Sabres Waiver Claim Colten Ellis

[Eleven]

Honestly, I'm not going to ***** on Kevyn Adams's first-ever attempt to actually address the near-term problem at this crucial position.  Not sure it will work, and I still don't want him around as a GM, but at least he finally did something other than sign a has-been backup.

Edited 2 hours ago by Eleven

[pastajoe]

56 minutes ago, Eleven said:

Well, he's apparently not Toronto's best goalie by far, because he was just cut.  I guess the Sabres can sign him if they want more below-average goaltending on the team.

If Georgiev doesn’t want to go to Rochester, perhaps they could sign Reimer to back up Levi.

[LGR4GM]

1 minute ago, pastajoe said:

If Georgiev doesn’t want to go to Rochester, perhaps they could sign Reimer to back up Levi.

Reimer signed with the Leafs. Also we're good in Rochester. 

[Eleven]

2 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Reimer signed with the Leafs. Also we're good in Rochester. 

Reimer was cut hours ago, which is what restimulated the conversation about him, please see upthread.

[PerreaultForever]

I don't know why they chose Ellis. I guess he has more potential but most "experts" figured DiPietro would be the goalie claimed first and he wasn't. What's the rationale on Ellis over him if you're claiming somebody?

[Weave]

I would like to bring up that Hockey Writers assessment again. Specifically the comment that Ellis’ AHL team had to use a specific defensive system to take advantage of his strengths and weaknesses.

I am going to go out on a limb and assume that the defensive system going into this season would be one that benefits a taller goalie (UPL) and plays to the strengths he brings.  For at least the start of the season, we are using two goalies that are not considered big goalies, and likely play a smaller goalie game.  I am really curious if this has the coaching staff making changes in system at the brink of the start of the season.

[dudacek]

30 minutes ago, Weave said:

I would like to bring up that Hockey Writers assessment again. Specifically the comment that Ellis’ AHL team had to use a specific defensive system to take advantage of his strengths and weaknesses.

I am going to go out on a limb and assume that the defensive system going into this season would be one that benefits a taller goalie (UPL) and plays to the strengths he brings.  For at least the start of the season, we are using two goalies that are not considered big goalies, and likely play a smaller goalie game.  I am really curious if this has the coaching staff making changes in system at the brink of the start of the season.

Considering Lindy was talking about implementing (planned in the summer) changes during camp while he knew UPL was in doubt and Lyon was the other guy, and that there is no indication UPL is going to be out for an extended period, I kinda doubt they are suddenly changing again.

I think the kinda changes he was talking about were aimed at limiting high-danger chances, which ultimately should benefit goalies of any size.

But I think your premise that the system was designed with UPL in mind is a strong take.

To borrow a Josh Allen-ism, UPL is exposed most when he has to play hero puck.

Behind a stable, predictable system I think he can deliver starting calibre goaltending.

[Eleven]

24 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Considering Lindy was talking about implementing (planned in the summer) changes during camp while he knew UPL was in doubt and Lyon was the other guy, and that there is no indication UPL is going to be out for an extended period, I kinda doubt they are suddenly changing again.

I think the kinda changes he was talking about were aimed at limiting high-danger chances, which ultimately should benefit goalies of any size.

But I think your premise that the system was designed with UPL in mind is a strong take.

To borrow a Josh Allen-ism, UPL is exposed most when he has to play hero puck.

Behind a stable, predictable system I think he can deliver starting calibre goaltending.

UPL will not be back soon.  DeDominicis.  

UPL will not be back soon.  Me, because I've seen this before.

[Weave]

33 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Considering Lindy was talking about implementing (planned in the summer) changes during camp while he knew UPL was in doubt and Lyon was the other guy, and that there is no indication UPL is going to be out for an extended period, I kinda doubt they are suddenly changing again.

I think the kinda changes he was talking about were aimed at limiting high-danger chances, which ultimately should benefit goalies of any size.

But I think your premise that the system was designed with UPL in mind is a strong take.

To borrow a Josh Allen-ism, UPL is exposed most when he has to play hero puck.

Behind a stable, predictable system I think he can deliver starting calibre goaltending.

Maybe I wasn’t as clear as I hoped.  What if UPL is out awhile and we have a system in place that benefits UPLs strengths?

[LGR4GM]

10 minutes ago, Weave said:

Maybe I wasn’t as clear as I hoped.  What if UPL is out awhile and we have a system in place that benefits UPLs strengths?

Then we'll lose a lot of games. 

[Eleven]

13 minutes ago, Weave said:

Maybe I wasn’t as clear as I hoped.  What if UPL is out awhile and we have a system in place that benefits UPLs strengths?

UPL isn't good enough for Ruff to build a system around UPL.  This is why, when you HAVE Ruff, and you have a goaltender good enough for Ruff to build around (Miller), you DON'T FIRE RUFF.

Edited 27 minutes ago by Eleven

[shrader]

2 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I could only imagine if another team picked up Ellis on waivers. That team would have been soooo much smarter than the Sabres.

Hell, do we know if anyone else out in a claim? We’re very early in the priority order. 

[Dr. Who]

17 minutes ago, Weave said:

Maybe I wasn’t as clear as I hoped.  What if UPL is out awhile and we have a system in place that benefits UPLs strengths?

[thewookie1]

On 10/6/2025 at 2:56 PM, DarthEbriate said:

Entirely possible.

But he'd still have been far and away their best goalie since Miller (and briefly, strictly by the numbers, Lehner -- if he'd been able to keep himself healthy off the ice). 40 healthy games of Ullmark, with ....Anderson?... as a backup and hot Levi to finish, gets them in 2022-23.

Oh I’d like to still have Ullmark but he was going to leave regardless after his father’s passing. Had we extended him earlier maybe we could of kept him.