Colten Ellis Love Fest

[Turbo44]

4 minutes ago, Believer said:

Then again, UPL has one clean OT and 5 frame shoot out win. Ellis can’t say the same.

Except for one 3 month period, UPL has proven to be a below replacement level goalie, not counting his last year in juniors. He’s not becoming the next ullmark 

[PromoTheRobot]

11 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

I'm thinking forward not creating crises. 

If you are a good GM you can't wait for the crisis, you have to think ahead about what is coming and what you need. You know there will be extra roster players very soon. You also see you just lost your D man for "an extended time" so if you want to compete seriously you make a move. You at least try and look for opportunities. 

I don't want to blow a season on any sort of if only they'd................

I am certain they are listening for offers on goalies right now. But they aren't going to fire sale them.

Edited 16 hours ago by PromoTheRobot

[Turbo44]

2 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I am certain they are listening for offers on goalies right now. But they aren't going to fire sale them.

Always worry about injuries but if you can trade UPL and one of Ellis or Lyon gets hurt, you call up Levi. If Ellis or Lyon fall off a cliff, you call up Levi. It’s not rocket science except for probably Adams

[PromoTheRobot]

12 minutes ago, Turbo44 said:

Always worry about injuries but if you can trade UPL and one of Ellis or Lyon gets hurt, you call up Levi. If Ellis or Lyon fall off a cliff, you call up Levi. It’s not rocket science except for probably Adams

It's a team effort. Fairburn calls it Kev-mo. 🤣

[bob_sauve28]

8 hours ago, Doohickie said:

St. Louis Blues have no choice but make a trade for a new goalie to save their season

 

Yes, UPL to the Blues rescue! 🤣

 

[...]

I believe the window to get the best return and settle the goalie issue is open now while there are still players out with injuries. You waive UPL and he makes it through his value is virtually forever tarnished by that. It would take a long time and a consistent level of play UPL has barely managed once before to recover. GMKA needs to trade him now for whatevers and take what Adams would consider an ego punch, although, ironically, smart Sabres fans would actually appreciate the move.

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Yes, UPL to the Blues rescue! 🤣

 

What happened to the guy who blanked us, Joel Hofer? Turned back into a pumpkin?

[PerreaultForever]

4 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I am certain they are listening for offers on goalies right now. But they aren't going to fire sale them.

I just don't want Adams to try to "win the trade". Just make the deal to make the team better now. 

[mjd1001]

5 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

I just don't want Adams to try to "win the trade". Just make the deal to make the team better now. 

Agree.

If they can trade UPL, I don't think 'waiting it out' to get the best offer is going to make much of a difference.  I think his worth on the trade market is pretty low, and that isn't going to change.

The value in moving him is not in the return you get, but in any potential cap space relief, just getting rid of one goalie when you have so many between Buffao and rochester, and not having to use an extra roster spot in Buffalo for 3 goalies.  

If you could Move UPL and get that cap space, an extra roster spot, room for the exisiting guys to play more, and a mid round draft pick...I might say that mid round pick is the least valuable to the team now.  I want those other things 'yesterday', and If that isn't possible, give them to me no later than 'today'.

Edited 6 hours ago by mjd1001

[French Collection]

1 hour ago, mjd1001 said:

Agree.

If they can trade UPL, I don't think 'waiting it out' to get the best offer is going to make much of a difference.  I think his worth on the trade market is pretty low, and that isn't going to change.

The value in moving him is not in the return you get, but in any potential cap space relief, just getting rid of one goalie when you have so many between Buffao and rochester, and not having to use an extra roster spot in Buffalo for 3 goalies.  

If you could Move UPL and get that cap space, an extra roster spot, room for the exisiting guys to play more, and a mid round draft pick...I might say that mid round pick is the least valuable to the team now.  I want those other things 'yesterday', and If that isn't possible, give them to me no later than 'today'.

I think another plus is the intangible effect he has on his teammates when he is in the net.
I think he brings Eeyore vibes to the team.

I agree that you move him ASAP.

[PromoTheRobot]

6 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

I just don't want Adams to try to "win the trade". Just make the deal to make the team better now. 

So you want him to get taken to the cleaners? So you can complain about what a bad trade he made?

[mjd1001]

7 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

So you want him to get taken to the cleaners? So you can complain about what a bad trade he made?

As per my post above, I just want him off the team. 

Is there a chance he could find his game and turn into a good goalie for someone else? Sure. 

There's also a chance that never happens. And right now I think the team benefits going forward having one less goaltender on it, that being UPL. 

If you give him away with no return at all except having an extra roster spot, I'm okay with it. I wouldn't consider that being taken to the cleaners. 

Not moving him, having him play games where he's below average, having three goaltenders on the roster, paying him the couple percent of cap space that you're paying him..... Everyday that continues, I consider that being taken to the cleaners.

[Archie Lee]

1 hour ago, PromoTheRobot said:

So you want him to get taken to the cleaners? So you can complain about what a bad trade he made?

I've been a UPL supporter, but even I don't think it is possible to be "taken to the cleaners" on a UPL trade right now.  The combination of his play over the past 12 months and his contract mean if you could move him for future considerations you are getting out of what currently looks like a bad contract. 

