JohnC

My opinion: I don't think that they will upgrade from what they already have. Again, this is my opinion.

Attached is a WGR link that has Don Granato on the Howard and Jeremy Show. It is a 20 minute segment. Granato is great to listen to. He answers the questions and gives as much information about his thoughts that he can reasonably do for a person in his position. There is an interesting segment within the link where he strongly believes that improvement is going to come from within more than from the outside. No question this is the front office's stance that will influence any deals or limit some deals. He made an interesting comment that he didn't want to be involve in the Jack trade talk or felt it would be appropriate to do so. However, he did talk with the GM about the players being proposed to come from a deal. He also made some glowing comments about Power and felt that he should win the rookie award. https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/authors/howard-and-jeremy-show

Saros would definitely be an upgrade. What would you be willing to deal to get him? The GM has repeatedly stated and demonstrated that he is unwilling to part ways with young players and high-end prospects. The issue for me isn't whether he could do anything as it is would he. Based on how he has managed the operation for the past couple of years it seems that he is strongly inclined to build from within. The recent proposals that many are making is that he could he do this or that. That is not how I am framing the issue here. It is would he take the more aggressive course that many are arguing for. I say he will not because based on his prior actions he has a strong belief that staying the course that he set right from the outset is working well. He makes a compelling case that what he is doing is working. I'm confident that he is not going to pursue the more aggressive approach that @Thornyand @GASabresIUFANprefer.

Whether it is a cap issue or not it is unlikely (my opinion) that this organization is going to sign veer from the course of going out and signing another goalie, assuming that Levi signs with the organization. After this year, Comrie and UPL will be our goalies with Levi down in Rochester waiting in the wings. That's how I see the goalie situation playing out.

Let me add that I also agree with @Brawndothat the core has been identified and that it is a factor in KA's approach to bringing in or not bringing in players. Players such as Dahlin, Power and Quinn are going to require large expenditures. Add those prospective contracts to the contracts that have been given to Tage, Cozens, Samuelsson, Skinner, Tage and you can see a cap squeeze developing in the not-too-distant future. Because KA is very much focused on the future it is influences on how he acts in the present and near future. We are going in circles. I agree with you that everything depends. We'll just have to leave it there and see how things play out.

You have to listen to what the GM (not me) has been saying since he arrived. He does have options to make deals. That's obvious. And he does communicate with all the other GMs because that is his job. But he has made it clear how he is going to handle his responsibilities. Look at the deals he made this offseason such as acquiring Lyubushkin, Comrie and getting Yost during the season. None of them required giving up assets, most notably future assets. He's executing the plan that he has publicly stated he was going to do right from the start. If you find his plan too conservative and exasperating to live with then I don't know what to say. You asked if the GM will add another goalie in the offseason. My prediction is that he will not. If there is a deal I don't see it being anything other than a middling deal for Comrie. My guess is that he believes that he has the future goalie in the system i.e. Levi. And he will ride it out until he is ready to compete with UPL for the primary goalie spot. I'm sure you are not satisfied with that scenario playing out but that's what I see happening here.

KA has made it abundantly clear that he isn't going to give up significant future assets for the present situation. I would love to have a goalie like Soros but it is unlikely to happen here.

Members of @GASabresIUFANfamily are taking CPR lessons as the trade deadline approaches. They know how he will react when the organization doesn't react at the deadline. So they are preparing themselves to help a loved one. 🤡

There's a loud campaign to upgrade our goaltending. When the advocates are asked what goalies on the market are available that our GM would be interested in, the response is the same as you gave in your post: (No one in particular.) The GM and the coach are staying with the trio that they currently have. It wouldn't be surprising that the trio will soon be shortened to a duo to finish out the season. That's where this organization is at; and that is where it is going to stay until the next season.

The Lyubushkin move was a smart and productive move, especially considering his contract and the cost (nothing) in assets. And so was the Jost pickup. I'm not categorizing either pickup as a major deal but they helped to round out the roster.

Our goalies are what we currently have on this roster. I simply don't see a change in staffing being made other than 2 of the 3 become the rotational goalies this season.

I'm stating what I believe this organization's stance is toward our goalie situation. I have listened to KA on numerous occasions. He's not at all fuzzy about his approach/philosophy in how he is going to handle his job. It's going to be mostly a build from the inside approach. If you could tell me who you believe that KA will target as a goalie, I would be open to suggestions.

This is just my opinion: I think that next year our netminders will be Comrie and UPL with Levi waiting in the wings. My sense is that the organization is invested in Levi and that the hope is that Comrie and UPL can hold the fort until Levi is ready to make the jump. I really don't see KA going outside to find a solution, if there is one. As we discussed before, if the organization can add another defenseman or two that would be a way to support our average goalies.

Jensen is the name that keeps coming up.

Washington had already dealt some players. So my guess is that internally they know that there are too many deficiencies to get them in the playoffs. Hard look to get a realistic assessment.

I think because of Ovie's pursuit of Gretsky's goal record that it is unlikely that Washington would want to strip the team down to the bones and leave him bereft of supporting players.

I agree with you. If you have an abundance of draft capital, why not use it when it could be a factor in making the playoffs or not. If it doesn't work out, then so be it, at least you tried.

It would be interesting to know what Washington was asking and what Buffalo was offering. This is a situation where I would rather error on the side of giving a little more rather than coming away empty handed. This deal makes so much sense.

In the DeDominicis interview on WGR talking about trades he made the point that one of the majority benefits of trading for Jensen is that he would take much of the playing time away from Bryson and Clague. Exactly the same point that you made in your post. 🍷

Schopp had Chad DeDominicis on his WGR show talking about trades and Buffalo's interest in them. The most interesting comment that he made in this 19 min segment is that the Sabres are interested in trading with Washington for Jensen. They are hoping that the price comes down. He noted that they have had numerous communications with the Capitals for this player. https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/authors/schopp-and-bulldog

The poster you responded to is referring to the fact that our GM knew the player's dad when they were with Carolina in their cup year. I don't consider this transaction in any way an act of nepotism. It was simply a low-grade hockey trade.

Within this WGR link is a segment with David Pagnotta talking about trades around the league, and Buffalo's tepid interest. This is around 18 minute segment. Also, within this link is a 20 minute Paul Hamilton. The Hamilton segment is better than most of his segments. These two segments combined offer good hockey talk. https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/authors/howard-and-jeremy-show

If @GASabresIUFANtalks your ears off about potential trades, just nod approvingly through the conversation. He will consider you a kindred spirit. 🤡

McCabe is the type of player that the Sabres could have used. On the other hand, I doubt KA would have given up a first round pick for him.

I'm sure you are aware that I have been arguing for a long time, as you have, that the blueline needs additions. On that issue you and I are in accord. I'm not against adding another forward. But based on the numerous times KA has commented about the team and his philosophy about putting together a roster, he has made it abundantly clear that he prefers to work within the organization than rely on outside help. The elevation of Hinostroza from the AHL is an illustration of that. I'm expressing my view on what I believe he will do because of his often expressed feelings on building a team. It's evident that based on everything he has done so far that he is determined to adhere to the script he set when he took over. As the trade deadline approaches a number of teams have made moves. As of yet, the Sabres are not one of them. We shall see. @dudacek has made a persuasive point about the Sabre roster construction and coaching philosophy as to why there is an imbalance between the defensive metrics relative to the offensive metrics. It's by design.