Drag0nDan

Felt like kozak was a more impactful defender in that his hits seemed to land more. Couple nice goals as well. I feel like Krebs has been tried all over, and it wasn't good - so i guess try something else because they're incredibly thin at center. This team's almost running 2 4th lines - someone from the defense is going to have to score at this rate.

Gotta love talking heads talking about a player they've clearly never seen play.

I'd imagine its some combination of playing both C and W, and with a laundry list of players. Now onto the what 5th center he's played with? Norris, Kulich, Greenway, Östlund, Krebs. Off Wings have been Benson, Rosen, Doan, Tuch, zucker. Buffalo has played 14 games - the only consistent element to his game this season has been a total lack of cohesion with his linemates.

He (tuch and thompson too) has hit the post quite a few times this year.

Maybe its because everyone on the internet hates power for some reason. Levi has no leverage and probably has a better path to the NHL here than anywhere else, and wouldn't be moved unless they were given a real offer. I'm not saying fans have a major effect on things, but when fans outright say that these guys suck on social media regarding guys like Power and Coleman for the Bills, it doesn't really make you want to play for the team. I think its fair to be critical and talk about players, but when you just trash your team why are you shocked when people don't want to play here. Do we root for the team, or root for this need to be "right" about a pick you didn't like?

It's not as if anything they practice is permanent though. Just trying to shake things up because they're struggling to score with zucker and benson out. I'd expect that doan-mcleod-tuch line to return again.

I just spot checked a bunch of goalies - good ones, mediocre ones, bad ones - UPL's .820 was the worst i saw.

I think they'd be better off sending Geertson to the minors permanently, and bringing up literally anyone else.

I think .830 might be really really bad. Also, if I'm reading this correctly... UPL was at .820 last season. https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/l/luukkuk01.html

Would help if norris could play, ever.

I didn't like the Reinhart trade because he was 26 - like this IS his prime. But for whatever reason, he was bridged by Botterill. While also trying to navigate the ullmark situation that looked to be going down like the hindenberg. Just terrible roster and asset management that lead to the goalie situation i outlined above. The reinhart compensation felt like it was missing a player moreso than anything else. Player-prospect-pick. I forgot he was here 🙂

I think we all over-expected based on his college production, and his rookie year cup of coffee. End of the day, his 39 NHL starts are 2nd in his draft class behind Nico Daws. Askarov was picked 11 overall and only has 22 starts, and is currently 1-4-1 with an .844 sv% and 4.69 GAA. It's certainly a position that requires a lot more patience than others. At the time of trade though - Buffalo used these goalies: Anderson, Tokarski, Dell, UPL, Houser, and Subban. In the AHL, UPL started the majority of games but the rest of the depth was pretty much the same guys as above. There wasn't much of anything at the NHL level or AHL level from a goaltending perspective. UPL was fast tracked because he was the only one there, Portillo refused to sign, and Johansson was dumped because he was terrible. That's not to say that any of these guys are the answer, just to say that at the time we fans probably set unrealistic expectations because of how bad the goalies had gotten after losing Ullmark. They now have: Lyon, capable backup performing well in his chance to start. Kind of a late bloomer. UPL, probably a future backup elsewhere. Overpaid. But still the highest quality home grown goalie the team has produced recently. Ellis, probably a bit short on AHL/NHL starts to be relied upon - but is just 25 and under team control. Levi, Right around the sweet spot of 100 starts and doesn't have to clear waivers so unfortunately for him, that means he mans the AHL. 4 prospects in Leinonen, Ratzlaff, Leenders, and Prokhorov. As bad as the position has been, its about as good of a spot as they've been in a long time. I don't think they have their "guy" today, but there's a number of options as well as future pieces to try and get this position right.

Honestly, the guy was always injured his entire development, so it wouldn't shock me if this lingers.

Just let Levi cook in the AHL for another year. He has no avenue to really do anything - he isn't even on the NHL roster. I do wonder what the plan is here though, and I'd imagine Levi is thinking the same thing. You now have 2 prospects who are at the graduation age, an overpaid UPL, and Lyon who has played well here so far. 1 of Ellis/Levi probably has to go next season, and honestly UPL needs to go as well. It's tough to do anything quite yet though. It's a make or break season for the roster as its currently constructed, and poor goaltending was one of the biggest issues last year. The guy STL kept over Ellis is currently 1-2 with a .793 sv% and a 5.81 GAA. Things can take a pretty sharp turn pretty fast. That and short side. You look for the cross ice pass, and he cheats and leaves a gap blocker side.

I just don't really know what he is. Not noticably good on the dot. Career 10% shooter - which feels higher than it should be but he just doesn't shoot. Tries to play a physical game, but isn't that physical. Has some jolt to his skating but it doesn't jump out as "fast" either. Doesn't kill penalties. Almost 300 games with buffalo and under 100 points.

pretty similar spot - they need to avoid 13 straight losses and they'll be right in the mix. Put a few streaks together of good hockey and they can make it.

Honestly i'm not sure. My buddy reached out before the season to get a group - i'd imagine any ST holders get it but I'm not sure on anyone else. Nothing was mailed out so i'd imagine you have to be there to get it, and you had to provide a size.

The 4th line is... rough. I'd MUCH rather have greenway than Dunne or Geertson. He also can kill penalties which allows someone like tuch to not have to do it.

Yeah, i'm gonna head down for 430 or so, i hate paying arena prices for beer and id rather just have a couple and get a coke at the game. I forgot its "frozen frenzy" day, so every team in the league is in action which explains the weird start time.

I wanted to pair doan and mcleod, but assumed doan would have been playing down as a young player on line 4. Pleasantly surprised that those 2+tuch has become a thing, and it's probably been the most consistent line.

I know! So stupid! I wanted to grab a drink at ballyhoo before the game so now i have to take a call in the car. It's also bills night so there's a free "jersey", so its going to take longer to get into the arena.

I know, was more just saying 1 game doesn't really mean much.

From what i remember Hall was the response to Eichel asking for a trade before his neck injury. Either way, it wasn't a great use of cap, he wasn't good here, and the trade value was insanely low. I think they probably should have just kept him because that comp was basically nothing, but i'd imagine TP probably wanted to save some money.

In pretty much any sport other than football - the prospects take a lot of time to show up as what they eventually are. Baseball: trades always move prospects and they give them a "ranking" (top 100 in baseball, top 3 in the org ,etc), but majority of these guys don't work out. Getting something for an expiring player contract is usually the goal. Basketball: Players get traded for anything and everything. So few players on an actual roster means you have less guys to move, the money becomes harder to manage so extra teams are almost always involved, and the players have a LOT of control. So pick swaps, tons of protected draft picks, you won't know what you get for YEARS. In any of these sports you're looking at 5-7 years to really track whether you got value when you move a player for prospects. The value that the acquiring team gets is immediate, so you always look like the loser in those trades when you move the Eichel or Reinhart deal.

I don't think he signs here without one FWIW