Was really looking forward to that game.

Thought Rgs in town Sabres going to really be fired up and bring it ….

Instead from my eyes it looked like a Rags scrimmage - Igor was so bored back there it was laughable -

Perhaps team needs couple games to jell but man that was Fugly -

Watched Az and Devils last night…

If Sabres played as hard as Az they’d be unbeatable-
- dozerD10

Well, AZ does have the Byooogstad

Need to win tonight. Feeling a 3-1 W

next 15 games looks rough

at islanders
bolts
flames
islanders
habs
at sens
at devils
colorado
at flyers
flyers
at leafs
at canes
wild
at pens
bruins



we struggle vs flyers as well as at ottawa

they better learn the system quick
- homiedclown

System?
It's frigging pond hockey. There is no system.

Well, AZ does have the Byooogstad
- Ratsreign

Heart miles and miles of Heart

I still can't believe your GM wants to make the playoffs but didn't go out and at least get a proven #1 goalie. Hellebuyck was in play for most of the summer and Buffalo had the cap space and prospects/picks to easily make a deal for him. With him i think Buffalo would be a playoff team. If he had improved the defense better to support Dahlin and Power, they probably get into the top 3 of the division and are now cup contenders.

Instead he brings in washed up average at best defensemen and hangs the playoff hopes on a rookie goalie with 7 pro games of experience and 2 other goalies that should be in the AHL.

I still can't believe your GM wants to make the playoffs but didn't go out and at least get a proven #1 goalie. Hellebuyck was in play for most of the summer and Buffalo had the cap space and prospects/picks to easily make a deal for him. With him i think Buffalo would be a playoff team. If he had improved the defense better to support Dahlin and Power, they probably get into the top 3 of the division and are now cup contenders.

Instead he brings in washed up average at best defensemen and hangs the playoff hopes on a rookie goalie with 7 pro games of experience and 2 other goalies that should be in the AHL.
- dcz28

Hellebuyck wasn’t %100 available, you’re just guessing

Seams like he was headed back to the peg from the start imo

I still can't believe your GM wants to make the playoffs but didn't go out and at least get a proven #1 goalie. Hellebuyck was in play for most of the summer and Buffalo had the cap space and prospects/picks to easily make a deal for him. With him i think Buffalo would be a playoff team. If he had improved the defense better to support Dahlin and Power, they probably get into the top 3 of the division and are now cup contenders.

Instead he brings in washed up average at best defensemen and hangs the playoff hopes on a rookie goalie with 7 pro games of experience and 2 other goalies that should be in the AHL.
- dcz28

I would have liked a goalie brought in, but no way Buffalo was gonna give anything for possibly 1yr of Hellebuyck. Levi is gonna be good, you can see that. They just need to build around that Defensively.

I would have liked a goalie brought in, but no way Buffalo was gonna give anything for possibly 1yr of Hellebuyck. Levi is gonna be good, you can see that. They just need to build around that Defensively.
- Buff36

I hope Levi is going to be good, but it's so far from a sure thing that banking on it is crazy to me.

I hope Levi is going to be good, but it's so far from a sure thing that banking on it is crazy to me.
- Lunaion

The franchise / management believes in Levi, they have a direction and I trust the process.

Youngest team in the league still has room to grow

I hope Levi is going to be good, but it's so far from a sure thing that banking on it is crazy to me.
- Lunaion

I would have liked a goalie brought in, but they weren't paying for 1yr of Hellebuyck. I think Levi really has what it takes, fantastic athlete. It's up to the team now to help him fulfill that. They need to build around him.

The franchise / management believes in Levi, they have a direction and I trust the process.

Youngest team in the league still has room to grow
- Boss34

If they don't learn how to play team defense, both forwards and defense, they're not going to get where they want to go.

If they don't learn how to play team defense, both forwards and defense, they're not going to get where they want to go.
- kingcong39

Exactly

Hellebuyck wasn’t %100 available, you’re just guessing

Seams like he was headed back to the peg from the start imo
- Boss34

Most players are available for the right price. There were enough rumors about him that he likely was being shopped. Still there were other goalies that might have been available and some might still be. When you want to make the playoffs, you don't bank on a rookie goalie with almost no pro experience and 2 AHL level goalies to take you there. That is a bad bet to make. Maybe if Buffalo had a very good defense they could make it work but i don't think that is the case.

