Sabres sign Connor Timmins to a 2 year 2.2 Million Dollar AAV contract

[PromoTheRobot]

19 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Don't expect to get much at all for him.  And it IS possbile that the lightbulb will click on and stay on for him and he'll be not just a servicable goalie but an actual honest to goodness good one.

But, at this point, they really shouldn't be worrying about what they'd get in return for UPL or Lyon (or even the guy that could be their future); but rather what do they need to give up to get a sure fire (well, as sure fire as such a thing is in this league) top 10 goalie.  If they had one of those, a playoff spot would be theirs to lose, not theirs to steal like it is now.

Also, if they did get another goalie (and we all know they won't, but will state this anyhow) they should keep all 4 into TC and see if a goalie gets injured somewhere else in TC.  Maybe for once, the puck luck will bounce the Sabres way, and instead of getting a 2nd rounder for a guy that could be useful they might get a 1st or a legit NHLer for the odd man out.

Goalies are weird and there aren't enough legit goalies to fully go around, so the market for goalies is always weird in itself.  Heck, the Avs managed to trade Georgiev last year and he was absolute hot trash when San Jose took him.  Even bad goalies on bad contracts can get moved.

I really think the goaltending will improve from the better defensive play I'm hoping we will get now. And not just the D, but forwards taking better care with the puck. Other teams used to attack us on the point, especially on power plays, because they know we'd cough up the puck and then it was off to the races. That needs to be addressed, even if we have to resort to dump and chase.

[Eleven]

2 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

What do you expect to get for UPL when we all think he's crap? I'm really asking. If you're a team giving up on him, what do you actually expect another team to offer you?

Who cares?  

I'm half serious, here.  If the Sabres acquire a "real" goaltender and need to trade UPL (full salary) for a fourth round pick, fine.

[PerreaultForever]

9 hours ago, Pimlach said:

He costs $1.1M less though.  

Sure, ya, and they definitely need that money 😉

 

[thewookie1]

1 hour ago, Eleven said:

Who cares?  

I'm half serious, here.  If the Sabres acquire a "real" goaltender and need to trade UPL (full salary) for a fourth round pick, fine.

Well where is this real goalie coming from?

I’ll take UPL over the grab bag approach and I’m not dealing high end assets for a long term contracted goalie as they are an enigma.

If you keep UPL’s confidence up, he tends to play solid and much better than most other options. 

[Taro T]

2 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I really think the goaltending will improve from the better defensive play I'm hoping we will get now. And not just the D, but forwards taking better care with the puck. Other teams used to attack us on the point, especially on power plays, because they know we'd cough up the puck and then it was off to the races. That needs to be addressed, even if we have to resort to dump and chase.

If they got rid of Wilford, would very likely agree with this.  But just simply can't get past how bad he has been at preparing these guys to play in their own end.  HE is still here.  The rocket surgeon that sets up the X's and O's on the PP is also still here.

Those 2 items and goaltending has been their Achilles heal for the better part of the entire Adams era.  Though the personnel have been improved to a degree in all those areas, the guys directing the troops are still the same.

[Taro T]

1 minute ago, thewookie1 said:

Well where is this real goalie coming from?

I’ll take UPL over the grab bag approach and I’m not dealing high end assets for a long term contracted goalie as they are an enigma.

If you keep UPL’s confidence up, he tends to play solid and much better than most other options. 

Realistically, at this point, the only potential "real goalie" getting brought in would be Hart.  And that is, at best, a long shot.  IF they were to bring him in, would definitely wait until the end of TC (possibly even later than that by a handful of weeks) before choosing which goalie to jettison as he's been away from the NHL for a full year now.

[Eleven]

4 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

Well where is this real goalie coming from?

I’ll take UPL over the grab bag approach and I’m not dealing high end assets for a long term contracted goalie as they are an enigma.

If you keep UPL’s confidence up, he tends to play solid and much better than most other options. 

It's called a hypothetical, wookie.  Like "what happens if Lando turns coat against Han?"

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, Eleven said:

Who cares?  

I'm half serious, here.  If the Sabres acquire a "real" goaltender and need to trade UPL (full salary) for a fourth round pick, fine.

Unless he wins a Vezina.😜

[LGR4GM]

14 hours ago, Taro T said:

If they got rid of Wilford, would very likely agree with this.  But just simply can't get past how bad he has been at preparing these guys to play in their own end.  HE is still here.  The rocket surgeon that sets up the X's and O's on the PP is also still here.

