Porous Five Hole

How do you feel about the slotting of Wahlberg at 13? Seems low to me.

8pm or later please. Since this draft is done in under an hour, a late start won’t mean a late end.

If there is a “Ruff effect,” the same can be said for Bryam. I think people were upset with the trade because fans liked Casey M and Bo didn’t show much in his first 18 games…so folks are down on him. I see a 4th overall guy, super young, that showed hints of brilliance in the playoffs. He also missed time with various injuries and did not play as well when he came back from them. He should be coming in healthy and with an upgrade in head coach—he could take off. I expect it.

If folks aren’t high on Levi, it is because they're not paying attention. Draft pedigree should not be a litmus test any longer. I’m not here to advocate that he is fully formed and goalies are weird, but he’s already too good to play in the AHL. He posted a ridiculous .927 in Rochester last year with a 2.42 GAA. He was .923 in the playoffs and was the best player on the team against Syr. Compare that to the other Amerks goalies last season for context. Or compare it to UPL’s age 21 season. Only one AHL goalie had a better save percentage and he plays for the back to back Calder Cup champs (clearly a far superior team). He likely will play in ROC so he can continue to get as many starts as possible —and he’s not ready to be a #1 in the NHL. No matter how one defines prospect, people are sleeping on Devon. Maybe it just comes down to goalies being weird.

Those puff pieces are what gets my wife (who did not grow up with hockey) engaged in this team with me. I agree with you that I don’t need it, but after 13 years of futility….those puff personality pieces lead to her watching games with me. She never saw Hasek in 99 or the President’s trophy team of 06-07. She doesn’t know vintage Rick. Or a freakin playoff game lol And there’s an entire generation of Buffalonians who also don’t have that connection. I’m sure you’ll hit me with your patented red X Disagree emoji and I get it, but that stuff helps me get her to watch games in February with me so I’m here for it.

Sway is an RFA who has played 4 seasons, maxed out at 43 starts, with a Jennings and 7th in Vezina voting under his belt. Ten million is a lot.

He was not a top pair guy toward the end of the AHL season nor the playoff around last year. Maybe he has a big summer, but I would not agree that he’s close to ascending above Gilbert and Bryson for the 7th D spot.

It was hilarious. 4D chess, amirite? I looked it up for fun. The player’s name is Pontus Holmberg and he’s got 91 NHL games to his credit so far (not including appearing in all seven playoff games in 2024). Frickin Botts 🤦‍♂️

He was inducted into the AHL hall of fame in 2020. He scored 338 goals in the AHL in 12 seasons. He was never fast enough to play in the NHL before his lost season due to acl tear.

Getzlaf to DOPS This seems Iike an odd hire…

It would be hard to imagine Team USA not having room for Tage. A quick google search of projected rosters for 2026 and the top three results were Hockey Writers, Bleacher Report, and NBC Sports Boston. Each of them projected Tage as a top nine forward.

If he fully develops (which is always the plan for every guy, but it doesn’t work that way), he can be a shiftier/more creative Jason Pominville. Not a 1RW on a good team, but counted on for offense and won’t hurt you defensively. If his growth stunts, he could still be a 3RW a la Tyler Ennis. Ten goals a year and hangs around in the league for a while as a low cost third liner. He has the skill to be an NHL player. Hopefully he can continue to put on weight without losing his jump.

To me, 50 points in 67 games as an underweight 20 year old in the AHL is not sub-NHL pace. He needs time to learn the North American game. Is he likely to be a first line winger? Probably not. But his AHL production is in line with most of the other forwards drafted around him. I watch a lot of Amerks games and I am not down on him.

He went unsigned in free agency. He will be 32 by opening night and his foot speed fell off a cliff last season. He is/was a good guy and good leader, but it was probably time for the next phase of his life. He was a good captain for us and will be remembered fondly.

Go home Mother Nature, you’re drunk.

To me, this is more about the convenience of timing in that his contract was up. I would not have fired him for this, but Marek, being a Sportsnet employee, turned Sportsnet into the source of leaked info. It makes sense that Sportsnet wouldn’t be ok with him sharing it. But that has nothing to do with gambling and to associate the leaks under the guise of a gambling matter seems like a load of poop. Given that 1) a new contract was not in place when it expired in a matter of days, and 2) Marek had to sign a confidentiality agreement on the info surrounding his separation, there’s definitely more to the story. And I would be guessing there’s more to it than just draft day.

I don’t like this deal. Too long of a contract for one season of A) finally staying healthy for a full season, and B) finally getting a save percentage above league average (AHL & NHL combined for each season). He seems like a good dude and I want the Sabres to win, but I would not have done this deal. I would have gone to arbitration for a one year deal this offseason & re-evaluate in 25-26 (while UPL is an RFA again and Levi has another season of experience). Hope I’m wrong I guess.

In.

He’s more trusted to be a 3C than Peyton Krebs and has Stanley Cup Final experience, so trading one of your four/five other similar prospects (Kulich, Rosan, Östlund, Helenius, beaten out by Benson) makes sense to improve your 2024-25 Sabres. I like it.

Folks here predicted a long term deal with Henri for over 4MM AAV. This deal hits just right. They’ll use him for his handedness, and move on when it is time to pay better players. Time for Byrum to step up. Nice signing to lead into that.

UPL to arbitration made my month. The Sabres need to know if UPL is the .910+ guy he played to be last season (or not). This is a short-term cost-controlled way to find out. He gets paid in a year where the cap is not of any importance to this team’s cap max. I hope he rakes the Sabres over the coals and earns his long term deal. And if not and he returns to his .898 or injured form that he was displayed to be every year prior to 23-24, then the Sabres are protected and Levi gets the keys to the kingdom. It’s a perfect scenario for the Sabres.

I think this is the best move for all involved. The Sabres get more runway to see if UPL is “him.” UPL gets a raise and if he runs it back, will have a nice long term contract waiting for him (here or somewhere else). Swayman elected for arbitration last year and it has gone well for him. He’s about to get PAID.

Konsta doing Konsta things