JohnC

The family members don't get the work visas. The player applies for a work visa, and it gets scrutinized for approval or not by the American Embassy. A while back I remember a Russian intelligence agent who defected to the US. He was in protective custody by the state department in an out of the way countryside hideaway. The Russians were able to get him on the phone. They put his family back in Russia including wife, parents and kids on the line. He was asked if he loved his family. He got the message and returned to Russia. He was killed by a firing squad. Under the Putin regime there have been a number of Russian poisonings of defectors and critics in foreign countries by nuclear isotopes. This is a brutal and vindictive regime. I'm not suggesting that the family back home will necessarily be killed. But they would be harassed in a variety of ways such as a loss of employment. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/06/alexander-litvinenko-and-the-most-radioactive-towel-in-history

It's easier for a player to get out but what happens to the family that is left behind. This is a brutal regime that will unmercifully exact revenge on the family. And this is also a regime that will cross borders and boldly take deadly action against people who have gone against the regime. It's a terrible situation for the prospects who are pursuing a dream of playing in the NHL.

What's his value? If he decides to stay in school doesn't he become a free agent after the college season?

It seems that the interest in the team is coming back. A good sign. If the GM made a mildly bold move to get a goalie it would quicken the pace of the return of the fans.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Butcher-Shop/Redlinski-Meats-321533154600/

This issue was talked about on WGR with a hockey reporter. The issue really isn't will the Russian prospects eventually be able to come to North America because they likely will. The issue is will these prospects have to stay in Russia longer and have their development curtailed compared to coming to NA sooner and using the lower hockey leagues and training facilities to prepare to become NHL players. Will their development be slowed and stifled? Maybe? There are plenty of young Russian players playing in the Russian leagues now who are not getting much playing time because older players are getting the ice time. That certainly has to be a consideration when deciding whether to take a Russian prospect over another prospect. Maybe these issues aren't disqualifying but they certainly are being considered by most teams. The flip side to this issue is that because Buffalo has a bevy of picks they are in a better position to select a Russian player who has fallen in the draft below their ranking. This is a case where being bold and judicious are two sides of the same coin.

Attached is a WGR link from the Howard and Jeremy Show. Within this link are two hockey segments that deal with the draft and league player moves. The Kris Baker segment which is about 15 min focuses on prospects in the Sabre system. Interestingly, the one Sabre prospect he gushed the most over was Levi. The other segment is with Dave Panotta, Editor-and Chief of the Fourth Period. This is a 10 min segment. Much of the discussion related to player movement in the league. When asked about the goalie market for Buffalo he felt that a trade is the most likely avenue to acquire one. Good hockey talk. https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/authors/howard-and-jeremy-show

I hope you are feeling better. Are you taking any medications or just riding it out? Family members in California are getting hit a second time. This plague is going to be with us for a long time.

Probably so. Wanting and getting something are two different issues. Getting a goalie such as MAF would certainly energize the fan base and bring in a lot more customers to the arena. The thought of Marty Biron interviewing MAF is a delightful thought.

The Sabres are going to be at or near the bottom of cap expenditures. I have no problem with that because even as a lower expenditure team they can still make the few beneficial additions that will better round out the roster. Most people agree that the priority is getting a goalie.

I agree that we are all guessing on what the GM is going to do on this issue. My inclination is that he isn't giving any goalie $5 M per year even on a two year deal.

I have no clue where Fleury is going to sign. Would he take a discount contract to go to a contender, even as a backup? Or is he trying to get as much $$$ as he can as he career reaches the end of the line? I can't say for sure. But I just don't see him coming to Buffalo because I don't believe the GM is going to pay him at the level where it would be his worthwhile to come here. My sense is that the GM prefers spending at best mid-tier money for a goalie he eventually brings in.

I agree with most of the decisions that the GM has made in the rebuild. However, I am perplexed at his apparent casual attitude in addressing the goalie situation. It makes no sense to me. If he doesn't meaningfully address the position, it will undercut the good work he has done in restocking the roster. There are still opportunities to bring in another credible goalie. But it seems as days pass by the number of options decline. Keep an eye out for a deal with Washington. One of their goalies is rumored to be moved.

Yes, theoretically the GM could sign Letang and Malkin and not hurt re-signing his young players in the future. But what is the probability that he would do so? It is very small and improbable. That's the point that I'm making. Your second paragraph concisely states what almost everyone on the board agrees with. I don't understand the commotion.

