Levi to start vs. NYR on Friday

[MBD]

At a 2.8% chance of making the playoffs by doing the same thing they've been doing, I'll take my chances on making a change.  And again if KA really wanted to make a push for the playoffs this year, he would have traded for a top player months ago.

[SwampD]

MMmmmmmmmmmmm,…

Rum...

 

Oh, wait. I'm already drinking a Manhattan.

[MBD]

2 hours ago, pi2000 said:

Wonder if KA/DG consulted with KO regarding DL.   

After all, KO told KA not to sent UPL down a few months ago.... and that worked out great 👁👄👁 

Wait, I thought the players have no input?

[Pimlach]

5 hours ago, pi2000 said:

Wonder if KA/DG consulted with KO regarding DL.   

After all, KO told KA not to sent UPL down a few months ago.... and that worked out great 👁👄👁 

UPL went on a good run after that vote of confidence.  He gave up a bunch of goals but won sone big games and played a lot during the nice run.  
 

All this talk about Levi playing is expected.  If he gets pounded then DG blew it, and if he wins then Levi is Donnie Edwards for the night.  

[pi2000]

This is his audition for next season and dictates the course this franchise takes over the summer. 

[Buffalonill]

Patrick kane has been really bad with the rangers. 

So hes probably going to be nightmare tonight 

[French Collection]

8 minutes ago, Buffalonill said:

Patrick kane has been really bad with the rangers. 

So hes probably going to be nightmare tonight 

Good thing he’s never played for Buffalo, it would almost guarantee a hat trick.

[MBD]

7 hours ago, Pimlach said:

UPL went on a good run after that vote of confidence.  He gave up a bunch of goals but won sone big games and played a lot during the nice run.  
 

All this talk about Levi playing is expected.  If he gets pounded then DG blew it, and if he wins then Levi is Donnie Edwards for the night.  

Meet the new goalie...

[Night Train]

 Feel free to correct but while driving the wifey to work this morning, WGR had Paul Hamilton on. He said UPL would have to clear waivers now to be sent to Rochester. Levi in Rochester next year means it's still Comrie and UPL here next season. The Sabres starting Levi tonight shows they have doubts about that idea for next season. Injuries and inconsistent play will do that. 

Mentioned Ullmark and his early games in Buffalo, followed by 2 years in Rochester. Was 25 before he got the permament NHL roster spot. 

Makes it sound like they still need to shop for yet another Vet Goalie during the summer and figure out what they wish to do with UPL and Comrie.  ugh..

[Zamboni]

13 minutes ago, Night Train said:

 Feel free to correct but while driving the wifey to work this morning, WGR had Paul Hamilton on. He said UPL would have to clear waivers now to be sent to Rochester. Levi in Rochester next year means it's still Comrie and UPL here next season. The Sabres starting Levi tonight shows they have doubts about that idea for next season. Injuries and inconsistent play will do that. 

Mentioned Ullmark and his early games in Buffalo, followed by 2 years in Rochester. Was 25 before he got the permament NHL roster spot. 

Makes it sound like they still need to shop for yet another Vet Goalie during the summer and figure out what they wish to do with UPL and Comrie.  ugh..

Well first of all don’t listen to Paul Hamilton. He’s clueless most of the time. However it was mentioned in another thread… That it would be wise to pair Levi up with a pretty good veteran goaltender once he does make the NHL on a regular basis. to lean on to learn from to grow and develop.

[Weave]

27 minutes ago, Zamboni said:

Well first of all don’t listen to Paul Hamilton. He’s clueless most of the time. However it was mentioned in another thread… That it would be wise to pair Levi up with a pretty good veteran goaltender once he does make the NHL on a regular basis. to lean on to learn from to grow and develop.

So, what was clueless about Hamilton’s take?

[DarthEbriate]

45 minutes ago, Night Train said:

 Feel free to correct but while driving the wifey to work this morning, WGR had Paul Hamilton on. He said UPL would have to clear waivers now to be sent to Rochester. Levi in Rochester next year means it's still Comrie and UPL here next season. The Sabres starting Levi tonight shows they have doubts about that idea for next season. Injuries and inconsistent play will do that. 

Mentioned Ullmark and his early games in Buffalo, followed by 2 years in Rochester. Was 25 before he got the permament NHL roster spot. 

Makes it sound like they still need to shop for yet another Vet Goalie during the summer and figure out what they wish to do with UPL and Comrie.  ugh..

To clarify, UPL is waivers exempt this season (barring an extremely successful playoff run where he's playing). Next season, he'll have to clear waivers based on the number of seasons played. https://www.capfriendly.com/waivers-calculator/ukko-pekka-luukkonen#results  

[Eleven]

FYI, he pronounces it like the jeans or like how most Americans pronounce the name of the tribe:  LEE-vigh.  

https://buffalonews.com/sports/sabres/to-get-you-ready-for-devon-levis-sabres-debut-heres-how-to-correctly-pronounce-his/article_4000cde8-cfcc-11ed-8ea0-835b84d77d8b.html#tracking-source=home-sports

I had been mispronouncing it as in "levee," a dam or "levy" as in taxation.

