on pouliot it seems like ever since i ripped him for being terrible he has been pulling it together. he has been a great pick up since then.

Lehner just isn't good enough.. his movement is clunky which makes me think he and isn't flexible or fast enough which leads to the washington goal.. he over pursued the pass and wasn't quick enough or flexible enough to make it look like he even had a chance on the play. i am noticing more and more that he just can't recover..
- IndianaSabresFan

I know its not an end all be all excuse...but when have we EVER seen Lehner with a competent defense in front of him?

I know its not an end all be all excuse...but when have we EVER seen Lehner with a competent defense in front of him?
- feetontheair22

There's times when Lehner is on and there's times when Lehner is very off

He isn't the smoothest of goaltenders that's for sure.

The debate is and will always be is he good enough to win in the playoffs.

Based on what we have seen so far this season the answer is no.

I really can't figure him out.

There's times when Lehner is on and there's times when Lehner is very off

He isn't the smoothest of goaltenders that's for sure.

The debate is and will always be is he good enough to win in the playoffs.

Based on what we have seen so far this season the answer is no.

I really can't figure him out.
- Stripes77

That's like saying "Is this pie crust good enough to win a bake off" when the filling (defense) is made of doo doo butter

That's like saying "Is this pie crust good enough to win a bake off" when the filling (defense) is made of doo doo butter
- jcragcrumple

Haha spot on

That's like saying "Is this pie crust good enough to win a bake off" when the filling (defense) is made of doo doo butter
- jcragcrumple

I get what you're saying and to an extent I agree, however there's times watching him where you're like Samuel L Jackson..."What the f*ck was he doing there"

That's like saying "Is this pie crust good enough to win a bake off" when the filling (defense) is made of doo doo butter
- jcragcrumple

at this point i think goaltending doesn't need to be the main focus.. but i wouldn't be paying lehner 4 mil again

I get what you're saying and to an extent I agree, however there's times watching him where you're like Samuel L Jackson..."What the f*ck was he doing there"
- Stripes77

i have much appreciated his willingness to abandon attempting to be a goalie in one on one situations.. just throw your big ass body at the player and hope to get the puck.. it worked twice

In Lehner's defense on Ovie's goal, how many times have we seen that cross ice pass go to #8 for the one-timer? I think I have seen that same goal by Ovie more than any other goal being scored by any other player anywhere on the ice. Knowing he is on the ice, most goalies probably would have pushing off to get over as quickly as possible anticipating that one-timer.

I get what you're saying and to an extent I agree, however there's times watching him where you're like Samuel L Jackson..."What the f*ck was he doing there"
- Stripes77

Yeah i get that. The thing bothers me most is sort of a relatively minor complaint, but when there's a 2-on-1 (which happens way too often), and he knows there's a 0% chance of him getting across to make the save, he just... doesn't try. sometimes he won't move at all. That's demoralizing for the team.

I get what you're saying and to an extent I agree, however there's times watching him where you're like Samuel L Jackson..."What the f*ck was he doing there"
- Stripes77

Generally, I haven't had a problem with Lehner prior to this year. However, there's something about the way he looks this year that isn't sitting well with me. He just looks like he's all over the place. I don't know if it's a mental thing or what but it's not good.

He has had a few games where he didn't look that way, so I'm hoping that he figures his poop out. That said, Johnson has pretty much looked like a mess as well.

All i'm trying to say is, Cogliano is not as good of a natural goal scorer as Kane. I see both sides of the Kane debate, but if the Sabres get rid of him, they do so at their own peril. Right now you have a tough, fast goal scorer that works with your best player. If they want to change that up, the Sabres risk looking for a replacement for a long time. It depends on the return for Kane as well.

It's funny how a year ago, some fans wanted Kane moved for nothing and other teams' fans were saying he's worthless. Things have certainly changed
- jcragcrumple

You really do not see the winnipeg fans "dropping in" since Kane has played well.

Anyone heard from larson now that the Oilers are at the bottom again

Generally, I haven't had a problem with Lehner prior to this year. However, there's something about the way he looks this year that isn't sitting well with me. He just looks like he's all over the place. I don't know if it's a mental thing or what but it's not good.

He has had a few games where he didn't look that way, so I'm hoping that he figures his poop out. That said, Johnson has pretty much looked like a mess as well.
- HonkFortheGoose

Yes he has

Which makes me think the system is not helping which we kind of figured was going to happen but not this bad

Yeah i get that. The thing bothers me most is sort of a relatively minor complaint, but when there's a 2-on-1 (which happens way too often), and he knows there's a 0% chance of him getting across to make the save, he just... doesn't try. sometimes he won't move at all. That's demoralizing for the team.
- jcragcrumple

Ummm, not sure if you know this, but typically the goaltender stays with the guy carrying the puck. The defenseman (or whoever it is that's the 1) is supposed to take the pass away.

