3 Headed Goalie Monster - what will Jarmo do?

[CTJoe]

One seemingly has to go

[dudacek]

This one really depends on the place you're viewing it from.

Long-term, the answer is 'none of the above', so ideally, from that lens, I trade UPL and something for a better goalie.

Short-term, the answer is "UPL and Lyon are getting the job done" so I continue rolling those 2 until one of them breaks.

As for the inevitable follow-up: "what do you do with Ellis", I continue with the status quo of the past month. I make it clear he is the #3 and a spare, and I hide him in the press box for as long as we are able.

if either Lyon or UPL emerges as a clear #1, or a clear weak link between now and the deadline, you make the corresponding move and install Ellis as a backup.

If UPL and Lyon continue as a viable duo, and a healthy roster forces you to do something with Ellis, you trade Ellis if you get a worthwhile offer, or you cross your fingers and send him down on waivers.

Prior to the start of the season, Ellis was generally considered a #3 who would probably clear waivers in a healthy league.

Has his value around the league really changed since?

[Porous Five Hole]

I am wondering if the Sabres do nothing until there’s a roster crunch.  Like Duda said, tell Ellis he’s #3 and he’s watching upstairs until further notice. 

Kozak & Dunne are currently in the press box and Metsa goes to the press box once Kess comes back.  

With Kulich not close to returning, the Sabres don’t need the roster spot until Danforth or Timmins get back.  

One thing I would refuse to do is trade Lyon. He’s better than Ellis and running hotter than UPL. 

[dudacek]

Also, question for our CBA experts (@Taro T) :

Am I correct in remembering that rosters can be expanded after the trade deadline?

And, if so, would that mean we can keep Ellis around even if the roster is healthy?

Edited January 10 by dudacek

[tom webster]

In an ideal scenario, Lyon and Ellis emerge as the goalies through next year. Having two goalies at less than $2M total would be a huge bonus towards elite roster construction. 
Probably not likely, but it would be ideal.

[dudacek]

1 minute ago, tom webster said:

In an ideal scenario, Lyon and Ellis emerge as the goalies through next year. Having two goalies at less than $2M total would be a huge bonus towards elite roster construction. 
Probably not likely, but it would be ideal.

Agreed. I'd also add Levi into that equation.

[pi2000]

expect another "injury" soon

[tom webster]

17 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Agreed. I'd also add Levi into that equation.

Yep. All three of them signed through next year. 

[Weave]

I don’t think the choice of goalies to move is a choice with any distinction.  Team performance with any 2 of the 3 seems to be without differentiation.

[tom webster]

4 minutes ago, Weave said:

I don’t think the choice of goalies to move is a choice with any distinction.  Team performance with any 2 of the 3 seems to be without differentiation.

And that’s what tips the scales for me. If all three yield the same results, pay the cheaper two.

[dudacek]

1 minute ago, tom webster said:

And that’s what tips the scales for me. If all three yield the same results, pay the cheaper two.

Long-term for sure.

Short-term, Lyon and UPL have both shown the ability to get hot at the NHL level, Ellis has not.

[Mustache of God]

Of all the 3 goals I find myself feeling least co fident that a save is coming when UPL is in net, so I'd like to move on from him in an ideal world. I don't know how you move him with that contract though.

[inkman]

3 minutes ago, Mustache of God said:

Of all the 3 goals I find myself feeling least co fident that a save is coming when UPL is in net, so I'd like to move on from him in an ideal world. I don't know how you move him with that contract though.

I don’t know how to explain this exactly but the way you typed confidence made me say it uber Canadian like. 

[Weave]

3 minutes ago, Mustache of God said:

Of all the 3 goals I find myself feeling least co fident that a save is coming when UPL is in net, so I'd like to move on from him in an ideal world. I don't know how you move him with that contract though.

I think for most it is a familiarity breeds contempt situation.  Team performance-wise they are essentially the same.

[Scottysabres]

Get rid of Biron, put UPL on LTIR, run with Lyon and Ellis

[Demoted]

Sabres always have an injured goalie so I dont think any are going.

[ExWNYer]

I'd keep Lyon and try to flip UPL for help while he's seemingly hot. I don't know that they'd get much for Ellis. Just my my two cents.

[inkman]

13 minutes ago, Scottysabres said:

Get rid of Biron, put UPL on LTIR, run with Lyon and Ellis

Dang what Marty do? 

[Weave]

Just now, inkman said:

Dang what Marty do? 

Talk funny.

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

Also, question for our CBA experts (@Taro T) :

Am I correct in remembering that rosters can be expanded after the trade deadline?

And, if so, would that mean we can keep Ellis around even if the roster is healthy?

Yes, after the trade deadline the Sabres can have as many players as they want on the roster provided they are still cap compliant.

But, that said, it doesn't change the fact that when there are 3 goalies, 2 of them are splitting backup ice at practice and 1 isn't even dressing on game nights.  You are necessarily taking at least 1, if not 2, of the 3 out of a regular rhythm and can end up having to "get the rust off" when you decide to go with that particular guy.  And we've seen to an extent all 3 have at least 1 bad game after having sat a while.

Still am expecting Kekalainen to trade one this month provided Lyon gets healthy and neither of the other 2 rebreak immediately thereafter.  If they make it to February without trading one, am expecting them to not address it until the off-season.  (If you've sucked it up for 2/3's of the season trying to work in 3 guys, might as well continue that and be able to run 3-4 deep in the playoffs should you have the goaltender version of the injury luck they had with D back in '06.

[Carmel Corn]

Hoping it’s UPL who gets moved….he’s not worth the higher salary vs. the other 2 guys.

[SabreFinn]

It is a possibility to continue with the three headed monster. We have been doing okay this far.

[Taro T]

Don't know if it's UPL or Ellis (or even Lyon for that matter) that gets moved if Lyon gets healthy soon.  But considering Lyon is the only one of the 3 that has a proven track record of being able to be the 2 on a good team (and has had stretches where he's kept a team in the playoff race while the starter was unavailable) and he's played well when it was his turn to play starter; he is the one that they have to get an absolutely blow your socks off offer to move.

Personally trust that Lyon could come in once every 5 games if he loses the competition to be the 1A and still give them good goaltending and believe he could run as the starter if needed if the team continues to believe in him and expect it would take a prolonged streak of poor play on his part to get them to not believe in him.  MAYBE either of the other 2 could do that consistently if they're in a battery with Lyon as the starter; but neither has actually demonstrated that particular ability to this point.

[Indabuff]

Where's the "bring in a fourth" option?

[Mustache of God]

Waiving Ellis makes no sense to me either. If he clears waivers, then he's down in Rochester and you're now in a situation where youre taking away games from Levi's development.