Edited March 31, 2023 by Eleven

[pi2000]

The goaltending has been utterly abysmal the past 6 years.

As fans we've been conditioned to accept average goaltending performances as exceptional.

Is today the day that changes? 

Total Goals Allowed Above Expected previous 13 years

+---------+-------+----------------+
| year    | GAAE  | team           |
+---------+-------+----------------+
| 2010-11 |  7.36 | Buffalo Sabres | - Miller / Enroth
| 2011-12 |  5.51 | Buffalo Sabres | - Miller / Enroth
| 2013    | -3.78 | Buffalo Sabres | - Miller / Enroth
| 2013-14 | -4.79 | Buffalo Sabres | - Miller / Enroth
| 2014-15 | 18.28 | Buffalo Sabres | - Enroth / Neuvirth
| 2015-16 |  3.30 | Buffalo Sabres | - Johnson / Ullmark / Lehner
| 2016-17 | -3.80 | Buffalo Sabres | - Lehner / Nillson
| 2017-18 | 41.06 | Buffalo Sabres | - Lehner / Johnson
| 2018-19 | 39.71 | Buffalo Sabres | - Hutton / Ullmark
| 2019-20 | 25.44 | Buffalo Sabres | - Hutton / Ullmark
| 2020-21 | 32.99 | Buffalo Sabres | - Ullmark / Hutton / Tokarski
| 2021-22 | 41.64 | Buffalo Sabres | - Anderson / Tokarski / Dell
| 2022-23 | 28.46 | Buffalo Sabres | - UPL / Anderson / Comrie
+---------+-------+----------------+
13 rows in set (0.00 sec)

NHL rank: 
2017-18: 30th
2018-19: 29th
2019-20: 26th
2020-21: 29th
2021-22: 27th
2022-23: 30th

If Levi can simply provide average NHL goaltending it will put this team in a wildcard spot next season.

[Marvin]

1 minute ago, pi2000 said:

The goaltending has been utterly abysmal the past 6 years.

As fans we've been conditioned to accept average goaltending performances as exceptional.

Is today the day that changes? 

Total Goals Allowed Above Expected previous 13 years

+---------+-------+----------------+
| year    | GAAE  | team           |
+---------+-------+----------------+
| 2010-11 |  7.36 | Buffalo Sabres | - Miller / Enroth
| 2011-12 |  5.51 | Buffalo Sabres | - Miller / Enroth
| 2013    | -3.78 | Buffalo Sabres | - Miller / Enroth
| 2013-14 | -4.79 | Buffalo Sabres | - Miller / Enroth
| 2014-15 | 18.28 | Buffalo Sabres | - Enroth / Neuvirth
| 2015-16 |  3.30 | Buffalo Sabres | - Johnson / Ullmark / Lehner
| 2016-17 | -3.80 | Buffalo Sabres | - Lehner / Nillson
| 2017-18 | 41.06 | Buffalo Sabres | - Lehner / Johnson
| 2018-19 | 39.71 | Buffalo Sabres | - Hutton / Ullmark
| 2019-20 | 25.44 | Buffalo Sabres | - Hutton / Ullmark
| 2020-21 | 32.99 | Buffalo Sabres | - Ullmark / Hutton / Tokarski
| 2021-22 | 41.64 | Buffalo Sabres | - Anderson / Tokarski / Dell
| 2022-23 | 28.46 | Buffalo Sabres | - UPL / Anderson / Comrie
+---------+-------+----------------+
13 rows in set (0.00 sec)

NHL rank: 
2017-18: 30th
2018-19: 29th
2019-20: 26th
2020-21: 29th
2021-22: 27th
2022-23: 30th

If Levi can simply provide average NHL goaltending it will put this team in a wildcard spot next season.

That is a sad, sad indicator of what this team has put out there for a long time.

[pi2000]

4 minutes ago, Marvin said:

That is a sad, sad indicator of what this team has put out there for a long time.

You'd think by chance, at some point, a goaltender would eventually step up and play half-way decent.

[PASabreFan]

34 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

You'd think by chance, at some point, a goaltender would eventually step up and play half-way decent.

So you wonder if it's been by design.

[Marvin]

34 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

So you wonder if it's been by design.

"Never ascribe to conspiracy what you can ascribe to incompetence."  I think the GMs being incompetent at goalie selection is more than plausible.

[Huckleberry]

1 hour ago, pi2000 said:

The goaltending has been utterly abysmal the past 6 years.

As fans we've been conditioned to accept average goaltending performances as exceptional.

Is today the day that changes? 

