what is the plan B if Levi does not work?


you need a backup plan for next season
- homiedclown

Sure isn't that goalie they drafted a couple years back, Luneau would have helped more possibly by this point.

what is the plan B if Levi does not work?


you need a backup plan for next season
- homiedclown

Hope UPL works out, knowing most of their front office doesn't believe in him and wanted to move on this summer.

Even if Levi is decent this year, they still need someone.

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.
- dcz28

I do know what your saying, but Adams wasn't doing it. Whether I agree or not it just wasn't happening. And it could be a huge mistake.

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

Good points

Rangers played the game with a crazy amount of blocked shots, maybe the Sabres could block more shots too?

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 really think the Sabres playbook is stay young and cheap vs. actually designating this season as a “must make the playoffs “ year

Playing Levi sets the teams future up, regardless of the present

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

Playing youth is definitely a direction and hopeful

Playing youth is definitely a direction and hopeful
- Boss34

If that were a direction, they're playing the wrong Johnson + several others.

Fear of strangers is limiting them.

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
- Buff36

A consistent theme from Vanek from his recent interviews about the team has been the lack of fully supporting the quality young players with additional quality players.

They made that mistake with Eichel.

Just because Dahlin and Power are number one picks on big contracts, doesn't mean they don't need support, in order to truly become their best.

If that were a direction, they're playing the wrong Johnson + several others.

Fear of strangers is limiting them.
- Lunaion

Sounds like hedging, which isn't a plan.

Good points

Rangers played the game with a crazy amount of blocked shots, maybe the Sabres could block more shots too?
- Boss34

Continuing to be a one trick pony in terms of their play style is not going to work long term, and will possibly have diminishing results.

They need to learn how to beat veteran defensive teams.

A consistent theme from Vanek from his recent interviews about the team has been the lack of fully supporting the quality young players with additional quality players.

They made that mistake with Eichel.

Just because Dahlin and Power are number one picks on big contracts, doesn't mean they don't need support, in order to truly become their best.
- kingcong39

I agree, you can't hope Clifton can all of a sudden is gonna play 22min a night. Eric Johnson was just a waste of Cap Space IMO. Dahlin has basically found his way by himself, the team did nothing partner wise for him until Samuelsson and they should do better than that. They need to find Powers partner now, not 3 years from now. And Sorry maybe Girgensons and Okposo are great Locker room leaders, but they have lead nothing but loosing.

Good post

I really think the Sabres playbook is stay young and cheap vs. actually designating this season as a “must make the playoffs “ year

Playing Levi sets the teams future up, regardless of the present
- Boss34

That is assuming he does well. What if he doesn't? Do you keep playing him and risk destroying his confidence? What if the other two also show they are not good enough again? You could be just throwing away the season just because you didn't want to bring in a proven guy to stay cheap and young.

Players are competitive to make it to the NHL level and losing seasons are not fun for any of them. You could also be damaging the confidence of young players with too much losing unless they have individual success but then they might decide to want out if they deal with that for too long...you guys already saw this with Eichel and Reinhart.

A lot of Wings fans are complaining about all the vets the Wings signed last summer and to be honest, there are some that i didn't like at all the last two summers. I do understand why Yzerman is doing it though. He wants a more competitive team so the young players don't get beat down by losses. To have them be playing for something late in the season and possibly make it to the playoff and get some experience. To also make them have to earn their spots on the team instead of it just be given because they have no better options

If that were a direction, they're playing the wrong Johnson + several others.

Fear of strangers is limiting them.
- Lunaion

How much younger can they go and still be competitive?

They need the old guys still, I know we didn’t see this the same way

Just an opinion

How much younger can they go and still be competitive?

They need the old guys still, I know we didn’t see this the same way

Just an opinion
- Boss34

I think the only disagreement is on the respective quality of the old/veteran players.

Sounds like hedging, which isn't a plan.
- kingcong39

If the team takes a step back this year, the fan base will bail.

