GDT: Calder Cup QF: Amerks (2-2) @ Rocket, Gm5: Sun May 24 4:30p FLO, The Fan

[Believer]

16 minutes ago, Ctaeth said:

Watch helenius stare down the laval players after the shorty 😂

 

You know what they say.

Your attitude determines your altitude.

This kid has plenty. Sabres need some of what he’s got.

[thewookie1]

Hopefully my theory ends up correct.

Essentially Levi plays much better, the shorter the time frame there is between games.

Game 1 against Syracuse started rough but they won anyway.

Game 2 & 3 then Levi dominated.

Game 1 against Laval was rough but Game 2 he played very solid before resting until the following Wednesday where he looked rough. Game 4 and hopefully Game 5 Levi should dominate again

[Porous Five Hole]

Laval is 5 hrs 9 min away from ROC.  Talk me out of making the drive for game five.  

[PromoTheRobot]

6 minutes ago, Porous Five Hole said:

Laval is 5 hrs 9 min away from ROC.  Talk me out of making the drive for game five.  

If you are going, buy your tickets ASAP. There's a bunch left. $35 US if my conversion is right.

https://www.ticketmaster.ca/finale-de-division-match-3-a-laval-quebec-05-25-2025/event/310062A5D33348D8?currency-locale=en-us&_gl=1*1be1bpc*_gcl_au*NjY2MjI0NzQzLjE3NDU1MzgxNDk.*_ga*MTM0OTU3NjgwOS4xNzQyMzIyOTU0*_ga_C1T806G4DF*czE3NDgwNTMwNDQkbzExMiRnMSR0MTc0ODA1MzA1MSRqNTMkbDAkaDAkZGN4cGJtZkhjYWxWT3ZzU0x0RFpZQnZ5N21JVEJLNHBkc0E.*_ga_H1KKSGW33X*czE3NDgwNTMwNDQkbzExMCRnMSR0MTc0ODA1MzA1MSRqNTMkbDAkaDAkZDZNMzY2NjliUTBnWVQ2dXQzcGpsczUzcFdXb3o0NjR2M1E.&_ga=2.158546045.615160677.1748053045-1349576809.1742322954

I'm only 4 hours from Laval. If I wasn't going to the Bandits, I'd join you.

Edited 19 hours ago by PromoTheRobot

[Broken Ankles]

12 minutes ago, Believer said:

You know what they say.

Your attitude determines your altitude.

This kid has plenty. Sabres need some of what he’s got.

That was our 6’4” D-man, Little Nikita leading the rush then with a backhand flip for the 🍎.  Too early to think he’s not #6/7?  

[PalmTreeMafia]

On 5/22/2025 at 7:01 PM, PromoTheRobot said:

He did have a 2+ game shutout streak too,

That's fair. Levi has now given up 15 goals in 7 playoff games. I want to believe in him, but I am a broken Sabres fan.

[Believer]

10 minutes ago, Broken Ankles said:

That was our 6’4” D-man, Little Nikita leading the rush then with a backhand flip for the 🍎.  Too early to think he’s not #6/7?  

Nope. Wishing him a great camp. Stick around, kid.

[dudacek]

20 minutes ago, Broken Ankles said:

That was our 6’4” D-man, Little Nikita leading the rush then with a backhand flip for the 🍎.  Too early to think he’s not #6/7?  

Over the course of 7 games I think he's been my favourite. Plays like a man and a leader.

[Flashsabre]

Helenuis is such a prick in the best way possible.😁 

[K-9]

59 minutes ago, Broken Ankles said:

That was our 6’4” D-man, Little Nikita leading the rush then with a backhand flip for the 🍎.  Too early to think he’s not #6/7?  

Not too early for the third pair, imo. But I think he’s destined for a top four spot sooner than later. His trajectory is everything you’d want for a young Russia prospect acclimating to the smaller North American ice. All that said, I’m not opposed to him playing another year in the A, either.

[LGR4GM]

6 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

Helenuis is such a prick in the best way possible.😁 

But he's another small skill player!?!? He's only 5'11" woe is us!

 

[French Collection]

7 hours ago, Broken Ankles said:

That was our 6’4” D-man, Little Nikita leading the rush then with a backhand flip for the 🍎.  Too early to think he’s not #6/7?  

Climbing over Bryson is an Everest sized block of granite, just ask KA.

[FrenchConnection44]

9 hours ago, Ctaeth said:

Watch helenius stare down the laval players after the shorty 😂

 

And how about that play by Novikov? 
 

