French Collection

I was looking at some AHL goaltending stats, not because the Sabres need one, but to see who was ready for an NHL job and push out a veteran. Dustin Wolf is ready for NHL duty. 2.08 GAA, .932 SV% 41 wins vs 9 losses with 7 shutouts. Unfortunately he belongs to Calgary. I don’t want Matkstrom and Vladar has decent numbers for a backup, better than Markstrom’s. Vladar was 14/6 2.91 .895 with a non playoff team. He is 26 years old with 55 career NHL games. This smells too much like the Comrie situation last year. Vladar could be part of a package for a Hanifin or Andersson trade with UPL, VO or Comrie + pick/prospect going the other way. I think they need to get a better option at G. Saros was my #1 target but I don’t think they are ready to give Askarov the net. Varlamov is an interesting UFA, he could be enticed with $$ and a chance to start for a team on the rise. Hill from Vegas is interesting as well. 26 years old with 101 NHL games. 2.50 GAA.915 SV%.

Well said. The Amerks playoffs will be on my radar. Savoie, Nadeau, Komarov and Lindgren can win their league championships and a Memorial Cup. I follow that even when there are no Sabres prospects involved. I will start to look more closely at draft lists, thinking the Sabres will be lucky #13. I think KA makes a trade or two at the draft, one of them for a 4D. It may cost the first rounder or moving to a lower pick but this is an area of need. Hanifin has been mentioned and Calgary will probably make some moves after a disappointing season. The World Championships interest me as well. Cozens broke out there last year and he could return bringing Levi, Power and maybe Quinn. Other nations will ask Sabres to join, Peterka and Kulich could be possibilities. UFA season will be quiet for KA but I want him to make a push for Varlamov. This could be his last chance to get 40+ games and he can play for a club on the cusp of something good. Let him duke it out with Levi. KA will be honest with UPL/Comrie and let them compete in camp but try to move one of them. The other will be at risk of a waiver claim. Like the Sabres I will watch playoff hockey and get in some rounds of golf. I will probably be here every second day to stay current.

Book it!

They didn’t roll over. They were on a back to back vs a good team. I wanted them to win as much as everyone else, but they came up short. The Sabres outshot the Devils 38-30 and the Devils blocked 22 shots. Dahlin hit a post and Quinn hit a crossbar. I think Vanacek outdueled Levi and the Sabres lacked a bit of energy for a big push. I too am optimistic about next season, I think with internal growth and a few moves they will be well above this position in April. Sign and play Johnson to see what he is. Give Anderson the Sens game. Rest up TNT and whoever else is banged up. Pad VO’s stats with all of the remaining PP time. Give UPL the Columbus game for one last glimpse of what he can or cannot do. Give KO a proper acknowledgment at home whether he may come back or not.

I didn’t watch but I’m happy to hear Knies isn’t the second coming of Rick Tocchet. Their fans were excited about this guy.

He seems to like the Sabres and provides good energy. He was put on waivers and this team salvaged his career. I think he is useful as a bottom 6 forward until Savoie, Kulich, Rousek, Östlund put him back on waivers. If he is willing to be the 13F on this team, he can prolong his stay. I would offer him a slight raise 2 X $2.2.

Imagine him with 20 more pounds of muscle and DG making him channel Chris Pronger. I know he doesn’t have the snarl of Pronger but he could add a smidge of grit, to give him more room.

I would give him more time to get stronger and gain more experience. Even if he ends up staying on the 4th line, he could be that 4C for a long time. He adds more offense than Larsson, Girgs, Sheahan, Eakin etc… I would like him to become the faceoff guru, that would add to his value. He may improve enough to be a solid 3C.

KA and whoever pushed for Levi at the time of the trade must be over the moon. They knew he was good and projected that he would be an NHL goalie. I doubt they could see him having this much of an impact right away and probably not needing any time in Rochester. Florida is good in net with Bob, Knight and Lyon but Levi is special. This will be interesting next season with Comrie and UPL under contract. I think we need better than those two as a 1B to challenge Levi, mentor him and to provide some good goaltending. I wanted them to get Saros while we wait for Levi but now I think a guy like Varlamov is the right move. Levi is on his ELC so they could give a guy like Varlamov a good contract for a couple of years. I don’t know if UPL gets through waivers but that may be their best option. Trade Comrie once a 1B is signed.

Former teammate of Power’s. Owen will show him what a complete Dman does.

If Mitts keeps this up he may get a letter next year. I don’t think he gets one but he seems well liked and it sounds like his work ethic is great so you never know.

One game at a time. Just win! I normally agree with rotating goalies on back to back games but go with Levi, he’s got his big boy pants on now.

Yes. There is also the possibility he will be better.

Nice little flip to himself by Dahlin to keep possession on the PP. Rangers fans oohed over that one.

Levi vs Shesterkin, battle of the tiny goalies.

NYC doesn’t have problems finding anthem singers. Picked this guy up from Broadway.

This is the least amount of time I have spent following draft lists in 9 or 10 years. The playoff chase is so much better.

Have to watch this on the Rangers feed tonight, oh well.

Play hard, entertain me and let the chips fall wherever they may. All the Sabres can control is this game so take control boys. Let’s go Buffalo!

He’s not feeling it yet, still in his honeymoon phase. I think he has a good approach to the mental side of goaltending, just having fun and breaking it down to just finding a way to stop the puck.

Leafs are squeezing every dollar they can out of the cap. They signed a goalie to an ATO to back up Samsonov the other night and will do it again tonight vs Florida. They have AHL goalies available but needed the cap space to sign NCAA prospect Matthew Knies. I know I am repeating myself but I can’t believe KA did not do more at the deadline to acquire a few assets for some salary retention.

I don’t think it will be a franchise defining moment either way this goes. If he ends up as a solid 4-6 Dman for the Sabres that is a terrific addition. The bonus is the low salary and being waiver exempt, as you pointed out. I think he will be better than Bryson and Clague so I want this to get done.

Watching Bryson may be the only thing that makes me want to turn the game off. I know what you mean, they need 4-5 Stillman, Bryson, Clague, Pilut caliber Dmen.

Sad but true. They had chances to grab the net and run with it. Anderson, old and fragile. Comrie, injured and inconsistent. UPL, young and inconsistent.

Exactly, worry about this one and insert lineup accordingly. Tomorrow is another day.