Total Goals Allowed Above Expected previous 13 years

+---------+-------+----------------+
| year    | GAAE  | team           |
+---------+-------+----------------+
| 2010-11 |  7.36 | Buffalo Sabres | - Miller / Enroth
| 2011-12 |  5.51 | Buffalo Sabres | - Miller / Enroth
| 2013    | -3.78 | Buffalo Sabres | - Miller / Enroth
| 2013-14 | -4.79 | Buffalo Sabres | - Miller / Enroth
| 2014-15 | 18.28 | Buffalo Sabres | - Enroth / Neuvirth
| 2015-16 |  3.30 | Buffalo Sabres | - Johnson / Ullmark / Lehner
| 2016-17 | -3.80 | Buffalo Sabres | - Lehner / Nillson
| 2017-18 | 41.06 | Buffalo Sabres | - Lehner / Johnson
| 2018-19 | 39.71 | Buffalo Sabres | - Hutton / Ullmark
| 2019-20 | 25.44 | Buffalo Sabres | - Hutton / Ullmark
| 2020-21 | 32.99 | Buffalo Sabres | - Ullmark / Hutton / Tokarski
| 2021-22 | 41.64 | Buffalo Sabres | - Anderson / Tokarski / Dell
| 2022-23 | 28.46 | Buffalo Sabres | - UPL / Anderson / Comrie
+---------+-------+----------------+
13 rows in set (0.00 sec)

NHL rank: 
2017-18: 30th
2018-19: 29th
2019-20: 26th
2020-21: 29th
2021-22: 27th
2022-23: 30th

If Levi can simply provide average NHL goaltending it will put this team in a wildcard spot next season.

So we should get Enroth back for back up ? 😛

[Taro T]

2 hours ago, Eleven said:

FYI, he pronounces it like the jeans or like how most Americans pronounce the name of the tribe:  LEE-vigh.  

https://buffalonews.com/sports/sabres/to-get-you-ready-for-devon-levis-sabres-debut-heres-how-to-correctly-pronounce-his/article_4000cde8-cfcc-11ed-8ea0-835b84d77d8b.html#tracking-source=home-sports

I had been mispronouncing it as in "levee," a dam or "levy" as in taxation.

Why'd you think he keeps getting referred to as Mr. Blue Jeans?

[Srw1525]

[Eleven]

17 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Why'd you think he keeps getting referred to as Mr. Blue Jeans?

I didn't know that he was.

[Pimlach]

3 hours ago, pi2000 said:

The goaltending has been utterly abysmal the past 6 years.

As fans we've been conditioned to accept average goaltending performances as exceptional.

Is today the day that changes? 

Total Goals Allowed Above Expected previous 13 years

+---------+-------+----------------+
| year    | GAAE  | team           |
+---------+-------+----------------+
| 2010-11 |  7.36 | Buffalo Sabres | - Miller / Enroth
| 2011-12 |  5.51 | Buffalo Sabres | - Miller / Enroth
| 2013    | -3.78 | Buffalo Sabres | - Miller / Enroth
| 2013-14 | -4.79 | Buffalo Sabres | - Miller / Enroth
| 2014-15 | 18.28 | Buffalo Sabres | - Enroth / Neuvirth
| 2015-16 |  3.30 | Buffalo Sabres | - Johnson / Ullmark / Lehner
| 2016-17 | -3.80 | Buffalo Sabres | - Lehner / Nillson
| 2017-18 | 41.06 | Buffalo Sabres | - Lehner / Johnson
| 2018-19 | 39.71 | Buffalo Sabres | - Hutton / Ullmark
| 2019-20 | 25.44 | Buffalo Sabres | - Hutton / Ullmark
| 2020-21 | 32.99 | Buffalo Sabres | - Ullmark / Hutton / Tokarski
| 2021-22 | 41.64 | Buffalo Sabres | - Anderson / Tokarski / Dell
| 2022-23 | 28.46 | Buffalo Sabres | - UPL / Anderson / Comrie
+---------+-------+----------------+
13 rows in set (0.00 sec)

NHL rank: 
2017-18: 30th
2018-19: 29th
2019-20: 26th
2020-21: 29th
2021-22: 27th
2022-23: 30th

If Levi can simply provide average NHL goaltending it will put this team in a wildcard spot next season.

Linus Ullmark was there for 3 of those 6 seasons, and now he is a Vezina candidate.    The Bruins defense and their two way system goes a long way.  

[Pimlach]

2 hours ago, PASabreFan said:

So you wonder if it's been by design.

Why would they do that by design?  They thought Ullmark could develop, which he apparently did, but they couldn't keep him.  

[DarthEbriate]

8 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Linus Ullmark was there for 3 of those 6 seasons, and now he is a Vezina candidate.    The Bruins defense and their two way system goes a long way.  

And Ullmark put up a +.913sv% every single season except for one while with the Sabres (and his poorest 2018-2019 season was basically Anderson's numbers this year). It didn't matter if it was Housley, Krueger, or Granato, Ullmark was consistent and improving overall year-to-year. But the other guys were always garbage except for 1 month of Hutton and...  Houser!