Our defense is AWFUL at that. They always let the pass get through. That's not on the goaltender. That's on the defense.

Does he need to be better overall? Yes. But he's not the only one at fault there.

Yes he has

Which makes me think the system is not helping which we kind of figured was going to happen but not this bad
- Stripes77

Yeah. It's been pretty brutal. I think for me, at this point in the season, is that you do see games where they manage to actually figure out what the hell they're supposed to be doing. So you think that maybe they can build on it. Then the next game the whole team comes out and looks completely lost again. It's definitely getting frustrating.

Ummm, not sure if you know this, but typically the goaltender stays with the guy carrying the puck. The defenseman (or whoever it is that's the 1) is supposed to take the pass away.

Our defense is AWFUL at that. They always let the pass get through. That's not on the goaltender. That's on the defense.

Does he need to be better overall? Yes. But he's not the only one at fault there.
- HonkFortheGoose

Yeah, i totally get that, i used to play goal at a very, very low level. I just mean it's like he knows that wasn't "his job," so he wants to make a point to the team that it's their fault this happened, rather than making a wild attempt to do something. He only does it when it's really obvious, but it bothers me.

Yes he has

Which makes me think the system is not helping which we kind of figured was going to happen but not this bad
- Stripes77

What has it been...10 or 11 different defensemen now??

at this point i think goaltending doesn't need to be the main focus.. but i wouldn't be paying lehner 4 mil again
- IndianaSabresFan

He is the 25th highest paid goalie in the league. What kind of quality goalie should we be expecting for that cost? He will still be an RFA too, so he can be cost controlled. With Price's new $10.5m cap hit and Lundquist at $8.5m are you willing to commit big money to land a goalie that may or may not be a large upgrade over Lehner's?

Yeah, i totally get that, i used to play goal at a very, very low level. I just mean it's like he knows that wasn't "his job," so he wants to make a point to the team that it's their fault this happened, rather than making a wild attempt to do something. He only does it when it's really obvious, but it bothers me.
- jcragcrumple

I dunno. I don't think I've noticed him "not move" at all. Usually he ends up having to throw his body over there in the most awkward way possible in an attempt to try and make the save. But I've also missed quite a few games/periods due to the way the schedule has been this year.

Ummm, not sure if you know this, but typically the goaltender stays with the guy carrying the puck. The defenseman (or whoever it is that's the 1) is supposed to take the pass away.

Our defense is AWFUL at that. They always let the pass get through. That's not on the goaltender. That's on the defense.

Does he need to be better overall? Yes. But he's not the only one at fault there.
- HonkFortheGoose

which makes the washington goal more confusing.. he over pursued the pass like he knew the d wasn't going to do their job.

He is the 25th highest paid goalie in the league. What kind of quality goalie should we be expecting for that cost? He will still be an RFA too, so he can be cost controlled. With Price's new $10.5m cap hit and Lundquist at $8.5m are you willing to commit big money to land a goalie that may or may not be a large upgrade over Lehner's?
- adambuffalo

no i do not want to get a 8 mil goalie.. i want a 4.5-5.5 mil that is in the middle of the league for stats.. not a 4 mil goalie who is in the bottom of the league

I dunno. I don't think I've noticed him "not move" at all. Usually he ends up having to throw his body over there in the most awkward way possible in an attempt to try and make the save. But I've also missed quite a few games/periods due to the way the schedule has been this year.
- HonkFortheGoose

It happens very occasionally in a situation where he'll come out to challenge a shooter who's near the blueline, and there will be a man uncovered next to the net for a tap in. He'll watch the pass go to him and not dive or do anything. It's always a play where there was probably nothing he could have done anyway, but he just gives up

Joe Yerdon‏ @JoeYerdon 15s15 seconds ago

Housley says Ristolainen is week-to-week now.

Joe Yerdon‏ @JoeYerdon 15s15 seconds ago

Housley says Ristolainen is week-to-week now.
- Stripes77

I don't know whether to get pissed, laugh, or cry.

no i do not want to get a 8 mil goalie.. i want a 4.5-5.5 mil that is in the middle of the league for stats.. not a 4 mil goalie who is in the bottom of the league
- IndianaSabresFan

He has been in the middle of the league for stats minus these first 11 games

I don't know what you're expecting


Edit: Of goalies that have played at least 35 games over the last two seasons he is 8th in save percentage

He has been in the middle of the league for stats minus these first 11 games

I don't know what you're expecting
- Stripes77

and that is what i am saying.. if he continues like this i don't want him for 4 mil.

if he had stats like last year i would be fine. i defending him multiple times last year but i just can't anymore with the way he has looked.