He was pretty bad last year though
I'm gonna wait & see how he does the next couple years for Rochester
- jdfitz77

He missed pretty much the entire season before last with an injury though. I would think that had something to do with his not so stellar numbers last year. I'd be interested in seeing his game log to see if there was some sort of progression in his numbers from the beginning of the year to the end.

I miss that dude (89) ... Was opinionated some of which I disagreed with...like everyone, but he had some good insights. We lost a lot of that on here over the past year or so, bummer.
- IonSabres

Did he drop out of here?

Yeah... Hopefully!
I am concerned though
This attitude that goalie isn't important and we can find one anywhere is crazy to me

Look at all those years Philly had a very strong team but couldn't win a Cup bc of mediocre net play
Look at the difference between the Oilers & Nyi recently.
No mistake that one rebuilding team took a big leap forward as soon as they finally got a solid goalie

It's easily my biggest concern going forward from here for us
- jdfitz77

To play devil's advocate, look at all of the teams that won without elite net play. You can make a case the other way as well.

He was pretty bad last year though
I'm gonna wait & see how he does the next couple years for Rochester
- jdfitz77

Ullmark was bad as well, it's more about the team in front of him

He missed pretty much the entire season before last with an injury though. I would think that had something to do with his not so stellar numbers last year. I'd be interested in seeing his game log to see if there was some sort of progression in his numbers from the beginning of the year to the end.
- HonkFortheGoose

I don't think Murray would disagree that he overpaid for Lehner. Hell, he was visibly upset that he had to take Legwand as well. He rolled the dice.

I don't think Murray would disagree that he overpaid for Lehner. Hell, he was visibly upset that he had to take Legwand as well. He rolled the dice.
- Slump Buster

It was a trade made within the division. Bryan Murray stated afterwards that he really didn't want to trade Lehner within the East, let alone the same division. So, there was a bit more of a premium paid due to that fact. It is what it is.

People are quick to say that Murray should have just stood pat with the goalies we had, but if we had gone into training camp with Johnson and Ullmark as the 1 and 2 goalies, people around here would have flipped their lids with anger. Most around here didn't even want Johnson suiting up as the backup, let alone the starter. I couldn't even tell you how many times it was said they should waive him and send him to Rochester.

It was a trade made within the division. Bryan Murray stated afterwards that he really didn't want to trade Lehner within the East, let alone the same division. So, there was a bit more of a premium paid due to that fact. It is what it is.

People are quick to say that Murray should have just stood pat with the goalies we had, but if we had gone into training camp with Johnson and Ullmark as the 1 and 2 goalies, people around here would have flip their lids with anger. Most around here didn't even want Johnson suiting up at the backup, let alone the starter. I couldn't even tell you how many times it was said they should waive him and send him to Rochester.
- HonkFortheGoose

I recall TM saying that they called us and said that someone offered more than the 2nd rounder we were offering (presumeably Edmonton) and that it was now or never.

I think most people were in the camp of trading for one of the secondary goalies available. I think most people would have been fine without swinging for the fences.

average, got it



- homiedclown

Giggle giggle.

I recall TM saying that they called us and said that someone offered more than the 2nd rounder we were offering (presumeably Edmonton) and that it was now or never.

I think most people were in the camp of trading for one of the secondary goalies available. I think most people would have been fine without swinging for the fences.
- Slump Buster

The funny part is Johnson has outperformed all of those other guys. The guy that just about everyone around here was ready to run out of town even though he hadn't even played 1 actual minute in a Sabres uniform.

Had Murray known that Johnson would perform like this, perhaps he would have decided to just go with what we had. But you can't sit here right now and say that back in June you would have been ok with that.

This is how I've felt the whole time. I hope he works out, not because of what we gave up for him, but because he's the goaltender of my favorite team and I want to see him be successful.

Petersen is having a very good year for Notre Dame. There's a lot of guys in the pipe so you'd think that you'd have to hit on at least one, right?
- HonkFortheGoose

Will you be my valentine

I don't think Murray would disagree that he overpaid for Lehner. Hell, he was visibly upset that he had to take Legwand as well. He rolled the dice.
- Slump Buster

Is there a source for this or something to back up this statement???

The way I read it was that TM was actually looking for a bottom 6 veteran who was a two way center and good on the dot to help teach guys like Gus, Sam, and Jack some of the ropes of the game.

- homiedclown

I, too, love Bishop... but I would assume he will demand at least 6.5M to maybe 7.25M per season with having brought a team to the Stanley Cup on his resume.

i kind of think he was just along for the ride on a great team last year. I mean Roloson brought TB to the ECF a few years back too.

