Goaltending is still the issue...

[mansquito]

We can go ahead and sign up all the right-handed defenseman we want. Won't matter a lick! We do not have a goaltender on the roster, especially UPL who can't steal games like most modern good goaltenders can! Therefore the defense can never play the way they need to, because they know one wrong move is in the back of the net every time! 

Until we get serious, about the goaltender position... We're going to see groundhog's day over and over again! This organization used to be one of the premier organizations in the league with goaltending! Wake up and get rid of UPL! He is the problem... And you won't go, to where you want to go, with him!

Edited 6 hours ago by mansquito
Can to can't

[bob_sauve28]

! 

[LGR4GM]

Running back UPL with Levi will be 15yrs no playoffs

 

[Archie Lee]

They need to add a goalie who is above the level of a guy they can sneak through waivers on cut-down day.  That’s likely the best we can hope for. There are no great options, maybe no obvious good options. I would probably try to sign Vladar, but I acknowledge that he is not a great option.

 

[GoPuckYourself]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

Running back UPL with Levi will be 15yrs no playoffs

 

We know this as mere fans yet we have a GM getting paid a million bucks or close to it who says he likes what we have. I’m hoping it’s a smokescreen but he’s literally neglected the position since he got here.

[tom webster]

7 minutes ago, GoPuckYourself said:

We know this as mere fans yet we have a GM getting paid a million bucks or close to it who says he likes what we have. I’m hoping it’s a smokescreen but he’s literally neglected the position since he got here.

He says he likes what we have because he has no choice but to say it publicly. He knows they effed up letting Ullmark go over an extra year but he can’t say that publicly. They know they need better but whether they have the wherewithal to do anything about it, or even if there is an upgrade available, is debatable.

[GoPuckYourself]

6 minutes ago, tom webster said:

He says he likes what we have because he has no choice but to say it publicly. He knows they effed up letting Ullmark go over an extra year but he can’t say that publicly. They know they need better but whether they have the wherewithal to do anything about it, or even if there is an upgrade available, is debatable.

We could have gotten John Gibson from the Ducks. Could have gotten out of that UPL contract and went out and got a backup like Jake Allen in FA while giving Levi at least another full year in the NHL but that’s not what we do.

[tom webster]

6 minutes ago, GoPuckYourself said:

We could have gotten John Gibson from the Ducks. Could have gotten out of that UPL contract and went out and got a backup like Jake Allen in FA while giving Levi at least another full year in the NHL but that’s not what we do.

You don’t know if they could have gotten Gibson. 
A) he had to waive his NMC

B) Mrazek appealed to Anaheim because he’s the same nationality as their starter and has less term than UPL

Allen is still a possibility but he has to want to come here.

[GoPuckYourself]

2 minutes ago, tom webster said:

You don’t know if they could have gotten Gibson. 
A) he had to waive his NMC

B) Mrazek appealed to Anaheim because he’s the same nationality as their starter and has less term than UPL

Allen is still a possibility but he has to want to come here.

Adams didn’t mention it at all, doubt he even tried imo.

[tom webster]

37 minutes ago, GoPuckYourself said:

Adams didn’t mention it at all, doubt he even tried imo.

You might be right but he can’t talk about other teams players and general managers don’t discus trades that don’t materialize in specifics. 

[PromoTheRobot]

53 minutes ago, GoPuckYourself said:

Adams didn’t mention it at all, doubt he even tried imo.

You think Adams is a dope, but he'd be a bigger dope talking about trades before they're complete.

[GoPuckYourself]

3 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

You think Adams is a dope, but he'd be a bigger dope talking about trades before they're complete.

It was already completed. Besides that he’s been on the market…. what? The past 4 years now? Unless he’s already told us to piss off but I can’t find anywhere that he has.

Edited 7 hours ago by GoPuckYourself

[Turbo44]

1 hour ago, tom webster said:

You don’t know if they could have gotten Gibson. 
A) he had to waive his NMC

B) Mrazek appealed to Anaheim because he’s the same nationality as their starter and has less term than UPL

Allen is still a possibility but he has to want to come here.

