GASabresIUFAN

I'm not sure I agree with that assertion. The Atlantic and the East in general are a crap shoot and we have the least proven and honestly worst goaltending of any of the contenders for a playoff spot. There are no guarantees that offense will be as prolific as last year. Toronto's offense, for example, fell from 315 GF in 21/22 to 279 in 22/23. I'd even argue that Mon has better goaltending on paper than we do. I've shown the stats before, but historically 21-year-old goalies don't fare well in the NHL. Very few ever play 40+ games and only MAF, Price and Steve Mason played 50+ and we need Levi to play 50 and play well for this plan of KA's to work. This team has to cut about 40 goals from their GA to ensure a playoff spot, especially if the offense isn't as prolific. I don't believe right now that KA's changes are enough to accomplish that goal without Levi playing at a very high level. Levi playing at a .900 save %, which would be a strong rookie campaign, likely won't be enough.

This is very optimistic. It would be nice to think the offense would be as prolific as last year and cover up for the terrible goaltending of UPL and Comrie. It is also optimistic that a 21 year old rookie goalie would be that productive so early in his career. Not saying it’s impossible, but unlikely. The more likely scenario is that UPL wins the camp battle with Comrie. Comrie gets waived and Tokarski plays 8-10 games as an injury fill in. The teams best hope for all the net minders is that the team tightens up on defense (forwards and D) and suppresses the goals against by 20 goals 5on 5 and that the PK also improves suppressing another 10 GA.

The Truth is out There.

TM tried to fix an entire roster by that method. I’m talking about about moving one or two prospects to fill one roster hole. Apples and oranges my friend.

https://theathletic.com/4763819/2023/08/11/best-pro-hockey-players-not-nhl/ The Athletic’s 5 best pro hockey players not in the NHL by Allan Mitchell and look who is No.2 on his list.

Considering that the vast majority of goalies, starters and good backups, are traded for less than a 1st, I think Östlund or Rosen could easily get a legit goalie for the Sabres or at worst be the key piece of a package to get one. The most expensive recent goalie trade was Colorado’s acquisition of Kuemper for a late 1st and Clague level prospect Connor Timmins (66 career NHL games). Kuemper had one year left on his contract when acquired (@ $4.5). Kuemper backstopped the Avs to the Cup if memory serves and then walked.

The above article is exactly why we can and should move on from some of the forward prospects to fix holes in the NHL roster. Trading an Östlund or a Rosen to get a legit partner for Levi is the right thing to do and should be done. KA is taking a huge and unnecessary risk for a playoff contender by relying on 3 goalies with a collective total of 100 games of NHL experience. Another point, when you look at the Sabres prospect pool how many of these guys are you sure will play 100+ NHL games (50+ for goalies)? Right now I think Benson, Savoie, Kulich, and Levi are the only ones we can "guarantee" will reach that point. Could others? Absolutely, but it's probably only 6 or 7 more (which would still be an amazing result). Östlund and Rosen top this next tier (obviously), then Johnson, Novikov, Wahlberg, and Neuchev would top my list of most likely to have NHL careers. After this group, some guys may carve out careers, but valuing them too highly is a mistake and one we have all made. Remember the hype around Bailey(82 games) and Baptiste (47 games)? TM liked Hudson Fasching (87 games - 49 came last year) so much that he gave away McNabb and 2 2nd rd picks for him. How did that work out?

We got Stl's 3rd best prospect in the ROR deal. He turned out OK. By the way Rosen is probably on a similar level with the Pens top prospect Owen Pickering. Östlund is certainly better. I was going to post this as a new thread, but it seems to fit here as well. As Sabres fans, besides adding a real goalie, what would you have done differently this summer? I would not have brought back Girgensons and Jost. I know Z has many fans on this board, but really he is a very replaceable player. Same Jost. IMHO for Jost to have received a contract for us he would have needed to show and he can kill penalties and win a draw. He does neither well. DG tried him on PK and his PK diminished to zero over the course of the season as did his PT. He also had a FO % of 38. I don't understand bringing him back when someone like Pius Suter was available (and still is) who can be had for less $ and is a PK specialist and can add some offense 5 on 5. As to Z, I think the only reason he lasted so long here was the constant turnover of GMs. He was relatively cheap to keep and for the most part during his tenure winning wasn't the priority. Now that winning is a priority, I think the Sabres could find a physical depth winger who might actually be able to play up if needed. To some extent, I was kind of hoping that they would let Z walk and leave the spot somewhat open for Rousek to win in camp. A 4th line of Rousek, Suter and KO may not be a traditional checking line, but they would certainly bring energy every shift. On defense, my only complaint is that Clifton is unproven in a top 4 role, but I think it's a reasonable risk on KA's part. If we have to lineup Johnson and Cliftion as the 3rd pair, that is still a substantial upgrade over last year's 3rd pairing mess.

Danny played a lot of wing for us as well. I’d be surprised if Strbak and Panocha don’t make their teams. I see Savoie as a winger for the Sabres.

This except Rousek isn’t going to beat out VO to start the season. I wouldn’t mind if KA gave Comtois a one year prove it deal for added depth.

I've been playing the immaculate grid with a twist. For the guys who played for teams x&y, I'm also looking for a guy who also played for the Sabres. For example today's puzzle has a slot for a player who played for CBJ and CGY. I put in Jordan Leopold who played for those franchises plus the Sabres. In an odd way, it makes the puzzles easier as you start with the limiting factor of guys who played for the Sabres. I'm doing the same for the baseball one with current and former Braves.

