The coming goalie conundrum’s

[Scottysabres]

UPL, Lyon, Ellis, Levi

All under contract next season, all at or near NHL ready, even as full time #2’s in a tandem. Each is going to want a spot on a team at the NHL lvl.

Who do we keep? Who do we move to give them an opportunity to flourish in the NHL somewhere?

I know Lyon is well liked, UPL is the starter. I’d prefer to keep UPL and Lyon, but that’s just my choice based on current play. What do you all think?

[Mr. MVP]

Tell Ellis and Levi to suck it up and split the net in Rochester.  

[shrader]

UPL and one of the kids. Lyon gets shopped for a low return and then they figure out how to best handle the kid who doesn’t win the backup job. 

[Taro T]

15 minutes ago, Mr. MVP said:

Tell Ellis and Levi to suck it up and split the net in Rochester.  

You mean tell them to suck it up and split time in St. Louis and some other NHL city.  Both need to clear waivers to get sent down and Ellis will NOT clear waivers and its likely Levi wouldn't either.

[French Collection]

13 minutes ago, Mr. MVP said:

Tell Ellis and Levi to suck it up and split the net in Rochester.  

I would like to keep them all but those two could be claimed from waivers after training camp. They could lose both for nothing.

I am not sure how this will play out, I wanted UPL gone last October, so I am no Nostradamus. Goalies are weird, UPL could have a sub par year in 26/27.

I think one of Lyon/Ellis/Levi is traded in the summer and then camp will decide the pecking order.

[Taro T]

2 minutes ago, French Collection said:

I would like to keep them all but those two could be claimed from waivers after training camp. They could lose both for nothing.

I am not sure how this will play out, I wanted UPL gone last October, so I am no Nostradamus. Goalies are weird, UPL could have a sub par year in 26/27.

I think one of Lyon/Ellis/Levi is traded in the summer and then camp will decide the pecking order.

At least 1 will get traded.  Before the Olympic break expected Lyon was the one sure bet to be back; now he might be the most likely one to get traded because of his age.

Won't hazard a guesss as to which one will be the one to get traded.  And wouldn't be shocked to see them trade a 2nd too nor would be shocked to see them run a 3 headed monster again for, what, the 4th year in a row.  (Don't expect the 3 headed monster, but didn't see that coming this year AT ALL, so who knows.)

[steveoath]

I think Levi will be gone. Probably at the draft. 

[...]

The playoffs will determine the strategy for handling the goalies. 

[K012010]

5 minutes ago, steveoath said:

I think Levi will be gone. Probably at the draft. 

So we can’t just keep Levi in Rochester next year again? 

Edited April 11 by K012010

[...]

Could easily see them carrying three again if no clear path emerges. Not like it hurt them this season.

[steveoath]

Just now, K012010 said:

So we can’t just keep Levi in Rochester next year again? 

I don’t think so. Is nhl or he has to pass through waivers. 

[dudacek]

I’m very curious what the value of Lyon, Ellis and Levi is on the open market.

Last summer Ellis had waiver claim value, Levi probably had slightly more value being waiver-exempt, and Lyon had routine backup value. Has that changed? By how much?

I’d be checking out the market value on each and weighing my options accordingly.

Id probably be OK pencilling in any as my #2 next year.

Edited April 11 by dudacek

[tom webster]

Because of the very low salary, they don’t have to do anything with the three they already have up here. I suspect they’ll try and get something for Levi. It’s not ideal keeping all three again but as long as they have roster flexibility they can manage it.

[steveoath]

Anyone who watches Roc,  How is Levi doing?

[K012010]

2 minutes ago, steveoath said:

Anyone who watches Roc,  How is Levi doing?

I asked the same question probably six weeks ago and was told he’s doing pretty well maybe not as well as last year but still pretty darn good.

to me, I just think it would be wild to never really have him up in the NHL for a really full look after developing him for a while now. I thought he showed flashes in his very early starts in the big league but he was so young and definitely needed time in Rochester. But Ellis may have changed the dynamic. And if Ellis does something in the playoffs that’s special even once or twice. If he comes in, I think it’s a wrap on Levi.

Edited April 11 by K012010

[steveoath]

I think Ellis = the concept of Levi. Maybe a year ahead of him. 

[dudacek]

I think this conversation needs to acknowledge that UPL has arrived as a legitimate NHL starter.

Sure he has ups and downs, most goalies do, but this is his three-year body of work:

72-55-12 .901 2.81 8 shutouts

That’s 14th in wins and 15th in S% and GAA among goalies who have played 120 games over that span.

His statistical peers include goalies like Swayman, Binnington, Markstrom, and Ullmark. He is what an established NHL starter looks like these days.

[Flashsabre]

I think Jarmo already has some deals lined up this offseason and Levi will be moved as part of a bigger deal.

Keep 3 for one more year and then transition to UPL-Ellis.

[K012010]

10 minutes ago, dudacek said:

I think this conversation needs to acknowledge that UPL has arrived as a legitimate NHL starter.

Sure he has ups and downs, most goalies do, but this is his three-year body of work:

72-55-12 .901 2.81 8 shutouts

That’s 14th in wins and 15th in S% and GAA among goalies who have played 120 games over that span.

His statistical peers include goalies like Swayman, Binnington, Markstrom, and Ullmark. He is what an established NHL starter looks like these days.

Yeah, but that was also the consensus like two years ago or three with UPL. There’s a reason why people do not trust him still.

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, Mr. MVP said:

Tell Ellis and Levi to suck it up and split the net in Rochester.  

And you lose Ellis to waivers immediately. 

The NHL might grant a 3rd goalie roster exemption next year. So just keep all 3. They all get injured at some point.

[PromoTheRobot]

27 minutes ago, steveoath said:

Anyone who watches Roc,  How is Levi doing?

To be fair, Amerks have suffered from injuries and call-ups. The team in front of Levi hasn't been great either.

[Doohickie]

42 minutes ago, steveoath said:

I think Levi will be gone. Probably at the draft. 

Agree.  If they decide they can't do the three goalie thing again I think Lyon is the other goalie who will be moved.

[dudacek]

41 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

I think Jarmo already has some deals lined up this offseason and Levi will be moved as part of a bigger deal.

Keep 3 for one more year and then transition to UPL-Ellis.

I’m curious exactly how the new EBug rules work next year and if that gives us a waiver workaround.

Because the quoted arrangement sure worked well this year.

Im not sure if I’m comfortable though, with how little game action Ellis gets for development purposes.

Do people know that Ellis has only played 79 NHL and AHL games combined in his 5 pro years?

Levi (who I still prefer as a prospect) has played 100 in the past 2 seasons.

Edited April 11 by dudacek

[steveoath]

1 minute ago, Doohickie said:

Agree.  If they decide they can't do the three goalie thing again I think Lyon is the other goalie who will be moved.

i think you’re right. That would leave me nervous about who would come up from Roc in the event of injuries….

[dudacek]

9 minutes ago, K012010 said:

Yeah, but that was also the consensus like two years ago or three with UPL. There’s a reason why people do not trust him still.

It might have been the consensus, but it was premature because it wasn’t supported by a body of work.

Now it has been.