pi2000

Waving sticks at guys, not moving their feet, huge gaps, turning pucks over, watching the puck instead of picking up the open guy, no puck support, unwilling to block a shot.. it's been a chronic problem under Granato. It looks like they're playing a pick-up game down at the local rink.

Yikes, let's try to win a few games before declaring then the next TBL.

He gave up 5 two games prior.

Levi won't be NHL ready next season. Ok, let's say they give him a chance to start the season in Buffalo. If he's not the day 1 starter, he needs to be in Roch... he needs to playing and playing a lot to acclimate to the pro game. If Portillo is in Roch, they'll have to split the net... surethat creates competition, however it's not good for either player to be sitting at this stage of their development. Would rather one (or both) return to college.

Portillo has improved of late. However, Levi has been going the other direction.... .887 sv% in his last 4 games. In his last start he gave up 4 on only 8 shots in 13min vs UMass-Lowell before getting pulled.

One of Levi or Portillo needs to stay in college next season, otherwise you have a logjam with UPL in the mix as well. Conceivably they could split the net in Roch, while UPL gets his chance in Buffalo, but I'm not sure that's best for their development.

He's excelling on the 3rd line in FLA. He couldn't handle the pressure of a top 6 contributor. That's the way it is for some players. IMO GMKA got fair value for a third line player.

..still a negative TRPM 😉

I know it's somewhat off topic, but what happened to William Eklund? There were a few folks here thought he could go #1 overall.... he hasn't scored a single goal this season. https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=231628

I had Zegras ahead of Cozens in my final draft rankings as he's the more skilled player. That said, Cozens is a better 200ft player, which is what Buffalo needs. TRPMs Zegras -9.26 Cozens -4.46 Cozens > Zegras confirmed 🙂

According to my source it's a wrist injury and his agent is pressing Sabre's management to allow his client to have AWR surgery.

If that's the case, then he shouldn't be out there. When you're gassed you make mistakes and are more susceptible to injury. One thing is becoming clear... the Sabres trainers are poor at deciding when a player should be cleared to play.

OK, I've deleted the post. God forbid we look back and laugh at ourselves 🙄

hahahaha Seriously tho, there's all types of fitness tests... on-ice, off-ice (eg, VO2 max) etc... He looked completely gassed 15 seconds into his first shift in Ottawa last week.

They're both prospects who still need a lot of work. Wether that's back in the NCAA or AHL, doesn't really matter. Neither will be part of the solution in goal next season.

The training staff should have put him through a fitness test before letting him play. Either the test isn't difficult enough, or there was no test.... it was obvious he wasn't ready to play.

Well it was interesting to hear that he's been struggling with neck/nervous system issues since 2018 and hasn't really been healthy at any point since (neck, abdominal, rib fracture..)

I'd give Tuch an "A" and Cozens at some point. Don't know enough about the office social dynamics to make that decision tho. That said, the future captain is not currently with the team, but has already been drafted.

Eakin is one of the few experienced players on the roster. He'll play if he's healthy.

Use it to fill out the roster and upgrade the goaltender position, but don't spend to the cap. They won't be contenders next season so they need to continue to grow from within, draft , develop, and use money to keep guys they like. Don't be tempted to jumpstart the rebuild by signing one or two big name UFAs.... now is not the time.

Who will be the next Sabre to go down? Skinner is having a nice bounce-back season and for that reason he's destined for a season ending injury here sooner than later.

Yo, I'm assuming you're being sarcastic here.... 🙂 Tomkins and Pasquale will be playing against their peers in the Olympics, and those numbers are no joke. Levi? Has never played against pros.... so jury is out. It's foolish to simply assume he'll put up the same numbers he did in college, when the sample size is 0. At this point, he's 3rd string. Let's hope he proves to everyone he deserves the starting nod.

Sabres for life or GTFO