Allen for $4m would work well for all parties. Gives the Sabres a better goalie than UPL IMHO, gives Allen a slight raise, and gives Allen a starting possibility if he beats out UPL

[tom webster]

2 minutes ago, Turbo44 said:

Allen for $4m would work well for all parties. Gives the Sabres a better goalie than UPL IMHO, gives Allen a slight raise, and gives Allen a starting possibility if he beats out UPL

I don’t disagree but I think he signs for a lot more and for at least two years, probably three

[Flashsabre]

Something has to give in Vancouver.

Lankinen signed for 5 years, Demko on more year left, Silovs just led the AHL team to the Calder Cup.

[Taro T]

22 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

Something has to give in Vancouver.

Lankinen signed for 5 years, Demko on more year left, Silovs just led the AHL team to the Calder Cup.

It makes sense that Demko would be the odd man out for the right price.  It would seem that between Byram, prospects, available cap space, and even the possibility of sending them UPL to be insurance should Silovs turn out to be not quite ready provided the Sabres got Demko to ink a new deal the Sabres should be able to offer "the right price."

So, the questions left are can Adams get it done and can Petterson not be part of what comes back to Buffalo.  (Really hate the idea of this team swapping out Norris in a package that includes Petterson.  On this team with this staff, can't see Petterson's contract anything but an albatross.  Would happily be wrong should he become a Sabre, but just too much risk involved.)

[Second Line Center]

Plan A:
 

It’s going to be Levi and UPL  

The GM gave the contract to UPL that says we believe you’re a legit NHL starter   
 

They let Levi develop and cook in the minors this year.  They did everything they could to make sure he didn’t hit free agency after Northeastern.  He was the main piece in your Reinhart trade.  They want him to be the guy.  
 

He’s going to be 24 in December.  Beginning to feel like it’s now or never with Levi.  Golden opportunity to take the job and relegate UPL to a backup. 

Not sure who your 3rd option can be at the moment.   
 

Plan B:

In season trade.  

[Eleven]

Yes, that's why there was a thread about it just yesterday.

[Night Train]

I agree .  Wasn't a fan of Ullmark, who I thought was wildly inconsistent when here. Had his 1 year in Boston but that's it, IMO. 

But yes, he has to find a Vet. UPL receives a no confidence vote to me. Levi should see action to see what he can do. He has promise. 

[mansquito]

I think a lot of us who have been fans for longer than 05-07 seasons, know what it's like for the most part to have good to hall of fame goaltending. You build from the net out... Nothing in front is going to matter if you can't be consistently be good to great in net. You need to a guy to steal games when you're team is off or can't seem to buy a goal!

Jettison UPL... get Demko and we're headed to the playoffs as is! This is not rocket science.

[LGR4GM]

35 minutes ago, Night Train said:

I agree .  Wasn't a fan of Ullmark, who I thought was wildly inconsistent when here. Had his 1 year in Boston but that's it, IMO. 

But yes, he has to find a Vet. UPL receives a no confidence vote to me. Levi should see action to see what he can do. He has promise. 

Linus Ullmark's sv% since 2019

.915

.917

.917

.938

.915

.909

I mean idk what you're even talking about. Upl has only ever eclipsed .900 for a full season once with a .910 the year Ullmark had the .915.

[kas23]

8 hours ago, tom webster said:

He says he likes what we have because he has no choice but to say it publicly. He knows they effed up letting Ullmark go over an extra year but he can’t say that publicly. They know they need better but whether they have the wherewithal to do anything about it, or even if there is an upgrade available, is debatable.

The amazing this, I think it came down to not blocking Levi, who he thought would be our starter 2 years ago. Meanwhile, Ullmark is on his 3rd team and Levi is still not starting material (and there’s a chance he’ll never be). 

[The Jokeman]

10 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Running back UPL with Levi will be 15yrs no playoffs

 

I'm hoping we sign Dan Vladar in free agency on a three year deal for between $4 million - $5 million to be a split starter with UPL until Levi's ready.

[The Jokeman]

22 minutes ago, mansquito said:

I think a lot of us who have been fans for longer than 05-07 seasons, know what it's like for the most part to have good to hall of fame goaltending. You build from the net out... Nothing in front is going to matter if you can't be consistently be good to great in net. You need to a guy to steal games when you're team is off or can't seem to buy a goal!

Jettison UPL... get Demko and we're headed to the playoffs as is! This is not rocket science.

Demko is maddingly inconsistent, the only way I get him is if somehow also get EP40 to be out 1C.