Of course, UPL could find his game on another team with a better coaching staff and D structure. Samuelsson's contract looked bad 2 months ago.

  

Edited 3 hours ago by Archie Lee

[Archie Lee]

56 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

As per my post above, I just want him off the team. 

Is there a chance he could find his game and turn into a good goalie for someone else? Sure. 

There's also a chance that never happens. And right now I think the team benefits going forward having one less goaltender on it, that being UPL. 

If you give him away with no return at all except having an extra roster spot, I'm okay with it. I wouldn't consider that being taken to the cleaners. 

Not moving him, having him play games where he's below average, having three goaltenders on the roster, paying him the couple percent of cap space that you're paying him..... Everyday that continues, I consider that being taken to the cleaners.

I largely agree.  But, the Sabres could also get a head coach and staff that do a better job of putting their players in a position to be successful.  

[inkman]

36 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

I've been a UPL supporter, but even I don't think it is possible to be "taken to the cleaners" on a UPL trade right now.  The combination of his play over the past 12 months and his contract mean if you could move him for future considerations you are getting out of what currently looks like a bad contract. 

Of course, UPL could find his game on another team with a better coaching staff and D structure. Samuelsson's contract looked bad 2 months ago.

  

I still don’t think Samuelsson or Greenway’s contract are “bad”.  Are they ideal? No.  Is it essentially what an average NHL forward or dman make commensurate with their play.  Pretty much.  Sure you could replace those guys with cheaper versions but until the cap becomes a constraint, I’m not worried.  

[That Aud Smell]

13 hours ago, Turbo44 said:

Played the last 2 games, will play again cs Calgary tomorrow and we have 2 other goalies who need work. Pretty obvious 

Perhaps only to the most brilliant hockey minds that deign to visit this message board.

[kas23]

2 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

So you want him to get taken to the cleaners? So you can complain about what a bad trade he made?

Taken to the cleaners for UPL? I think most on here would be satisfied with “future considerations” to get that contract off the books. Terry would be even happier. 

[clink]

14 hours ago, Turbo44 said:

Except for one 3 month period, UPL has proven to be a below replacement level goalie, not counting his last year in juniors. He’s not becoming the next ullmark 

Agree with all of it 

And not only that, something about him (his "energy" "chi" whatever) drags the whole frigging team down 

He's the official pariah of this drought IMO 

Not only does he not need to be in net for Buf, he needs to be 86'd off the team

[Taro T]

3 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

I've been a UPL supporter, but even I don't think it is possible to be "taken to the cleaners" on a UPL trade right now.  The combination of his play over the past 12 months and his contract mean if you could move him for future considerations you are getting out of what currently looks like a bad contract. 

Of course, UPL could find his game on another team with a better coaching staff and D structure. Samuelsson's contract looked bad 2 months ago.

  

Personally, expect he will look a BIT better on another roster.  Both he and the Sabres seem to be at the point that everyone needs him to get a fresh start and the change of scenery combined with somebody really WANTING him will give him a bit of a bounce.  But also am ok with that.  Just personally don't see him ever fully getting out of his own head regardless of where he's at.  If he ever does, look out, he could be truly elite; but that's a huge if and really doubt that'd ever happen while he's a Sabre.  Heck, it isn't likely he'd do it elsewhere either, but it's not 100% out of the question.

And even if he does get out of his own head, doubt it'd be totally trajectory changing like when Roloson switched from a stand up/ reaction goalie to a butterflier.  Expect it'd more likely be catching lightning in a bottle for a season or 2 and then he'd go back to being what he is.  An extremely frustrating goalie that lives up to expectations in only drabs and drips.

Hope for his sake he figures out how to figure it out, but not expecting that.

[PromoTheRobot]

2 hours ago, kas23 said:

Taken to the cleaners for UPL? I think most on here would be satisfied with “future considerations” to get that contract off the books. Terry would be even happier. 

Ha ha, any deal for UPL will be derided so does it matter? People hated the waiver pickup of Ellis! My point is the Sabres should try to get the most for UPL or any player they move. Of course a clock is ticking when they will need the roster spot a third goalie is taking up, so there's that. But that deadline isn't upon them yet.

We don't know what is going on or what calls have been made or taken. But our favorite pastime is creating our own stories.

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, clink said:

Agree with all of it 

And not only that, something about him (his "energy" "chi" whatever) drags the whole frigging team down 

He's the official pariah of this drought IMO 

Not only does he not need to be in net for Buf, he needs to be 86'd off the team

Don't know that it's his energy so much as giving up really bad goals at really inopportune times that drags the team down.  Or more accurately, the expectation of his teammates due to past history that he's "due" for a bad goal; so they find themselves trying to keep avoid all shots against (which will never happen) so they end up giving up even better chances against than they'd give up if they were playing the way they were supposed to and end up giving up even more goals and the cycle just feeds on itself.

If you don't trust the goalie, you don't play the way you should.  And if you don't play the way you should, you'll lose a lot of games you could've won.