Sabres sign goalie Alexandar Georgiev one year deal; UPL has undisclosed injury

[DarthEbriate]

Hmmm. Someone isn't ready for the preseason. Because he's not an upgrade on anyone except Lyon, and Lyon is a proven backup who knows how to sit for a time and come in and give you .900.

[Flashsabre]

So Adams has gone from years of pencilling Levi in as the NHL goalie to now putting guys in place to keep Levi from the NHL.

And I have no problem with Levi starting in the AHL again but this was not Adam’s plan 2 years ago. Shows how clueless he is.

I agree with some others that this probably means someone is injured in net right now and this is an insurance plan.

Edited 16 hours ago by Flashsabre

[Porous Five Hole]

3 hours ago, Weave said:

Pushing Levi for net time in Roc?

Or a top tier AHL #2 cuz they are going for it?

I think they’re loading up for the Amerks to be GOOD. Heck of an offseason for Karmanos.  While he did not replace the goals of Murray or Jobst…he beefed up the roster, added a pugilist, upgraded the blue line, and greatly upgraded G2. It’s clearto me  Rosen will be waived and hopefully slip back to ROC (I think that’s likely) to join Konsta & Östlund for offensive production.  I’m excited!

[Porous Five Hole]

1 hour ago, Taro T said:

Yeah, still not fully getting this move.

 

Guess Adams is thinking what better way to clear up 3 ???'s at G than by adding a 4th?

Thinking about this, it’s almost like GMKA is gathering an additional dart to throw if UPL washes out again like he did last year.

It’s not ideal as UPL is the only real plan the Sabres have. But if he returns to NHL average, this helps out Rochester a lot (Sandstrom as the backup last year was meh at best).  

[Indabuff]

[North Buffalo]

Decent idea and cheap... more competition and if Gourgiev gets his groove back who knows... Goalies can be such a fickle position... worth a flyer.

[SabreFinn]

They are going to bring back The three headed monster!

[PerreaultForever]

7 hours ago, Brawndo said:

UPL Lyon in Buffalo

Levi Georgiev in Rochester 

Leinonen Cameron Rowe in Jacksonville 

Ratzlaff back to the WHL

 

If this is the plan I am fine with this signing. Low risk reclamation project and if he is sensational in Rochester maybe he's an option down the road. If not whatever. Maybe helps Rochester win a title. 

If the plan is to trade UPL and go with Georgiev Lyon with Levi pressing for time then I just add it to the long list of Adams failures. 

[Turbo44]

8 hours ago, Porous Five Hole said:

I think they’re loading up for the Amerks to be GOOD. Heck of an offseason for Karmanos.  While he did not replace the goals of Murray or Jobst…he beefed up the roster, added a pugilist, upgraded the blue line, and greatly upgraded G2. It’s clearto me  Rosen will be waived and hopefully slip back to ROC (I think that’s likely) to join Konsta & Östlund for offensive production.  I’m excited!

I’m not sure a recent 14th overall pick would clear waivers to Rochester??

[sabresouth]

Ever heard of the four headed monster

[French Collection]

UPL should feel the heat.

He may not respond well to a challenge but he has sucked so what should he expect.

[Archie Lee]

47 minutes ago, Turbo44 said:

I’m not sure a recent 14th overall pick would clear waivers to Rochester??

According to Puckpedia, Rosen and Ryan Johnson are both still waivers exempt. 

[Trettioåtta]

This is really expensive for an AHL back up goalie...

I find it weird how often we throw out lots of contracts for around $1 million. I assume we're hoping one works out and it's a steal, but strange when we're allergic to spend to the cap to have so much dead weight over the last five years

[Flashsabre]

NHL goaltending is a lot like MLB relief pitching. Outside of a couple of them you don’t want to commit too long to them because they have a couple good years then tank and then move around and you hope you have the key to get them back on track. 
 

No harm in signing the guy and hoping he rebounds in some capacity. Gives some depth when injuries kick in.

[Pimlach]

12 hours ago, nfreeman said:

Kinda seems like an insurance policy against Lyon being a complete washout, understanding that Lyon himself is an insurance policy against a 2nd year of UPL crashing and burning.

Adams spoke very highly of Lyon.   

Right now we have 4 goalies, which usually means we don't have a goalie.  

[dudacek]

I did not know his nickname was Four-giev 😁

Best goalie name since Warren Scoragainstme

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

I did not know his nickname was Four-giev 😁

Best goalie name since Warren Scoragainstme

Or since Jose Threeorfour.  😉

[LGR4GM]

Luukkonen reported to camp injured. 

"The signing of Georgiev is, in part, a response to an injury to starting goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. According to a league source, Luukkonen reported to camp with what is described as a “tweak.” The team is unsure of the extent of the injury and doesn’t have an exact timetable for when Luukkonen will be back to 100 percent."

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6623272/2025/09/12/sabres-sign-alexandar-georgiev-luukkonen-injury-goalie/

 

[dudacek]

Well that makes this signing a lot easier to understand.

 

[shrader]

28 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Or since Jose Threeorfour.  😉

I love it when you don’t even have to change the names. Pickett at QB, that pitcher named Balfour…

 

But yes, three or four was a great one. 

[Eleven]

This is a feckless attempt by Adams to claim that he's done something to address the goaltending position.

[shrader]

If this is long term, I’m thinking this is the start of the Levi era. 

[dudacek]

23 minutes ago, shrader said:

If this is long term, I’m thinking this is the start of the Levi era. 

Nothing would be better for the Sabres than Levi making his Ryan Miller move.

[DarthEbriate]

2 minutes ago, shrader said:

If this is long term, I’m thinking this is the start of the Levi era. 

I'm guessing this as well.

Georgiev had a good age 26 season, but it's otherwise been a downward spiral for him. He gets a chance to get a mini resurrection to his career --- but he is not blocking Levi if Luukkonen is out for a longer term. No timetable seems... either like normal Ruffspeak or a bit alarming. 

[ponokasabre]

12 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Nothing would be better for the Sabres than Levi making his Ryan Miller move.

Yep this is so important, and I do really think that it can happen, Levi is an extremely hard worker. I fully expect him starting game one in the NHL this year now with Lyon as his back up, and Georgiev on waivers to the AHL

Becasue you dont sign Georgiev if UPL was only gonna be out a week or two