feels heard. Time will tell with the prospects, but generally speaking, player evaluation seems to have taken a significant step forward. 2) The transformation of player culture: focusing on players who want to be here, treating them with respect, and surrounding them with guys like Granato, Appert, Mair and more whose philosophy is all about continuous, positive self-improvement. The development of the players already in the system has been shockingly good. 3) The great sell-off of 2021: Turning the tank core of Eichel, Reinhart and Ristolainen into Tuch, Krebs, Östlund, Greenway, Kulich, Levi, Rosen and a player to be determined in June. Tuch was a better return than we reasonably could have expected given the Eichel situation. The others we shall see.

Feels different. I think I remember this.