Sabres Waiver Claim Colten Ellis

[Jorcus]

58 minutes ago, RochesterExpat said:

Because goalie development is so weird, he's not really what I would call a "career AHLer" but from a purely literal standpoint that's a true statement. As for the bit about UPL competing, I'm sort of a "ride the hot hand" fan. If he ends up getting games and posts consecutive shutouts, I'm all for letting him run the table. But as for the career AHLer bit, he turned 25 yesterday, did his full QMJHL experience, and then went to play ECHL with AHL call-ups over the last four seasons. Last season specifically he was given the starting job in the AHL and he was going back to be the starter a second season. That's honestly a pretty normal track for a non-elite goalie.

Normal teams don't carry more than two goalies. The Blues aren't going to waive Binnington and Hofer signed a contract extension in June and has played as Binnington's backup for 30 and 31 games the last two seasons respectively (and, funny enough, posting better numbers than Binnington), so he's not getting waived either. The reality is Ellis doesn't have a shot at cracking the roster without an injury. He's just untested.

It's worth mentioning each season he showed progression while playing for a terrible team. You need only look at his playoff line last season to see how much he was carrying Springfield: 3GP, 1-2, 2.32 GAA & .933 SV%. 

The only thing we should be asking is whether or not Georgiev is worse than a 25-year-old goalie who has never played an NHL game. His preseason wasn't bad. He got a shutout again Chicago (didn't play the full 60) and got a shutout against the Stars (again didn't play the full 60). From a purely numbers standpoint, he was their best goalie in the preseason. So I'm honestly okay keeping him as the backup and waiving Georgiev.

Also interesting to note he was drafted in the same round and year that we took Erik Portillo who gave us the college slip and has spent the last 2 years in the AHL. The might have been thinking about Ellis way back then. Don't know what the plan is. He could replace one of the prospect guys if they can slip him though. Seems kind of crazy to put him in the NHL right now. 

[sabresouth]

Wow, the Adams clown show continues. What are we going on now in the goalie rotation, 5-6 years. He could easily gotten a bonefied number 1 goalie in that time. What an idiot 

[shrader]

13 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

Also interesting to note he was drafted in the same round and year that we took Erik Portillo who gave us the college slip and has spent the last 2 years in the AHL. The might have been thinking about Ellis way back then. Don't know what the plan is. He could replace one of the prospect guys if they can slip him though. Seems kind of crazy to put him in the NHL right now. 

That was the Botterill staff at that point. 

[dudacek]

Damn, listening to Lindy’s presser (which happened before Ellis became official) he is not happy with Lyon or Georgiev.

After listening, I’m convinced this pickup is a clear indictment of the camp Georgiev and Lyon have had and the team’s lack of faith in them.

They must have really been committed to Levi starting in the AHL.

[DarthEbriate]

1 hour ago, PromoTheRobot said:

In hindsight. Are you really thinking that waiting till now to get a goalie to replace UPL was a better idea? You don't expect your projected #1 to tell you he has an owwie 5 minutes before camp starts. Signing an experienced keeper like Georgiev was the move that made sense at the time.

It's not in hindsight.

The timeline is:

9/11 - Sabres sign Georgiev. Luukkonen is reported to have an undisclosed injury and unknown recovery timeline. They signed the goalie before they had the information.

9/13 - Within 48 hours, it is reported that Luukkonen has a "tweak" and is considered day-to-day. That's no reason to have already signed another backup goalie. You already have Lyon -- whose career numbers are better than Luukkonen's anyway. And you still have Levi who can clear waivers and should be ready to take in some NHL games this season with any injuries to UPL/Lyon because that's his job as #3 in the franchise. And you can see if he's made the progress you want to see.

You still have a week to go before your first preseason game. Shortly after that, it's known that Luukkonen won't miss the beginning of the season and is already ramping up to play in the preseason.

So -- you wait until 9/13-14 when you have an actual diagnosis on Luukkonen, and then offer Georgiev (or Reimer - who didn't sign with his PTO with Toronto until 9/26, or another random guy, ... Houser!... ) a PTO to help you with the camp workload. If he shines, great, then offer him the 1-year deal knowing he's destined for Rochester.

And no, it doesn't matter that Luukkonen either re-aggravated the same injury or got a new injury during the preseason game. They still didn't need to do anything beyond a PTO (of Georgiev/Reimer) because they had Lyon, Levi, and the waivers claim windows of this week. Or trade for a real #1.

[LGR4GM]

I'd waive Georgiev and keep Ellis.

[PromoTheRobot]

9 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

It's not in hindsight.

The timeline is:

9/11 - Sabres sign Georgiev. Luukkonen is reported to have an undisclosed injury and unknown recovery timeline. They signed the goalie before they had the information.

