kas23

A countdown should be placed on the homepage.

This depends. As it stands, the future starting goalie position is UPL’s to lose. He really doesn’t need to prove himself, just not downright suck. If Portillo signs, he’s the next man up. After being in professional ranks, it’s now Portillo’s position to lose. This is assuming we’re going to go with a goalie 1A and 1B. With a whole year of professional development, Levi would really have to outplay Portillo to leapfrog him. If they display similar skill at the professional level, which is entire possible, the nod will go to Portillo. A level playing field is what Levi is giving up if he doesn’t sign this year.

What is the “only one reason to leave”? I can think of a few besides money: to continue to develop your craft but tailored for the NHL game, to begin to gel with your future teammates, to put a stake in the ground in terms of development timeline (ie get in line for the starting job).

To be fair, everything that everyone said about the Eichel trade, on air, in print, or on Twitter, was wrong. I think Power went back to win a college championship with the guys he’s been around for awhile. Levi wouldn’t be going back for that reason. NE is not a team full of future NHLers.

I don’t think UPL has much of a trade value right now. However, given our situation in regards to the position, he holds a great deal of value to us. There’s a chance, and it’s not insignificant, that he makes the big club next year and performs rather well.

Maybe it would’ve been better if the Dadonov trade did go through.

I think I found it.

True. If anything, player should be forced to re-enter the draft.

If Levi doesn’t sign now and Portillo does, Levi will automatically be behind the 8 ball. Portillo having a full pro year over him will likely decrease him landing a starting spot on the Sabres, unless Portillo really stinks it up or UPL isn’t on our roster in 1-2 years. Why temp fate, just sign and get in line. The first guy in Buffalo is going to have an advantage that’s present regardless of skill.

But Power is already here…

Was going to say the draft may have sucked for forwards, but there’s some very good defensemen in there and a world-class goalie. It was a great draft for some teams.

Would definitely look to pick up some Russians. Mostly because I feel their value will fall due to the actions of one person. Considering the Sabres are in a better position than most teams in this region and many teams just won’t want to take the risk, I would hope one would drop to our 2nd or 3rd 1st rounder. Swing for the fences with one of those and play safer with our top 10 pick.

I hate the concept, but we should go with BPA except for LHD. We the player the scout think will turn into an elite player, don’t care if it’s RHD or forward.

I think if he was on a Michigan type of team, I would agree with him staying another year. But the way NE played this year, outside of Levi, they really had no business being in the Tournament. I don’t see this changing next year and he shouldn’t have to carry everything. It’s time for him to go to greener pastures.

Love what he’s saying, but our power play isn’t something I would hold as my first example as “second nature.”

If they are both so hung go about him being in the NHL, then why isn’t up here splitting time with Anderson instead of Toker?

Or if a poster had said s/he saw the future and Tage would become a legit 1C? That person would’ve been banned.

I’m fine with shipping off Olofsson, but another player should be coming back. Preferably I would trade him and Johnson for a better player that fits a need, like a RHD. We need quality over quantity now. I like Olofsson, but he seems to be the type of player we are trying to move away from.

It’s sink or swim time for UPL. I want him sharing a role with a proven vet on the Sabres. Give him the chance before we give it to someone else. Levi should be in Rochester the whole season and should only be an emergency call up to the Sabres. Emergency as in we have nobody but Vinz.

The issue with this is that Anderson would make 5-10x the salary as player than an entry-level goalie coach. This brings up a waivers issue. We won’t be able to send him up and down.

Is it black and blue or real gold and white? You decide…

Immediate no, immediate no. I saw what I had to see, and no.

And I’m pretty sure Hagel will even be significantly better on the Lightning than the Hawks.

+ Veteran RHD playing on opposite side of Power.

I will take the contrarian view here. It’s no secret that we have scouts working for us in Russia. Now is the time to draft more. I’m sure we can get higher value than last year. Buy low.