Backup goaltending: what do we really think about the situation in the crease?

[Buffalonill]

Vladar would be interesting what do you think the cost could be 

[LGR4GM]

2 hours ago, Randall Flagg said:

That's cool. I don't though and there's no way to tell who's right,and this is a very important season

What if,  and hear me out first, we found a DeLorean with a Flux capacitor? 

[Taro T]

37 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

What if,  and hear me out first, we found a DeLorean with a Flux capacitor? 

Would never work.  You'd never be able to get the plutonium.

[Pimlach]

On 7/8/2023 at 9:34 AM, LGR4GM said:

I think we see a massive rebound from Comrie 

I see what you did there.  

[That Aud Smell]

Chad and other members of Buffalo Twitter had some content today - sorry can't link at the moment - suggesting that relying on a 21 year-old goalie (to start the season) to provide solid NHL minutes for ~30+ games is ... fairly  without precedent. The name Carter Hart was thrown out there as the lone unicorn who managed to do it.

DO SOMETHING, KEVYN.

[JohnC]

4 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

Chad and other members of Buffalo Twitter had some content today - sorry can't link at the moment - suggesting that relying on a 21 year-old goalie (to start the season) to provide solid NHL minutes for ~30+ games is ... fairly  without precedent. The name Carter Hart was thrown out there as the lone unicorn who managed to do it.

DO SOMETHING, KEVYN.

Very often a decision not to do anything is the something that the GM decided to make. You and the majority don't agree with the status quo situation that the GM, so far, has taken. It appears that Levi is going to be our primary goalie with UPL and Comrie competing for the backup role. I'm not worried about the current goalie staffing. Instead of getting another goalie I would rather the GM bring in another 4/5 defenseman and put the goalies, whoever they are, in a better position to succeed. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

13 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

Chad and other members of Buffalo Twitter had some content today - sorry can't link at the moment - suggesting that relying on a 21 year-old goalie (to start the season) to provide solid NHL minutes for ~30+ games is ... fairly  without precedent. The name Carter Hart was thrown out there as the lone unicorn who managed to do it.

DO SOMETHING, KEVYN.

I have posted this previously, but there are only 5 goalies to start 40+ games as a 21-year-old since 2000.  Only Steven Mason (58 games in 09/20), Price (52 games in 08/09), MAF (50 games in 05/06), Luongo (47 games in 00/01), and Hart (43 games in 19/20).  Hart was the best by a wide margin with a 2.42 Gaa and a .914 Save%.  

https://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/player-age/21-year-old-nhl-goalies.html

I agree that not upgrading UPL and Comrie is a huge mistake on KA's part, but I'm not sure what can be done about it at this point without an offer sheet to an RFA goalie or trading for Hellebuyck.

Edited July 13, 2023 by GASabresIUFAN

[GASabresIUFAN]

I'll amend my previous post with this question.  If Calgary, who has Vlader and Wolf waiting in the wings, is willing to move on from Markstrom, would you be interested?  Would KA be interested?  Would Markstrom waive his NMC to come to Buffalo?

Markstrom has 3 years left at $6 mill per season in cap ($20 mill in real $).  He has been solid up until last season when his Gaa jumped to 2.92 with a .892 save % in 59 games.  He was excellent the year prior with a 2.22 and a .922 in 63 games.   If interested, what would it cost?  The Flames have a full roster and 2.4 mill in cap space.  Markstrom is 33.

[LGR4GM]

14 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

I'll amend my previous post with this question.  If Calgary, who has Vlader and Wolf waiting in the wings, is willing to move on from Markstrom, would you be interested?  Would KA be interested?  Would Markstrom waive his NMC to come to Buffalo?

Markstrom has 3 years left at $6 mill per season in cap ($20 mill in real $).  He has been solid up until last season when his Gaa jumped to 2.92 with a .892 save % in 59 games.  He was excellent the year prior with a 2.22 and a .922 in 63 games.   If interested, what would it cost?  The Flames have a full roster and 2.4 mill in cap space.  Markstrom is 33.

At least 2 mil in retention and I'd give them UPL and a 3rd.

[Flashsabre]

Calgary needs to move a goalie, Hellebuyck in Winnipeg, Swayman, Samsonov and Gustavsson going to arbitration with cap strapped teams, the Team Canada report holding up any Hart move. The goalie story of the summer is far from being over.

[dudacek]

12 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

At least 2 mil in retention and I'd give them UPL and a 3rd.

This is why we cant find a goalie.

Over the past 3 years, Markstrom is objectively a good NHL starting goalie. He’s 6th in the league in wins, 20th in s % and 11th in GAA.

