UPL banged up - Lindy not sure he’ll be ready opening night

[Taro T]

34 minutes ago, shrader said:

Is anything “mellow dramatic”?

"The Big Lebowski" maybe?

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, Taro T said:

"The Big Lebowski" maybe?

[SABRES 0311]

Ya know what, now that I have processed this, if Lyon is ok by Thursday I don’t see any negatives. Ellis looks calmer so far and we know what we get with Lyon. Eff it, let’s run with the two the team knows will play consistently.

[Scottysabres]

1 hour ago, SABRES 0311 said:

Ya know what, now that I have processed this, if Lyon is ok by Thursday I don’t see any negatives. Ellis looks calmer so far and we know what we get with Lyon. Eff it, let’s run with the two the team knows will play consistently.

We will see him for 13 games this season minimum. The Sabres won’t let him get to UFA-G6 status, that would most likely mean a higher amount in his contract if we wish to keep him. Getting him under that last RFA year where they can qualify offer him would be the wise move.
 

This explains it pretty well here….

https://sabrenoise.com/how-a-lesser-known-nhl-contract-rule-impacts-colten-ellis-and-the-sabres-goalie-plans-01kwwv8cgp10

[FrenchConnection44]

17 hours ago, ska-T Chitown said:

I presume you mean because of his health issue last year?

Yes. And corresponding rustiness. I think it will take some time for him to be a strong factor in the team. Of course, I’d be more than happy to be wrong about that! 😊

[PromoTheRobot]

22 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Lots of people saying this stuff.   Replacing Tuch is not going to be easy, and with Zucker out it makes it worse.  

Doan has a lot of pressure on him to score another 25 goals, we shall see. 

Quinn has his fan boys (@JohnC and @PromoTheRobot) but I cannot put a lot of faith in him, we shall see.  He is 25 and this is his 5th season, he is a veteran now and we need to see him step up.  

Osty is getting paid based on his potential, like when Muel got his contract.   He is 22 with 68 career games, it will take some patience to see consistent play from the young players.   That said, he looks like one of the few that is ready to play.  

 

Where did you get this from? Because I didn't want to trade for Hellebuyck?

Does Elliottte know something or just spitballing?

[stinky finger]

14 hours ago, SABRES 0311 said:

Ya know what, now that I have processed this, if Lyon is ok by Thursday I don’t see any negatives. Ellis looks calmer so far and we know what we get with Lyon. Eff it, let’s run with the two the team knows will play consistently.

To this point, I've been wanting to see Ellis with an increased work load. Here's a good opportunity for that. Maybe we learn we have something as good or better to march out. 

[msw2112]

The Sabres have two injured goalies and the season starts in 3 days.  No one knows how long the either of the 2 goalies will be out.  So, yes, Elliotte is quite the prognosticator to say that the Sabres are one the teams who "could look" at claiming a goalie.  I personally think the Sabres will be fine giving Ellis a couple of the early games to start the season, but if UPL and Lyon are not ready, they do need a backup with some NHL experience until at least one of UPL or Lyon are ready to come back.  If Ellis were to get banged up, I don't think the Rochester guys are NHL-ready.

I'm not that worried about the goaltending to start the season.  If UPL and Lyon's injuries are minor, they'll be back soon enough and Ellis can hold down the fort until they do.  I'm slightly more concerned about the rest of the team.  While preseason is somewhat meaningless, in the little that I've seen, the Sabres have not looked good.  Pittsburgh looked much better (twice).  The only good game was the full NHL roster against Columbus' AHL team.  I'm certainly not in panic mode - preseason is preseason, but that's my bigger concern at this point.
 

[PASabreFan]

I know who banged him up.

[dudacek]

UPL ranks 26, near the top of tier 4 (tandem goalies) i this years athletic goalie rankings.

