That's why the Sabres need a real, proven goalie.
- Hank Balling

No one is denying this.

You guys are blaming 1 guy, 1 goalie while he was our best option all year. While holding others up cause they posted a bit better numbers against way worse competition.

Well yea that’s kind of the point. I expect Levi to struggle at times.

It’s why they need better than UPL.
- ImThatGuy

They also need to improve team defense. Way more than just getting a better goalie.

They also need to improve team defense. Way more than just getting a better goalie.
- DirtyDan

Counter point. Any goalie outside of UPL or Comrie and the Sabres make the playoffs.

part of the biggest problem was before hextall arrived

https://www.hockeydb.com/...aft/teams/dr00007475.html

look at their drafts for the last 10 years

blah players

and many picks moved for deadline deals
- homiedclown

I think that is where Adams approach is really going to pay dividends. If a team contends for long enough, eventually the curve swings around and you're trading futures to try to win now. It isn't sustainable, and less sustainable when you don't draft well with the few picks that you retained. Pitt had years of the proverbial window being open and now the bill comes due. Toronto is in a similar place. Tampa managed to (kind of) avoid it by trading their picks for younger vets.

Counter point. Any goalie outside of UPL or Comrie and the Sabres make the playoffs.
- ImThatGuy

1. Nobody is arguing that UPL is "good".
2. That's a pretty absurd statement that you made. I see mediocre goaltending all across the league.

UPL and Comrie had near identical regular and fancy stats but I don't see anyone proposing Comrie as a good idea this year
- Hank Balling

Was comrie some kind of franchise prospect or just some guy brought in as a filler?

No one is denying this.

You guys are blaming 1 guy, 1 goalie while he was our best option all year. While holding others up cause they posted a bit better numbers against way worse competition.
- DirtyDan

He was provably worse than Levi and Anderson and equal to Comrie. All he has to his credit is the win stat because Tage went super saiyan during those games.

I dont blame him on a personal level for his -1.7 WAR, but the Sabres would have been in the playoffs if he were replacement level last year

Counter point. Any goalie outside of UPL or Comrie and the Sabres make the playoffs.
- ImThatGuy

Okay and better overall team defense and we make the playoffs.

1 little thing happens differently and were in the playoffs.

We missed by a point. 1 point.

If Donnie coaches better. If KA gets a d-man when we were struggling in December to keep guys a float. Only if

He was provably worse than Levi and Anderson and equal to Comrie. All he has to his credit is the win stat because Tage went super saiyan during those games.

I dont blame him on a personal level for his -1.7 WAR, but the Sabres would have been in the playoffs if he were replacement level last year
- Hank Balling

To bad Anderson could only play twice a month against bottom feeder teams. To bad Levi came in in April. To bad Donnie didn't employ better team defense.

So ya stat wise, worse, but when you add in context. He was our best option and we rarely gave him proper help.

Time to trade Diggs. SABRES 89 was right.

Time to trade Diggs. SABRES 89 was right.
- RichardRoma

What did 89 say?

What did 89 say?
- Slump Buster

That Diggs is a pos

To bad Anderson could only play twice a month against bottom feeder teams. To bad Levi came in in April. To bad Donnie didn't employ better team defense.

So ya stat wise, worse, but when you add in context. He was our best option and we rarely gave him proper help.
- DirtyDan

Also, we realistically missed by 2 points or even more. If memory serves me, Florida didn't have to win their last game because they clinched.

Had UPL played over half his games against bottom feeder teams do you think his WAR is respectable?

To bad Anderson could only play twice a month against bottom feeder teams. To bad Levi came in in April. To bad Donnie didn't employ better team defense.
- DirtyDan

Yeah but none of that changes that the stats say that UPL cost them a game and a half over his starts. Are there other factors? Absolutely. They had no answers when Samuelsson got hurt because they didn't have another 3/4 D.

Both of these problems will recur this season unless they're addressed.

If Adams decides to roll with UPL this year and it goes badly again, he absolutely deserves to lose his job.

Yeah but none of that changes that the stats say that UPL cost them a game and a half over his starts. Are there other factors? Absolutely. They had no answers when Samuelsson got hurt because they didn't have another 3/4 D.

Both of these problems will recur this season unless they're addressed.

If Adams decides to roll with UPL this year and it goes badly again, he absolutely deserves to lose his job.
- Hank Balling

Had UPL played over half his games against bottom feeder teams do you think his WAR is respectable?

The only reason Anderson had better #'s was because he was deployed against the bad teams.

If you invest 5 years courting a woman, does she get a longer leash vs courting one for 5 months?
- homiedclown

The lessons seem to be:
-don't worry about what happened yesterday, will doing "this move" make us better tomorrow? Have no ego.

Had UPL played over half his games against bottom feeder teams do you think his WAR is respectable?

The only reason Anderson had better #'s was because he was deployed against the bad teams.
- DirtyDan

So what you’re saying is we need to keep UPL around and only play him against bad teams so he’s good?

Had UPL played over half his games against bottom feeder teams do you think his WAR is respectable?

The only reason Anderson had better #'s was because he was deployed against the bad teams.
- DirtyDan

Disagree. Anderson's numbers were better because he's a better goalie even at 74 years old

Time to trade Diggs. SABRES 89 was right.
- RichardRoma

Yeah, expert insider SabresTaco said it was a nothing burger that he missed OTA's. He claims he knows more than the local beat reporters. Wonder if missing Mandatory MiniCamp is a nothing burger too? Mickey D said he is very concerned. Not know it all SabresTaco though.

Was comrie some kind of franchise prospect or just some guy brought in as a filler?
- Boss34

Who cares...?

The lessons seem to be:
-don't worry about what happened yesterday, will doing "this move" make us better tomorrow? Have no ego.

Disagree. Anderson's numbers were better because he's a better goalie even at 74 years old
- Hank Balling

So it had nothing to do with playing against bottom feeders while UPL played against the top-tier teams in the league? Heck Comrie played only 19 games and played against more playoff teams than Anderson.

Anderson was used in for-sure wins and still only posted a .500

Yeah, expert insider SabresTaco said it was a nothing burger that he missed OTA's. He claims he knows more than the local beat reporters. Wonder if missing Mandatory MiniCamp is a nothing burger too? Mickey D said he is very concerned. Not know it all SabresTaco though.
- Hatboro_Swords

Better start ramping up those conversations with Deandre Hopkins.

Disagree. Anderson's numbers were better because he's a better goalie even at 74 years old
- Hank Balling

I'd hope the guy with 700 NHL games played is better than the rookie. But given he played only 10 games against playoff teams I don't think coaching even thought that.

That Diggs is a pos
- RichardRoma

so why is he skipping? Is he still bent out of shape over last season? He was right to be upset, but if this is his response...