I definitely factor in time to the NHL for similar-level players, like our friend Poltapov. However, Benson and Savoie are IMHO at the exact same time to the NHL. Both need to make the Sabres in camp or be returned to Jrs and both will be NHL/AHL eligible in 2024/25; Savoie as he'll be 20, and Benson because he'll have completed 4 CHL seasons. I believe, and I think most impartial observers agree, that Benson is the more talented of the two. That said, we are probably splitting hairs. Savoie's impressive playoffs is certainly a fair differentiator. Maybe Kulich should be ahead of both. I also don't see how Rosen made the top 5. Östlund is a far more talented player. I'll even go out on a limb and say Wahlberg and Neuchev will outplay Rosen this coming season.

NHL.com has a broad look at the Sabres in their 32 in 32 videos and posts. https://www.nhl.com/video/buffalo-sabres-season-preview/t-277350912/c-18230556 https://www.nhl.com/news/top-prospects-for-buffalo-sabres/c-345496388 Their top 5 Sabres prospects 1. Levi 2. Savoie 3. Kulich 4. Benson 5. Rosen How is Savoie a better prospect than Benson? They have similar production in the CHL and Benson is a year younger. They are similar size and style of player. It's a very easy apple-to-apple comparison.

Tokarski played 29 games for us in 2021-22 and put up a 3.27 & .899 behind a worse D and worse team overall than UPL and Comrie played behind last season. UPL gave us 33 games with a 3.58 & .892 while Comrie gave us in 19 games a 3.67 with an .886. Frankly they all stink, but at least Tokar has 80+ games of NHL experience.

Ultimately KA’s evaluation comes down to has KA done enough to get the Sabres into the playoffs? Here is the Athletic’s answer. https://theathletic.com/4755331/2023/08/07/sabres-playoff-roadmap-drought/

It's an interesting question. How much will cord-cutting affect revenue? Only time will tell, but I'm very interested to see how LV does with their deal to broadcast all LV games for free to their home market(s) and to profit by sharing ad revenue. https://www.ktnv.com/news/golden-knights/vegas-golden-knights-scripps-sports-announce-historic-broadcast-partnership

How about waiving them both and making Tokarski the backup? I think he is the best of the 3 barely.

Lol

KA pros and cons Pros: 1. Better Culture 2. Team is overall improved 3. Better prospect pipeline 4. Better drafting 5. Better player development 6. Forward depth 7. He did a great job getting value for the old core of Eichel, Reinhart, and Ristolainen. 8. Has really grown into the role. Neutral: 1. The majority of his moves following the dismantling of the old core have been very moneypuck oriented with varying degrees of success. They have been short-term on contracts (1-3 years) and low-cost in terms of cap $ and assets. Decent to Good: Greenway for a 2nd, Jost on waivers, Lyubushkin for 2 years, and Anderson. Bad: Bloom for Stillman, Comrie for 2 years, Dell, and Butcher. Clifton and Johnson fit this philosophy as well. Hopefully, both will be good. Cons: 1. We still aren't a playoff team 2. Goaltending is still a complete unknown. 3. Finally addressed defensive depth, one year late IMHO, and we still don't know if the upgrades are sufficient. 4. Failed to make the necessary moves last deadline to get the team over the top and into the playoffs. 5. Team still can't win a faceoff and we need a veteran center. 6. Honestly seems afraid to use significant pipeline assets to upgrade the team even when there is a glaring roster hole. 7. Not sure his off-season moves will dramatically improve one of the worst PK's in the NHL. 8. KA's First year as GM was G-D awful. Ultimately he is going to be judged this season by the D acquisitions and the failure to bring in a veteran goalie. If Levi excels and the 2 new D work and the team makes the playoffs, people will be posting here what a great job he did backfilling the D and being patient with the goaltending. If Levi struggles, Clifton can't play up, Johnson is not an upgrade over Bush and/or Joki, and the team again fails to make the playoffs, people will post that KA failed. History says the 21-year-old goalies struggle in the NHL, but not always and we all know what a crap shoot UFAs can be. Personally, I love the risk KA has taken on Johnson and Clifton and hate the risk he is taking by not bringing in a real veteran to replace UPL and Comrie. The goaltending failure looks like a completely unnecessary risk.

You are beginning to sound like me. Are you ok? I had lunch the other day with @freester, and we debated adding Hellebuyck. I said I was willing to go as high as Rosen and next year's first for Hellebuyck and a 2nd. He said that was way too much for a one-year rental. While generally, I agree with Freester that ii is an overpay, I think our window is now open and KA should finally step up and make the big deal to ensure we get to the playoff this year without putting everything on Levi's shoulders. I'm also confident that losing Rosen won't make a bit of a difference in our pipeline.

I don't see Power having the O potential that Dahlin has already displayed. Nothing wrong with having a tandem like Pronger (Power) and Niedermayer (Dahlin).

Why does this trade look like musical chairs on 3 sinking ships? Montreal actually has 3 goalies. Do you think they added Smith so that they can trade Jake Allen?

I'm not there, yet. Despite my original misgivings about hiring a GM with no experience, KA has done a credible job in most areas. That said, his goaltending strategy, since Ullmark walked, is mindboggling in its ineptitude. I also don't like the fact that it also took two full seasons to finally invest in the defense. I do agree that his seat might get very warm if the team misses the playoffs again this season especially if the goaltending is again not up to snuff.

One word. Goaltending.

He also played 10 games for Dallas/Min and 1 game for the Sabres.