I don't understand your "dogmatic interpretation" about my comments. What I have said is that the GM has clearly stated what his strategy will be in how he rebuilds the roster. And without question he has adhered to it. He has been up front about not being a high expenditure franchise now so he can be in a better situation in the future when a wave of his young core players enter into their next contracts.

You have missed my point on my comments on KA. What I have said about him is that he is fully transparent about what he is going to do. There is no hidden agenda. He has repeatedly publicly stated on what his strategy is to rebuild this roster. If you disagree with it, then that is fine. But what he is doing and the direction he is taking in this endeavor should not be a mystery to anyone. He is doing exactly what he said he would be doing since his installation.

You don't have to listen to what Elliot Friedman has to say about the cap and money because it isn't a secret. The GM has publicly stated about how he is going to spend the cap in the present and the future. There is no hidden agenda. He's leaving money on the table now so he can have it when the young core needs extensions.

The injury factor certainly is a concern. The player that I'm more concerned about regarding an injury derailing a career is UPL. The coach has stated that during training camp he felt that Mitts was one of his best players. That's certainly encouraging. But what makes me optimistic about this upcoming season (goalie still an overriding issue) is that the roster is starting to create some depth where it can absorb an injury and not be devastated by it. At the center position you have to add Krebs, Tage and Cozens to the center mix. My point is that although I'm expecting Mitts to become a good contributing player, I'm not counting on him to be an invaluable player who can't be replaced.

There has been speculation that eventually she will be exchanged for a notorious Russian arms dealer. Like you, I wouldn't be surprised if she had a small amount of drugs with her. But this was a staged arrest with the higher authorities involved in this hostage taking. The end result of this hostage taking is going to be no foreign players in any sport are going to play in Russia. Russia has become a mafia-like gangster government running a criminal operation. https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Brittney-Griner-Russia-prisoner-exchange-merchant-17279763.php

Since the GM was installed, he has repeatedly publicly stated his philosophy on rebuilding this franchise. There is no hidden agenda. Every time he is interviewed his robotic response is the same: The word patience is included in almost all his sentences. The over-arching rebuild strategy in his rebuild is to "draft and develop". There really is nothing innovative about it because it is a standard approach that is widely used. Yzerman took that approach when he was with Detroit (successfully so), then with Tampa (successfully so) and is now employing it back in Detroit (starting to show results). We all agree that there needs to be a goalie upgrade. What's obvious is obvious. And most of us agree that a solid veteran defenseman and forward should be added. But it is unlikely that a high cost and top tier player will be filling any of those positions. Would I like to see the GM go after the best goalie available? Absolutely! But based on what the GM has stated and on how he has operated during his tenure I don't see him taking that more costly road. I have a more favorable view of Mitts than you appear to have. And I don't consider it wishful thinking. I'm basing my projection on how he performed last year when he was healthy. And I have the same positive view of Cozens for next season. As I said before the main source of this team's improvement next season will be due to internal improvement more so than from outside additions. I highly doubt that there will be any blockbuster deals that will have the fans buzzing with excitement. That's how I see it.

For which team?

Your condescending characterization is off the mark.

I believe, as others do, that Levi is the goalie of the future that the GM is counting on to anchor this team. I, and others, also believe that he prefers to add a stopgap goalie until Levi or maybe UPL is ready to assume the heavy load. His longer view of the position is understandable but carries a risk of sabotaging the current roster's ability to compete. With the goalie position I wish he would focus on the present more and upgrade the position sooner rather than later.

The reason why the Rangers made the leap forward is that their goalie played like one of the top two or three goalies in the league. We are definitely not going to get that level from play regardless of who the GM brings in. As I said in prior posts the primary driving factor is going to come from internal improvements from players who are already on the roster. Not only is that the best way moving forward, it is the fastest way to move forward. I am counting Mitts and Cozens to up their game the most and improve the team. The Italian coach with the cool blue framed glasses has stated that Mitts was the best player in camp. That is encouraging. I'm also counting on the GM to bring in players at the positions you noted. But although they won't be at an exceptional level, they should collectively contribute to improve the team. How much so? I can't say. What I can say is that the young GM has been clear on his strategy to rebuild the roster. It's obvious to me that he is adhering to it. Some people don't like his approach because it doesn't meet their desire for instant gratification. I'm on board because I know that I don't reside in a fantasy world.

As you noted there are a number of teams interested in goalies. That's why I hope that the GM doesn't get too cute and hardnosed in his negotiations for a goalie. We have an abundance of draft assets where we are in a better position to deal than other teams are.