And we won’t pay more for him than Riley Stillman and a goalie we’re terrified to let play 30 games.

There’s like 5 goalies Sabrefans want and none we’re willing to give up anything for.

[dudacek]

12 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

Calgary needs to move a goalie, Hellebuyck in Winnipeg, Swayman, Samsonov and Gustavsson going to arbitration with cap strapped teams, the Team Canada report holding up any Hart move. The goalie story of the summer is far from being over.

Vladar and Hanifin for Olofsson, Jokiharju and next year’s 1st.

Who says no, and why?

[Thorny]

2 hours ago, JohnC said:

Very often a decision not to do anything is the something that the GM decided to make. You and the majority don't agree with the status quo situation that the GM, so far, has taken. It appears that Levi is going to be our primary goalie with UPL and Comrie competing for the backup role. I'm not worried about the current goalie staffing. Instead of getting another goalie I would rather the GM bring in another 4/5 defenseman and put the goalies, whoever they are, in a better position to succeed. 

Is this an auto response? Actually asking 

[Brawndo]

18 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Vladar and Hanifin for Olofsson, Jokiharju and next year’s 1st.

Who says no, and why?

The Sabres, they already have better versions of Hanifin in Power and Dahlin, Hanifin is not very good defensively. 
 

Vladar would be a target though 

[dudacek]

Just now, Brawndo said:

The Sabres, they already have better versions of Hanifin in Power and Dahlin, Hanifin is not very good defensively. 
 

Vladar would be a target though 

Do you think Vladar for Olofsson works?

And is Vladar who we want for our 1B? His resume is not appreciably different than UPL’s on the surface.

[Brawndo]

2 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Do you think Vladar for Olofsson works?

And is Vladar who we want for our 1B? His resume is not appreciably different than UPL’s on the surface.

Vladar has a little more AHL Success and he was the original target in the Hall to Boston Deal 

[Taro T]

27 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Vladar and Hanifin for Olofsson, Jokiharju and next year’s 1st.

Who says no, and why?

 

5 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

The Sabres, they already have better versions of Hanifin in Power and Dahlin, Hanifin is not very good defensively. 
 

Vladar would be a target though 

Personally would do that deal.  IMHO, it's Hannifan for Olofsson and about 60% of that 1st (a trade of pending UFA for pending UFA+) and then Vladar for Jokiharju and the rest of that 1st.

Would have a lot of flexibility with the top 6 D they'd roll out and would personally use Hannifan with either Johnson or Lyubushkin with Dahlin - Samuelsson and Power - Clifton the other normal pairings.  Would allow Granato to reduce both Dahlin's and Power's usage and he could always ramp their deployments up when necessary.

Plus then UPL becomes expendable for something.  Maybe just a 2nd, but he becomes trade bait himself.

[Flashsabre]

Vladar  hasn’t proven to be any better than UPL at the NHL level

[Zamboni]

I want Vlader because it’s so close to Vader and we’ll, who wouldn’t want Vader on the team in the Empire State?

[GASabresIUFAN]

@DarthEbriate would have kittens if we got Vlader.

[GASabresIUFAN]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

Vladar and Hanifin for Olofsson, Jokiharju and next year’s 1st.

Who says no, and why?

We don’t need Hanifin, but Vladar is certainly of interest.  Markstrom is the player Calgary is more willing to part with.  

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, Thorny said:

Is this an auto response? Actually asking 

I'm sure you will agree that I got my robotic response down pat. 

[Marvin]

Although it means nothing, according to NHL Rumors, the consensus is that Adams is OK with entering the season with Levi, UPL, and Comrie as our goalkeeping trio.

[PASabreFan]

51 minutes ago, Marvin said:

Although it means nothing, according to NHL Rumors, the consensus is that Adams is OK with entering the season with Levi, UPL, and Comrie as our goalkeeping trio.

Of course he is.

[FrenchConnection44]

I’m trusting in the Sabres self scouting. And hope they excel. UPL has potential but who knows. I have wanted a trade for a veteran but also don’t want to give up a ton. Middle vote there. 

But I’m willing to let Levi split time with one or both of the other two. We went with 3 goalies much of last year and I suspect we could do the same this year; unless the young forwards prove they belong. We could carry 8/12/3 Or 7/13/3.

Ideally 8/13/2 but either UPL or Comrie would have to show up and be excellent.  Perhaps they will. One never knows. It may be of use to recall that UPL had nine games year before last and he put up better numbers than Levi did last season in 7 games. Though I think Levi has more talent. 

I do think the defensive upgrades and another year of maturity of our young defenders will help a ton! I thought the D was a big problem with our giving up so many goals last season.