Lyon is 39, top of tier 5 (1B/quality backups)

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7623708/2026/09/28/nhl-goalie-rankings-2026-tiers/

Edited September 28 by dudacek

[Archie Lee]

25 minutes ago, dudacek said:

UPL ranks 26, near the top of tier 4 (tandem goalies) i this years athletic goalie rankings.

Lyon is 39, top of tier 5 (1B/quality backups)

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7623708/2026/09/28/nhl-goalie-rankings-2026-tiers/

Unlike their player rankings, which, flawed as they may be, are based on a performance metrics model, the goaltending rankings are based on an anonymous pole of 10 individuals; 8 goalie coaches (current or former NHL goalie coaches or private NHL goalie coaches) and 2 recently retired goalies.

Clearly the hockey world thinks UPL still has lots to prove.  I would not personally rank him behind Vladar, Hart, Markstrom, Wedgewood, Blackwood, Daccord, or Hofer.  I think he belongs in that tier.

[Eleven]

1 hour ago, PASabreFan said:

I know who banged him up.

 

2 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

an anonymous pole

.

Edited September 28 by Eleven

[Flashsabre]

Jets claimed Clay Stevenson from the Caps. Sounds like an Ellis type who has upside.

Wonder if they don’t need a goalie back now for Hellebuyck

[Doohickie]

2 hours ago, PASabreFan said:

I know who banged him up.

[nfreeman]

I'd guess Chevy is hoping that UPL is out for a bit and the Sabres start 0-5, get desperate and sweeten the pot for a Hellebuyck trade.

[PromoTheRobot]

2 hours ago, nfreeman said:

I'd guess Chevy is hoping that UPL is out for a bit and the Sabres start 0-5, get desperate and sweeten the pot for a Hellebuyck trade.

For what he thinks he'll get, he'll be waiting a long time 

Edited September 28 by PromoTheRobot

[Huckleberry]

3 hours ago, dudacek said:

UPL ranks 26, near the top of tier 4 (tandem goalies) i this years athletic goalie rankings.

Lyon is 39, top of tier 5 (1B/quality backups)

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7623708/2026/09/28/nhl-goalie-rankings-2026-tiers/

And they both were top 5 in sv% together least year, writers are too biased.

1 hour ago, Flashsabre said:

Jets claimed Clay Stevenson from the Caps. Sounds like an Ellis type who has upside.

Wonder if they don’t need a goalie back now for Hellebuyck

We still need to offload UPL if we trade for him and not really much in out top  9 besides Krebs I want to send the other way.

[...]

1 hour ago, nfreeman said:

I'd guess Chevy is hoping that UPL is out for a bit and the Sabres start 0-5, get desperate and sweeten the pot for a Hellebuyck trade.

I think you have an affliction.

 

[Doohickie]

5 hours ago, nfreeman said:

I'd guess Chevy is hoping that UPL is out for a bit and the Sabres start 0-5, get desperate and sweeten the pot for a Hellebuyck trade.

Nah.  He's on injury away from a team ponying up for Helly.  Not Buffalo though.  It has to be a team that has a really good goalie that feels like they will go nowhere without him.  The Sabres trio got the team to 109 points last year and I think Jarmo is not alarmingly uncomfortable with the prospect of seeing who gets hot.

[dudacek]

5 hours ago, Huckleberry said:

And they both were top 5 in sv% together least year, writers are too biased.

We still need to offload UPL if we trade for him and not really much in out top  9 besides Krebs I want to send the other way.

I think this is from a poll of coaches and recently retired goalies.

Edited September 29 by dudacek

[...]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

I think this is from a poll of coaches and recently retired goalies.

Typical hockey pundit trash that is absolutely meaningless. We'd spend our precious time better watching dogs play tic-tac-toe.

Here, I'll assist:

[apuszczalowski]

15 hours ago, Huckleberry said:

And they both were top 5 in sv% together least year, writers are too biased.

Which would make sense how they are both top of their tiers listing them as tandem goalies (UPL top of 'A' and Lyon top of 'B').