GASabresIUFAN

KA won’t do it, but to get a great mentor for Levi, and solidify the goaltending this season I’d trade Comrie/UPL and Rosen for one season of Hellebuyck. It’s worth the risk. Even without Rosen ( Joel Armia 2.0?) our pipeline would still include 4 1st rd forwards, 3 second round forwards, plus Neuchev, Nadeau, Rousek and Kozak who are tracking to be NHL players. Truthfully we won’t miss Rosen if traded. I won’t not be in favor of the Hellebuyck with an extension. It would be too big a hit to our pipeline and we don’t want the cap hit long-term. Levi is our goalie long-term but KA still has to field quality for 82 games for a playoff caliber team. One year of Helle gives Levi some runway to develop without all the expectations riding on him. I also think he’d learn a lot from a goalie of Helle’s stature, especially given Helle’s college background.

One would hope. However, to get Tokarski to 3rd in the pecking order, 2 goalies would be traded if KA manages to acquire a veteran. It seems more likely at this point that KA trades away the loser of the camp battle between UPL and Comrie to back up Levi and Tokarski becomes No. 3 that way. Maybe the Sabres pick up a goalie as part of a team's deal to land Karlsson. For example; the rumor mill had Pitt acquiring Karlsson in a 3-team deal. The Pens signed two goalies and are now over the cap. Some money needs to come off their cap to work Karlsson in. How about we take DeSmith and Jan Ruuta off their hands to help make the numbers work.

and honestly not very smart.

No, but in his pressers he repeatedly mention D upgrades and in recent weeks he hasn’t addressed adding a goalie. I’m not saying he won’t make a trade, but the odds have decreased significantly of getting adequate goaltending help.

Varlamov has officially re-signed. There are no longer any goalies on the FA market worth signing unless KA is willing to make an offer sheet for Swayman. That’s not happening. While I’m perfectly happy with the 2 D signings. Not getting a goalie is a huge mistake. While a trade is still possible, I don’t see KA as willing to part with any key assets to get it done. The better D will help bring down the goals against some, but will it save us the 30 - 40 goals needed for us to be a legit playoff team. This mistake will be magnified if Levi isn’t ready or gets hurt.

He wants a longterm big $ deal. At this point I don’t see anyone making a move for him unless it’s a crap team like Chicago. I don’t see us trading for him unless Wpg gives us him for nothing as a 1 yr rental. Sorokin just re-signed for 8 years at 8.25. That is also going to put a limit on Hellebuyck contract and I doubt anyone going 8 years for a 29 year old goalie.

What are you talking about? We were discussing Johnson being 3rd pairing depth and KA getting a top 4 D, which he did minutes later when he signed Clifton. Moving on from Joki is a logical suggestion to remove the now logjam on D as he has the most trade value. Waiving Bryson also is a distinct possibility. We aren’t going to carry 3 goalies and 9 D.

Not according to capfriendly.

Rumor has it that Pitt also trying to sign Nedjelkovic. Maybe they’ll trade us DeSmith to save some cap space.

Varlamov still un-signed.

Jarry re-signs in Pitt. Varlamov is the best available UFA. Hellebuyck still best available but not enough term for KA.

It would be very unlike KA to make an offer sheet to Bos for Swayman. Scratch Jarry. Back to Pitt on a longterm deal.

So you agree we need a better goalie now?

I’m leaning that way as well. If this happens, Jost is the 4C.

We won’t know this until after the season. 😉

We did overpay in terms of $ of Johnson’s service given what other older vets are getting paid. Not that it makes a difference given our cap space, but it raises the question of when we stop paying the bad team tax.

I think Comrie and UPL aren’t close to good enough for a playoff team. KA needs to find a better solution, but not many solutions left to acquire.

Who else really needs a goalie at this point? Pittsburgh?

You didn’t drop the microphone.

NHL contracts - Levi, UPL and Comrie Depth signings - Tokarski and Cooley Who is still available? UFAs - Jarry. Trade - Hellebuyck, Hart?, Saros? Thompson? Are the Sabres going with the 3 headed hydra in goal?

Is this good news? Who is the ECHL guy? If Tokarski and Cooley are the AHL tandem, what is KA doing with the hydra in Buffalo?

KA is definitely playing moneypuck. His last 6 signings and trades are all 1-3 deals and are real attempts at value. Comrie was a 2 year signing with little downside, but huge upside. Lyubushkin was a 2 year deal of a physical player at a reasonable salary. Stillman is a player KA was familiar with who had a cheap contract with term who was easily dumped if he doesn’t work out. Greenway is DG’s guys and could be a huge value acquisition if DG coaches him up. Johnson is a 1 year deal of a leader with a Cup who is connected to DG. Clifton is the real moneypuck deal. He is a guy people think can handle top 4 minutes. If it works you get a top 4 D for only $3 mill a year. If it doesn’t you know you have a solid 3rd pairing D for still a reasonable figure and KA gets another shot at filling the 4 at deadline or next off-season. 2023/24 Dahlin Samuelson Power Clifton E Johnson/Joki Lyubushkin 2024/25 (if Clifton doesn’t thrive as the 4) Dahlin Samuelsson Power ???? R Johnson Clifton

Both guys have a connection to DG. DG coached Johnson in Stl and coached Clifton USNTDP.

Why do I feel Jarry is our next goalie?

Johnson and Clifton signed. I think we can forget Pesce.