Quick... who else has backed up Pekka Rinne that we can sign!!?? (Lindback and Bishop)

I, too, love Bishop... but I would assume he will demand at least 6.5M to maybe 7.25M per season with having brought a team to the Stanley Cup on his resume.

i kind of think he was just along for the ride on a great team last year. I mean Roloson brought TB to the ECF a few years back too.

Quick... who else has backed up Pekka Rinne that we can sign!!?? (Lindback and Bishop)
- JVince11

Bishop never backed up Rinne. He was drafted by St. Louis and traded to Ottawa. Then he was traded from Ottawa to TB.

I, too, love Bishop... but I would assume he will demand at least 6.5M to maybe 7.25M per season with having brought a team to the Stanley Cup on his resume.

i kind of think he was just along for the ride on a great team last year. I mean Roloson brought TB to the ECF a few years back too.

Quick... who else has backed up Pekka Rinne that we can sign!!?? (Lindback and Bishop)
- JVince11

Wasn't Roly on the oilers ?

Wasn't Roly on the oilers ?
- cabin

He was. The year they played Carolina in the SCF. He later was with Tampa when they went to the ECF.

Bishop never backed up Rinne. He was drafted by St. Louis and traded to Ottawa. Then he was traded from Ottawa to TB.
- HonkFortheGoose

oh crap... you're right... was I thinking of only Lindback then.. Too many sasquatch goalies to track.

He was. The year they played Carolina in the SCF. He later was with Tampa when they went to the ECF.
- HonkFortheGoose

Thought so. Thx.

At this point, I'm done caring about what Lehner was traded for
Now I'm just all in on hoping he works out
If not, Ullmark has impressed so far
After those 2 guys,
Petersen is prob our best shot at a franchise goalie.
We're quite a ways away from knowing how he'll work out though.

Last night I brought up how Bishop from Tampa will be UFA after next season
If Lehner doesn't work out, & Ullmark isn't ready to be a "#1" then he could be a solid placeholder for a bit
- jdfitz77

No thank you to paying Bishop big money.

Rather roll with what they have now and in the pipeline.

Is there a source for this or something to back up this statement???

The way I read it was that TM was actually looking for a bottom 6 veteran who was a two way center and good on the dot to help teach guys like Gus, Sam, and Jack some of the ropes of the game.
- JVince11

He said it in the press conference after. Someone asked him about Legwand and he very tersely said that it was a condition of the deal.

He said it in the press conference after. Someone asked him about Legwand and he very tersely said that it was a condition of the deal.
- Slump Buster

I do wonder then if we had not taken Legwand would the price have been less? There was also the issue of Edmonton and them trying to trade their 2nd so we needed to sweeten the deal, but could a 2nd and a prospect have gotten us Lehner if we didn't do Legwand as well?

I do wonder then if we had not taken Legwand would the price have been less? There was also the issue of Edmonton and them trying to trade their 2nd so we needed to sweeten the deal, but could a 2nd and a prospect have gotten us Lehner if we didn't do Legwand as well?
- Zschalberg

I think having to take Legwand meant the deal cost less from the Buffalo side of things.

I do wonder then if we had not taken Legwand would the price have been less? There was also the issue of Edmonton and them trying to trade their 2nd so we needed to sweeten the deal, but could a 2nd and a prospect have gotten us Lehner if we didn't do Legwand as well?
- Zschalberg

If anything it would have been more. We were doing them a favor because they were trying to unload his contract.

I do wonder then if we had not taken Legwand would the price have been less? There was also the issue of Edmonton and them trying to trade their 2nd so we needed to sweeten the deal, but could a 2nd and a prospect have gotten us Lehner if we didn't do Legwand as well?
- Zschalberg

I am not positive about this but I think that was what we were originally offering and Ottawa told us that someone offered something at the bottom of the first round. I always kind of thought that adding Legwand may have been a price for doing business in the division.

I remember people in the Ottawa board saying that he looked completely done last year. I get the vet thing but you gotta think that Schaller would have better numbers in that spot.

I think having to take Legwand meant the deal cost less from the Buffalo side of things.
- kingcong39

If it was a cap dump. If Murray wanted him maybe he was saying "I'll give you the first for Lehner but I need something else with it because a 1st for a goalie straight up is too much"

If it was a cap dump. If Murray wanted him maybe he was saying "I'll give you the first for Lehner but I need something else with it because a 1st for a goalie straight up is too much"
- Zschalberg

Not quite. Goose had it right - no way we wanted Legwand.