Those 2 items and goaltending has been their Achilles heal for the better part of the entire Adams era.  Though the personnel have been improved to a degree in all those areas, the guys directing the troops are still the same.

Keeping Wilford is like getting Lewis Hamilton to drive your Indie Car but putting a stock civic engine (wilford) in it and then being like "idk why he can't win!?!?"

[JohnC]

22 hours ago, Taro T said:

If they got rid of Wilford, would very likely agree with this.  But just simply can't get past how bad he has been at preparing these guys to play in their own end.  HE is still here.  The rocket surgeon that sets up the X's and O's on the PP is also still here.

Those 2 items and goaltending has been their Achilles heal for the better part of the entire Adams era.  Though the personnel have been improved to a degree in all those areas, the guys directing the troops are still the same.

If Wilford is such a bad coach, then why does Lindy keep him on the staff? Is he being forced to keep him on or is he simply satisfied with how he coaches?

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

If Wilford is such a bad coach, then why does Lindy keep him on the staff? Is he being forced to keep him on or is he simply satisfied with how he coaches?

Pretty sure Pegula and Adams like him.  Lindy probably likes him as a person too.  But being a good guy and allegedly good at development coaching doesn't mean he's remotely competent to be an NHL assistant.

And there was a report here from our usual breaker of all news Sabres that the Sabres did make an offer to a coach to take over Wilford's role but were rebuffed by the guy they made the offer to.  Would like to have seen them then reach out to a plan B, plan C, or plan D guy at that point.  But, again, somebody likes HIM, not necessarily the results he gets.

And maybe this is the year he finally understands that being ok with 2 D going behind the net, leaving the C to try to cover 2 guys in the slot or having your D let a guy simply stand in front of your goalie without trying to move him away, or being OK with the D not recognizing that a player is by himself in the low slot a mere tick-tack pass away from toeing it into the open net are not good things and that he can actively teach against doing that and actually reduce guys ice time when they do those sorts of things.

He also can get on the nuts of F's that stand around lost in their own end.  (Whether they report to him in that end or not; doesn't matter, get their heads out of their bippies.  He's in charge of the play in that zone.  This is not Don Granato's Sabres team anymore.  Somebody should let Marty know.)

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, Taro T said:

Pretty sure Pegula and Adams like him.  Lindy probably likes him as a person too.  But being a good guy and allegedly good at development coaching doesn't mean he's remotely competent to be an NHL assistant.

And there was a report here from our usual breaker of all news Sabres that the Sabres did make an offer to a coach to take over Wilford's role but were rebuffed by the guy they made the offer to.  Would like to have seen them then reach out to a plan B, plan C, or plan D guy at that point.  But, again, somebody likes HIM, not necessarily the results he gets.

And maybe this is the year he finally understands that being ok with 2 D going behind the net, leaving the C to try to cover 2 guys in the slot or having your D let a guy simply stand in front of your goalie without trying to move him away, or being OK with the D not recognizing that a player is by himself in the low slot a mere tick-tack pass away from toeing it into the open net are not good things and that he can actively teach against doing that and actually reduce guys ice time when they do those sorts of things.

He also can get on the nuts of F's that stand around lost in their own end.  (Whether they report to him in that end or not; doesn't matter, get their heads out of their bippies.  He's in charge of the play in that zone.  This is not Don Granato's Sabres team anymore.  Somebody should let Marty know.)

Terrific analysis of the PP and predictable setups and lack of adjustments. How about the HC intervening and making the required changes?

[DarthEbriate]

I did read (here on ‘Space) that it has been reported that Dahlin and Muel also vouched for Wilford. He may be a good communicator and they’re comfortable with him. That’s fine. I want my players to enjoy coming to work. But I want my players to be challenged, reach their potential, and show progress. And have good Xs and Os in game. And that’s where I don’t care what contract Wilford has, I need a better person in charge of a 1OA, 1OA, and 4OA. That coach needs to be getting the most out of my most important investments. Especially if I’m trading away 2OA forwards and never putting any money in a proven goalie. 

[OrangeSeatVertigo]

On 7/27/2025 at 11:41 AM, Archie Lee said:

Move out Quinn and they have over $8 million in space to add a legit veteran top-6 forward. 

any legit vet top 6 forward will have a no trade clause with the Sabres on his list;

Sabres could have 80 mil of cap space and it probably would not matter