Most players are available for the right price. There were enough rumors about him that he likely was being shopped. Still there were other goalies that might have been available and some might still be. When you want to make the playoffs, you don't bank on a rookie goalie with almost no pro experience and 2 AHL level goalies to take you there. That is a bad bet to make. Maybe if Buffalo had a very good defense they could make it work but i don't think that is the case.
- dcz28

Good Post

I would have liked a goalie brought in, but no way Buffalo was gonna give anything for possibly 1yr of Hellebuyck. Levi is gonna be good, you can see that. They just need to build around that Defensively.
- Buff36

Hellebuyck ends up re-signing in Winnipeg, i think he would have been open to re-signing in Buffalo or pretty much anywhere if he was getting close to what he wanted for a contract.

Hellebuyck ends up re-signing in Winnipeg, i think he would have been open to re-signing in Buffalo or pretty much anywhere if he was getting close to what he wanted for a contract.
- dcz28

Could have, but the Sabres weren't doing that with Levi. They need a 2 to 3yr buffer

2023-24 nhl season goals total

buffalo sabres team 1

chicken man 2

The franchise / management believes in Levi, they have a direction and I trust the process.

Youngest team in the league still has room to grow
- Boss34

Their approach is hope everyone in the system works out. Hope is not a direction.

I would have liked a goalie brought in, but they weren't paying for 1yr of Hellebuyck. I think Levi really has what it takes, fantastic athlete. It's up to the team now to help him fulfill that. They need to build around him.
- Buff36

Georgiev, young proven goalie with experience, was on the trade block last summer. He fit the timeline perfectly.

If they trusted fancy stats then Korpisalo had outstanding numbers last year


going all in on a small rookie is risky when you have this many high end players locked up and a 3 year window before you are cap strapped


and have not won a playoff series since 2007

Their approach is hope everyone in the system works out. Hope is not a direction.
- Lunaion

Hope is a big fat woman that works at Wal Mart

I would have liked a goalie brought in, but they weren't paying for 1yr of Hellebuyck. I think Levi really has what it takes, fantastic athlete. It's up to the team now to help him fulfill that. They need to build around him.
- Buff36

3 years of kicking the can on goalies doesn't get a pass from me on the 3rd year because the market wasn't great. KA dug this hole.

3 years of kicking the can on goalies doesn't get a pass from me on the 3rd year because the market wasn't great. KA dug this hole.
- Lunaion

what is the plan B if Levi does not work?


you need a backup plan for next season

Georgiev, young proven goalie with experience, was on the trade block last summer. He fit the timeline perfectly.

If they trusted fancy stats then Korpisalo had outstanding numbers last year


going all in on a small rookie is risky when you have this many high end players locked up and a 3 year window before you are cap strapped


and have not won a playoff series since 2007
- homiedclown

Vanecek has been traded 3 times in the last 3 years, Hey I agree been saying goalie since they f@cked up with Ullmark.

Could have, but the Sabres weren't doing that with Levi. They need a 2 to 3yr buffer
- Buff36

That is assuming that Levi will be a starting goalie by then. Could be, could take longer or he might never be. You never know with goalies, they are the most unpredictable to project. There are only a handful of goalies that you know what you are likely going to get from year to year. Hellebuyck is one of them imo. He's never had a save% below .910 for his career.

It is possible that Levi shows he is a capable #1 this season but as a GM, i would not pin my playoffs hopes on that. You could still trade for a goalie in season if he doesn't work out but with how tough this division is, bubble playoff teams can't afford to start off in a hole and hope to dig themselves out to make the playoffs. The only team in the division not really trying to make the playoffs is Montreal.

3 years of kicking the can on goalies doesn't get a pass from me on the 3rd year because the market wasn't great. KA dug this hole.
- Lunaion

I agree, plenty of goalie's have moved since the Ullmark debacle. But if your plan is Levi all I am saying is then build around him. Go and get a legit top 2 RDman and drop Samuelsson to 2nd pair. And make your forwards help. You don't need to keep one high, you are a fast team use it in the Dzone to. Pressure Pressure Pressure