GASabresIUFAN

I did put he has been better defensively this year, but I agree he isn't the answer to our needs. I do think he will be available this off-season.

and they need to be age 20 or having had completed 3 years of CHL hockey. The exceptions are guys lent to the CHL from Europe such as us placing UPL in the CHL or Nylander being loaned to the CHL from his Swedish team.

I was playing with Capfriendly looking for RHD (or guys who can play both) from cap strapped teams that could be a good fit in Buffalo. I don't know if all or any are actually available, but most should be for the right price. Also keeping in mind that we have 18 mill in cap space just to get to the cap floor. This list is from most cap strapped to least under the current season's cap. 1) Montreal Savard: Age 31, 3 years left at 3.5 Petry: Age 34, 3 yrs @ 6.25 M-NTC & NMC 2) TB Cernak: Age 24, 1 yr @ 2.95 then an RFA (no I don't actually think he's available, but one can dream) 3) Edm Ceci: Age 28, 3yrs @ 3.25 - In Zone D has been very good this year. 4) Wpg DeMelo: Age 28, 2 yrs @ 3.0 5) Van Myers: Age 32, 2 yrs @ 6.0, NTC 6) Washington Orlov: Age 30, 1 year @ 5.1, M-NTC Jensen: Age 31, 1 yr @ 2.5 7) Philly Ellis: Age 31, 5 years @ 6.25 8.) Florida Gudas: Age 31, 1 year @ 2.5 9) Colorado Johnson: Age 34, 1 yr @ 6.0, NMC & M-NTC 10) Calg Tanev: Age 32, 2 yrs @ 4.5, M-NTC 11) Minn Dumba: Age 27: 1 yr @ 6.0, M-NTC 12) NYI Mayfield: Age 29, 1 year @ 1.45 13) Seattle Larsson: Age 29, 3 years @ 4.0, NTC The two that stand out for me as best bang for the buck cap wise are Wash's Jensen and Mon's Savard. Dumba from a long-term standpoint would be a great addition, but KA would likely have to give him an extension to get him to waive his M-NTC.

Agree. Our mostly likely source of the veteran RHD is the trade market. I can see a guy being acquired in trade for a season or two and then re-signing once this team turns around. I don’t see top level FA’s coming here until we prove that rebuild 4.0 is working. Will Mon trade us Savard?

‘? Not sure what your asking. If the stadium was privately funded, the income would go to the Bills and the other private investors. The county/state would receive RE and sales tax revenue.

Whether to have the Bills or not or to build them a stadium or not is a question for the people of Erie County. It doesn’t change the fact that this is a non-issue to the taxpayers as they will not bear this burden. Counties also generally don’t issue debt to fund programming. They are mostly funded with sales tax revenue and RE taxes. Most county debt is revenue type bonds issued to build schools, hospitals, water systems etc…. and these stadium bonds will not limit Erie’s ability to do these projects as well. Saying that this $850 mill could be diverted to other things is simply untrue. This money is only being raised for the stadium and if they weren’t building the stadium the bonds wouldn’t be issued at all.

Not a single $ is going to be taken away from your coveted social programs. The county will float $850 in muni bonds. These bonds will be sold primarily to insurance companies, mutual funds and pension funds. The interest on the bonds will come from the Bills and stadium revenue. Using the county’s ability to access the muni bond market just makes the project more efficient and cost effective. It is much harder for PGE to raise the money on it’s own.

Actually Levi staying an extra year makes KA’s off-season easier. Portillo is a year older and probably ready to start his pro career. KA’s plan would become acquire a proven NHL starter to stabilize the net. Then re-sign UPL and let him try to win the NHL backup job. Sign a second veteran to be either the NHL backup or mentor in the AHL (like Tokarski). If UPL isn’t NHL ready, then he starts in the AHL with Portillo in the ECHL. If UPL is ready, Portillo begins in the AHL.

He was trying to take advantage of the momentum. They had won like 5 draws in a row and were buzzing the Michigan net for the last 10 minutes. He thought they would win the draw (they did) and continue the same pressure. One bad pass and game over. I have no problem with the decision. I wish DG had done it earlier when we had team hemmed in their zone.

Portillo is ready for Rochester. Michigan allows shots like the Amerks.

That may or may not be true, but he is perfect comparable in situation. Late Round pick who dominates college hockey as a sophomore on a young talented team, who wins the Hobey Baker (or is nominated for it). Miller went back for one more season to try to win it all. Levi may make the same decision. Also Levi's development has been pretty fantastic with pro hockey.

FYI on Northeastern's team. They have 8 drafted players, and 15 Freshman and Sophomores. Jack Hughes is most likely to be drafted in the 1st rd. They also have a few 2nd rd picks. This is a young and talented team despite comments to the contrary. I can easily see Levi going back to see if he and the other kids can push this team even higher. Ryan Miller made the same decision after winning the Hobey Baker to try to win a National Championship.

No, but there are many reasons to stay and only one to leave. I see you ignored that Miller made the decision to stay in a nearly identical situation.

Miller went back after his Hobey Baker winning season. Power went back after being the 1st overall pick to play with all the other top picks. It’s not a question of personal accomplishment, the kid may have other goals besides pro hockey

The hold up could also be money. Levi is a 7th rd pick but correctly wants 1st rd money. He also may want to go back to college for another year because his team is so young. Who knows. He may also want to take a few days to think things over.

Now if we can just get him out of Russia.

I can almost guarantee that scouts were at the Michigan and Minnesota games to both watch Power/Portillo and Johnson/Huglen and just in case one or both teams lost.

He went to see Levi because Michigan wasn’t losing their first rd game. NE was a considerable underdog. As I’ve noted before, trade the under-performing UPL and assign Levi to the AHL and Portillo to the ECHL or vice versa.

Because you are a Buffalo sports fan.

So we should evaluate him only on 9 good games in the NHL vs 50 mediocre ones in the minors?

3 of those top 4 ended up having pretty good NHL careers. Bodes well for the 4th

Who said they like Levi better? There is still a bias toward bigger goalies and Portillo has been Michigan’s team leader and has been stellar especially when a lot of guys went to the World Jrs and Olympics. Maybe he’s just not good enough and good to get something while you still can?

Why trade Portillo? If anyone is traded it should be UPL who is still a below average AHL goaltender.

That simply isn’t true. It’s the 3rd youngest team in the NCAA with a bunch of good developing players including Jack Hughes who will be a late 1st rd or early second rd pick. If you watched the game you saw them get dominated in the first but carry play for much of the next 2 periods against one of the top 4 and most veteran teams in college.

Uber talented and drives offense which is something we need. The "character" issues I've seen mentioned, but I have yet to see anything specific other then he has changed team a few times. Which prospect from outside NA hasn't. His 5 points in 2 World Jr games clearly illustrated that the potential is there. The article I read about him changing teams is that the first team expected a 17 year old kid to lead a men's league team. Not exactly a way to help a young player develop into his potential. It's like giving a C to a 19 year old in the NHL. My guess is you put a kid like this on a team with strong leadership like Tuch, KO, etc.. he'll become a real asset.