That is assuming he does well. What if he doesn't? Do you keep playing him and risk destroying his confidence? What if the other two also show they are not good enough again? You could be just throwing away the season just because you didn't want to bring in a proven guy to stay cheap and young.

Players are competitive to make it to the NHL level and losing seasons are not fun for any of them. You could also be damaging the confidence of young players with too much losing unless they have individual success but then they might decide to want out if they deal with that for too long...you guys already saw this with Eichel and Reinhart.

A lot of Wings fans are complaining about all the vets the Wings signed last summer and to be honest, there are some that i didn't like at all the last two summers. I do understand why Yzerman is doing it though. He wants a more competitive team so the young players don't get beat down by losses. To have them be playing for something late in the season and possibly make it to the playoff and get some experience. To also make them have to earn their spots on the team instead of it just be given because they have no better options
- dcz28

This is really good

Management isn’t looking at this season like the fans

Getting power, Levi, Quinn, peterka, benson better for the future isn’t throwing the season away imo

Playing them instead of free agent vets will age them when needed

Sabres are the youngest team in the league

I think the only disagreement is on the respective quality of the old/veteran players.
- kingcong39

That’s fair, I think you still have the buffatax and good players still not considering Buffalo, so you take what you can get unfortunately

https://thechargingbuffal...-sabres-fans-be-concerned
Really good read! Some good stuff on a forecheck element to there game.

This is really good

Management isn’t looking at this season like the fans

Getting power, Levi, Quinn, peterka, benson better for the future isn’t throwing the season away imo

Playing them instead of free agent vets will age them when needed

Sabres are the youngest team in the league
- Boss34

Playing young players is good if they are ready for it, can contribute and get the ice time they should be getting to improve. Might not be as good if you have a young skilled player that you project as a top 6 skilled guy playing under 10 minutes a night on the 4th line and playing a dump & chase grinding style that is not his game at all. At that point he is likely better off in the AHL playing top line minutes and playing in all situations waiting for an injury to the top 6 or top 9 to get some real playing time in a position to play to his strengths and succeed.

With goalies it's the same for playing time, they need to play a lot to get better and more confident but if they struggle and get lit up often, that won't be good for them and their confidence.

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

With respect tothe bolded -Now project out a couple years with Helly at $9.0m (he gave his team a slight discount of $0.5m) and with Dahlin's and Power's new contracts....that is $22.5m more with those 3 alone. It would make acquiring a Top 4 RhD very difficult.

With respect to the underlined - most fans agree with this sentiment. Adams didn't address the glaring need. Did he give it his best effort to do so? I'm not sure tbh, but he did have the assets to do so. It is a significant failure IMO.

I think the only disagreement is on the respective quality of the old/veteran players.
- kingcong39

so 35 year old claude giroux brings more to the table than girgens or okposo?


side note he had 2 points today as did tarasenko


chicken man had 2 goals and a helper

Looks like Levi again, see if they can tighten up around him.

Playing young players is good if they are ready for it, can contribute and get the ice time they should be getting to improve. Might not be as good if you have a young skilled player that you project as a top 6 skilled guy playing under 10 minutes a night on the 4th line and playing a dump & chase grinding style that is not his game at all. At that point he is likely better off in the AHL playing top line minutes and playing in all situations waiting for an injury to the top 6 or top 9 to get some real playing time in a position to play to his strengths and succeed.

With goalies it's the same for playing time, they need to play a lot to get better and more confident but if they struggle and get lit up often, that won't be good for them and their confidence.
- dcz28

Don’t bother it was literally the same exact excuse Word for Word last year about the Sabres are the youngest team in the league bullpoop and they should have zero expectations, and it will only provide a brighter future blah blah blah blah blah

Don’t bother it was literally the same exact excuse Word for Word last year about the Sabres are the youngest team in the league bullpoop and they should have zero expectations, and it will only provide a brighter future blah blah blah blah blah
- ImThatGuy

Stop Whining

Stop Whining
- Buff36

Here’s a tissue