9/13 - Within 48 hours, it is reported that Luukkonen has a "tweak" and is considered day-to-day. That's no reason to have already signed another backup goalie. You already have Lyon -- whose career numbers are better than Luukkonen's anyway. And you still have Levi who can clear waivers and should be ready to take in some NHL games this season with any injuries to UPL/Lyon because that's his job as #3 in the franchise. And you can see if he's made the progress you want to see.

You still have a week to go before your first preseason game. Shortly after that, it's known that Luukkonen won't miss the beginning of the season and is already ramping up to play in the preseason.

So -- you wait until 9/13-14 when you have an actual diagnosis on Luukkonen, and then offer Georgiev (or Reimer - who didn't sign with his PTO with Toronto until 9/26, or another random guy, ... Houser!... ) a PTO to help you with the camp workload. If he shines, great, then offer him the 1-year deal knowing he's destined for Rochester.

And no, it doesn't matter that Luukkonen either re-aggravated the same injury or got a new injury during the preseason game. They still didn't need to do anything beyond a PTO (of Georgiev/Reimer) because they had Lyon, Levi, and the waivers claim windows of this week. Or trade for a real #1.

You're making a leap that they didn't know about UPL just because they didn't report it.

[DarthEbriate]

8 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I'd waive Georgiev and keep Ellis.

Yes, though if you waive Ellis I'm suspecting STL takes him right back to Springfield where they intended him to go.

Just now, PromoTheRobot said:

You're making a leap that they didn't know about UPL just because they didn't report it.

Which makes it even worse that they knew he was day-to-day and was going to be ready to play in the preseason.

[LGR4GM]

7 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

Yes, though if you waive Ellis I'm suspecting STL takes him right back to Springfield where they intended him to go.

Which makes it even worse that they knew he was day-to-day and was going to be ready to play in the preseason.

Idk, they have more info. They may have thought there was going to be a chance of a longer issue and wanted insurance. 

Seriously they should waive Georgiev and keep Ellis.

[dudacek]

1 minute ago, LGR4GM said:

Idk, they have more info. They may have thought there was going to be a chance of a longer issue and wanted insurance. 

Seriously they should waive Georgiev and keep Ellis.

I can’t see any circumstance where that isn’t the plan unless the both play and Georgiev is dramatically better.

Why would you claim Ellis otherwise?

[ponokasabre]

4 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Idk, they have more info. They may have thought there was going to be a chance of a longer issue and wanted insurance. 

Seriously they should waive Georgiev and keep Ellis.

I think they will, if Power is G2G for Thursday, that is exactly what I think will happen

[shrader]

6 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Idk, they have more info. They may have thought there was going to be a chance of a longer issue and wanted insurance. 

Seriously they should waive Georgiev and keep Ellis.

You give Ellis a day or two to get settled and then that more than likely happens with Georgiev. 

[LGR4GM]

9 minutes ago, dudacek said:

I can’t see any circumstance where that isn’t the plan unless the both play and Georgiev is dramatically better.

Why would you claim Ellis otherwise?

 

8 minutes ago, ponokasabre said:

I think they will, if Power is G2G for Thursday, that is exactly what I think will happen

 

7 minutes ago, shrader said:

You give Ellis a day or two to get settled and then that more than likely happens with Georgiev. 

You 3 give me hope. I just don't have a good feel for what this front office has in store. 

[shrader]

I think this claim gives us a timeline on UPL. He’s out long enough for St Louis’ waiver rights to expire (was it 30?days that taro mentioned) and then we go from there. 
 

I fully expect the Sabres and Georgiev to part ways. 

[ponokasabre]

2 minutes ago, shrader said:

I think this claim gives us a timeline on UPL. He’s out long enough for St Louis’ waiver rights to expire (was it 30?days that taro mentioned) and then we go from there. 
 

I fully expect the Sabres and Georgiev to part ways. 

I actually agree with this 100 percent. 

 

Gives UPL a month to hopefully get healthy and then if he comes back and is lights out, we can try and waive Ellis. and if UPL is bad, then we run Lyon and Ellis, I frankly don't care, the best goalie is playing period

[shrader]

14 minutes ago, ponokasabre said:

I actually agree with this 100 percent. 

 

Gives UPL a month to hopefully get healthy and then if he comes back and is lights out, we can try and waive Ellis. and if UPL is bad, then we run Lyon and Ellis, I frankly don't care, the best goalie is playing period

There’s also the possibility that Ellis winds up as the better option between him and Lyon. If that happens, you cross that. Ridge when you get there. 

[French Collection]

Just now, ponokasabre said:

I frankly don't care, the best goalie is playing period

Then Levi might have to come up.

[bob_sauve28]

3 hours ago, JoeSchmoe said:

The smarter play would be to just sign Reimer to a one year deal.

Should have as soon as season ended. He was our best goalie by far 

[bob_sauve28]

3 minutes ago, French Collection said:

Then Levi might have to come up.

Yes, or a guy we just claim off of waiver might have to actually start real games for us. 

That sinking feeling....🤢