Experience? Maybe. You're really reaching for the rest of it.
- Slump Buster

your out of touch on this one

I am all for giving levi a spot

it's the plan B that scares me and I do not think they need to go all in for 1 year of Hellebuyck

I think having Bobrovsky with the panthers is hurting the development of Knight on and off the ice
- homiedclown

Wow, you really think so? Other than being stuck with his contract, they didn't seem to have a problem playing the kids over Bob.

your out of touch on this one
- homiedclown

(shrug) well then, it was good to know that a team doesn't have pride or a sense of purpose until they make the playoffs. I don't know how they get up in the morning.

I am all for giving levi a spot

it's the plan B that scares me and I do not think they need to go all in for 1 year of Hellebuyck

I think having Bobrovsky with the panthers is hurting the development of Knight on and off the ice
- homiedclown

I think its the drugs

Doesn't the window argument work both ways?

Like the window for Tuch/Thompson/Skinner etc is still decently big, but not contending now is shortening it.
- sbroads24

The window has been shut for so long it's stuck shut.

Goalies are a whole nother realm IMO. And I have been of the opinion that running UPL and Levi (with or without Comrie) is ridiculously risky.
- DirtyDan

agreed. Not that he can't win 30+ games its EXTEMELY unlikely that Levi will. History tells us that only 19 goalie have won 30+ games as a rookie. that all time...

It would be reckless of our GM not to get a REAL goalie in here for 2-3 years. I will be very disappointed if GMKA rolls with Levi and UPL. basically 2 Rookie Goalies...

its not like we don't have the Cap space, Draft Choices or young promising prospects to make ANY deal happen.

The time is now..

I asked this question earlier and nobody responded. Why does it matter? Why should we see this team in that light? What if the last playoff appearance was 4 years ago? Why would that affect anything Adams does?
- Slump Buster

It absolutely fücking should if any of them cared about anyone but the dumbest of the dumb buying tickets. But then "a fool and his money are soon parted". I'd still think they'd want more than the 2nd worst attendance in the league.

It's not rushing because you think he might be ready for it? Is that the thinking?

Ready or not, a college goalie jumping straight to the NHL sure seems like rushing to me.
- Lunaion

Let's not forget that UPL was the OHL MVP at one point in time.

The Sabres will never again have the cap flexibility they had last and this year they had the opportunity to strike for cheap and chose not to, well aside from Ben Bishop.

But congrats on all the cap space though for last year. Hang a banner.
- ImThatGuy

70% of the roster have contracts that expire next offseason.

They have more then enough cap flexibility to do what they need to do if the right deal comes along

It absolutely fücking should if any of them cared about anyone but the dumbest of the dumb buying tickets. But then "a fool and his money are soon parted". I'd still think they'd want more than the 2nd worst attendance in the league.
- Wetbandit1

That still doesn't answer the question. How does our last playoff appearance - be it 3 years ago or 12 years ago - affect any of this? When you got to a game, are you sitting there watching it with your drought glasses on? I am not even trying to be snarky - I am legit curious as to why this matters to so many people. It seems as though ending the drought is more important than winning a cup.

agreed. Not that he can't win 30+ games its EXTEMELY unlikely that Levi will. History tells us that only 19 goalie have won 30+ games as a rookie. that all time...

It would be reckless of our GM not to get a REAL goalie in here for 2-3 years. I will be very disappointed if GMKA rolls with Levi and UPL. basically 2 Rookie Goalies...

its not like we don't have the Cap space, Draft Choices or young promising prospects to make ANY deal happen.

The time is now..
- hehateme

In the last decade, a rookie goalie was won the cup multiple times. also, who are the real goalies?

Doesn't the window argument work both ways?

Like the window for Tuch/Thompson/Skinner etc is still decently big, but not contending now is shortening it.
- sbroads24

Fair point, and there is definitely a middle ground.

I can’t see the Sabres taking 100 d-men to training camp.

Something is coming, it’s just anyone’s guess as to what.

In the last decade, a rookie goalie was won the cup multiple times. also, who are the real goalies?
- Slump Buster

a 21 year old rookie goalie with no AHL development or SHL/overseas development ?

That still doesn't answer the question. How does our last playoff appearance - be it 3 years ago or 12 years ago - affect any of this? When you got to a game, are you sitting there watching it with your drought glasses on? I am not even trying to be snarky - I am legit curious as to why this matters to so many people. It seems as though ending the drought is more important than winning a cup.
- Slump Buster

Well, you have to end the drought to win a Cup. And it was 12 years ago, not 3. What do you even mean what does it matter? Because I would like to see the team in the playoffs? Like what are we even talking about here?

Well, you have to end the drought to win a Cup. And it was 12 years ago, not 3. What do you even mean what does it matter? Because I would like to see the team in the playoffs? Like what are we even talking about here?
- Wetbandit1

The point is that simply making the playoffs does not mean you are necessarily remotely close to winning a cup. The Islanders made the playoffs last year - no chance of winning the cup. The Bills made the playoffs during Beane's first year - no chance of winning the super bowl. We would all like to see the team make the playoffs - I think some people assume that by doing whatever you can do to make it in a given year means that you are automatically closer to winning the championship.

The window has been shut for so long it's stuck shut.
- Wetbandit1

The window is now open. You're welcome for the positive news you needed to turn that frown upside down today!