If we can get Novikov (+28 for the regular season) and Komarov to continue to develop we might actually have some quality defenders. With size and length. Add in Helenius and we can develop into a better all around and feistier team. But those guys have to come on fast. 
 

I still would be willing to trade Power & Samuelsson (feel like we need to for a culture change) and try to add a physical defenseman. Who plays strong defense. 

[Kr632]

11 hours ago, K-9 said:

Zero respect for Laval. Constant complaining to the refs and always resorting to the goon tactics. Screw ‘em.

They were sending their defenseman to stand in the places where Levi goes to meditate or whatever he does during stoppage of play a few times in the first game. Screw them. 

[Kr632]

10 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

Helenuis is such a prick in the best way possible.😁 

Really liked what I saw from him in game 1. Seemed to do it all and has some attitude as well. 

[shrader]

8 minutes ago, Kr632 said:

They were sending their defenseman to stand in the places where Levi goes to meditate or whatever he does during stoppage of play a few times in the first game. Screw them. 

That’s actually kind of funny. You’re facing a hot goalie, try to break his routine any way you can. And at least that one’s not in any way dirty. 

[Jorcus]

3 hours ago, French Collection said:

Climbing over Bryson is an Everest sized block of granite, just ask KA.

Hell he has to climb over Ryan Johnson first according to KA and about everyone else in the Org. 

[LGR4GM]

2 hours ago, FrenchConnection44 said:

And how about that play by Novikov? 
 

If we can get Novikov (+28 for the regular season) and Komarov to continue to develop we might actually have some quality defenders. With size and length. Add in Helenius and we can develop into a better all around and feistier team. But those guys have to come on fast. 
 

I still would be willing to trade Power & Samuelsson (feel like we need to for a culture change) and try to add a physical defenseman. Who plays strong defense. 

Helenius is at least another year away if not 2. Novikov... depends on his short area burst. He'll need the agility and closing burst to be nhl effective. I haven't watched enough Amerks to answer if he is. 

[LGR4GM]

One thing about Helenius and Novikov, both played in pro leagues before Rochester. They've got more experience than your average AHL player. Novikov is in his 4th pro season and turns 22 in July. He's the perfect 6th defender, big, mean, defensively sound. 

[Kr632]

1 hour ago, shrader said:

That’s actually kind of funny. You’re facing a hot goalie, try to break his routine any way you can. And at least that one’s not in any way dirty. 

I left out that they tried to trip him when he’d move away from them🤦🏻‍♂️. The guy who’s name starts with an X 

Edited 6 hours ago by Kr632

[SabreFinn]

2 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Helenius is at least another year away if not 2. Novikov... depends on his short area burst. He'll need the agility and closing burst to be nhl effective. I haven't watched enough Amerks to answer if he is. 

Agree. No need to rush players to a already young roster. Let them play in the AHL as long as needed. Better they have to fight to earn it and them being that sick and tired of playing in AHL, that they are doing everything they can to get to stay when they get the call.

[LGR4GM]

27 minutes ago, SabreFinn said:

Agree. No need to rush players to a already young roster. Let them play in the AHL as long as needed. Better they have to fight to earn it and them being that sick and tired of playing in AHL, that they are doing everything they can to get to stay when they get the call.

Did you watch Helenius in Liiga? 

 

Fully agree. There's a lot they can learn and even if it's 3yrs in the A, that's only 21yrs old for Helenius. 

[Ogelthorpe]

1 hour ago, shrader said:

That’s actually kind of funny. You’re facing a hot goalie, try to break his routine any way you can. And at least that one’s not in any way dirty. 

13 goals allowed in 4 games is not a hot goalie

[SabreFinn]

16 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Did you watch Helenius in Liiga? 

 

Fully agree. There's a lot they can learn and even if it's 3yrs in the A, that's only 21yrs old for Helenius. 

Not much Liiga, mostly with the national teams. I don't think Liiga is good enough nowadays to form players straight  to NHLers, there are too many teams there and not enough players to keep up the speed during games. As you wrote, Helenius played hockey with men as very young, he was good enough to take a spot on a top line, good for him. On the other hand there are young players that become Liiga players but there are a lot to still be developed in their game. Now Liiga is not a development league, those young players are learned how to manage and survive, to adapt to tactics so they can be a cost effecient solution, when they should be working on skating and such things. 

[shrader]

1 hour ago, Kr632 said:

I left out that they tried to trip him when he’d move away from them🤦🏻‍♂️. The guy who’s name starts with an X 

Ahhh, so he’s there first and they come over? That’s over the line then.