The point is that simply making the playoffs does not mean you are necessarily remotely close to winning a cup. The Islanders made the playoffs last year - no chance of winning the cup. The Bills made the playoffs during Beane's first year - no chance of winning the super bowl. We would all like to see the team make the playoffs - I think some people assume that by doing whatever you can do to make it in a given year means that you are automatically closer to winning the championship.
- Slump Buster

Except you have to make the playoffs to win, so you are literally automatically closer to winning if you make the playoffs. We've seen multiple 8 seeds either make the Final or win the Cup in the last 10 years. I mean, FFS it just happened. Experience matters too. Florida washed out in round 2 2 years ago and went to the Final last year.

a 21 year old rookie goalie with no AHL development or SHL/overseas development ?
- sbroads24

Ah, so now AHL time is the key? Got it. Anyway......

Goaltending is a complete crap shoot. Murray won it after playing 13 NHL regular season games (and again after playing 49 the next year). Binnington had played 33 games. Aidan Hill had bounced around for a while. There is no rhyme or reason as to which goalie wins the cup. It really comes down to whoever is playing best at that time.

In the last decade, a rookie goalie was won the cup multiple times. also, who are the real goalies?
- Slump Buster

ugh really.. Thompson played 37 games for a great team and was 26 years old. Binnington played 32 games for a great team and was 24, Murray was the youngest and again played for a great team. levi is 21,


we have one of the youngest teams in the NHL, I hardly think a UPL/Levi combo is getting it done with our current roster.

Real goalies would be Jusse Saros or Helly even Carter Hart

Ah, so now AHL time is the key? Got it. Anyway......

Goaltending is a complete crap shoot. Murray won it after playing 13 NHL regular season games (and again after playing 49 the next year). Binnington had played 33 games. Aidan Hill had bounced around for a while. There is no rhyme or reason as to which goalie wins the cup. It really comes down to whoever is playing best at that time.
- Slump Buster

Jonathan Quick may make the HOF off of getting hot at the right time and bringing hardware back to LA. Agreed, the hot hand is the biggest deal. Bobbo was this year's example moreso than Hill.

Except you have to make the playoffs to win, so you are literally automatically closer to winning if you make the playoffs. We've seen multiple 8 seeds either make the Final or win the Cup in the last 10 years. I mean, FFS it just happened. Experience matters too. Florida washed out in round 2 2 years ago and went to the Final last year.
- Wetbandit1

You're not wrong - if you get a hot goalie, any team can win. And you do have to make it to win, obviously. But the same logic applies to scoring a goal. Sure, you can't score if you don't shoot. But there is a reason why teams just don't start shooting from center ice. Similarly, there is a reason that every team doesn't sell everything in order to make the playoffs every year.

Ah, so now AHL time is the key? Got it. Anyway......

Goaltending is a complete crap shoot. Murray won it after playing 13 NHL regular season games (and again after playing 49 the next year). Binnington had played 33 games. Aidan Hill had bounced around for a while. There is no rhyme or reason as to which goalie wins the cup. It really comes down to whoever is playing best at that time.
- Slump Buster

I’m not sure if you’re being sarcastic but I’ve maintained this since last year so I’m not moving any goalposts here

Literally the only goalie since 2008 to have 0 AHL time or overseas time in a professional men’s league to be named an NHL starter as a rookie and play 50* games is Steve Mason

Ryan Miller played almost 100 AHL games and then was a backup first

Lundqvist played in the SHL for 3 years before being a rookie at 24

Like what we’d be asking Levi to do is just not something NHL teams do

ugh really.. Thompson played 37 games for a great team and was 26 years old. Binnington played 32 games for a great team and was 24, Murray was the youngest and again played for a great team. levi is 21,


we have one of the youngest teams in the NHL, I hardly think a UPL/Levi combo is getting it done with our current roster.

Real goalies would be Jusse Saros or Helly even Carter Hart
- hehateme

I got it. These goalies that were completely unheralded and really hadn't shown anything before their cup runs, they were set up for success because of their age. Hell, they weren't even "real goalies". They were lottery tickets. They were their team's UPL and Comrie, just older.

So you'd pay the ridiculous price for Saros or Helly? And since when is Carter Hart a real goalie?

Ah, so now AHL time is the key? Got it. Anyway......

Goaltending is a complete crap shoot. Murray won it after playing 13 NHL regular season games (and again after playing 49 the next year). Binnington had played 33 games. Aidan Hill had bounced around for a while. There is no rhyme or reason as to which goalie wins the cup. It really comes down to whoever is playing best at that time.
- Slump Buster

No it really comes down to WHO they are playing for. St Louis, Vegas and Pitts were all stacked teams and cup contenders/favorites. that's where young NHL goaltenders stand out.

We just are not there yet with our roster. Now if we got another Stud top 4 Dman, then I am all for rolling Levi/UPL out there.

IMO the additions we made will make us better prob 25 GA better which should put us in the playoffs and that is a great start...

No it really comes down to WHO they are playing for. St Louis, Vegas and Pitts were all stacked teams and cup contenders/favorites. that's where young NHL goaltenders stand out.

We just are not there yet with our roster. Now if we got another Stud top 4 Dman, then I am all for rolling Levi/UPL out there.

IMO the additions we made will make us better prob 25 GA better which should put us in the playoffs and that is a great start...
- hehateme

Well yes, that's my point. The goalie didn't freaking matter. It only mattered that whatever rookie / veteran retread / warm body was playing well at the time. Florida goes out in 4 last year if Bob doesn't stand on his head. I'd love to get another goalie as well, but I get why Adams doesn't pull the trigger unless he knows that the guy is going to be an improvement. Just look at all of the goalie moves over the last several years - it is a sad lot.