Yes they would have done better with Hellebuyck, at the expense of not signing E Johnson, Clifton, Jost and Bryson. Let alone the additional $5mm extra they could have not resigning Girgs and Okposo.

There was plenty of money and opportunity to bring him in.
- washedup20

You would've had to give up quite a bit. The thought originally was Benson and a 2024 1st. Still want to play?

I don't. As Sabretooth said, paying an old goalie 8.5M forever would've been a poor choice.

Not only that though, and out of curiosity, how much better of a save percentage and gaa does he have that our place in the standings is any different? What would've impacted the team more is not signing the guys you mentioned and bringing in quality players instead. Do that and you impact the game significantly. Signing Hellebucyk would've been putting lipstick on the pig.

I’m fine with moving picks and prospects.

What’s the player in return, what’s their age, and what’s their contract situation ?

It’s not always as simple as people make it out to be.

And I don’t buy into the narrative of losing trades but it’s ok because “he at least tried to improve the team”.

Making the wrong move is worse than making no move at all
- Swedish_Jesus

Im not sure there is a move that could have made the team worse than what they are now

But just like no one thought kane was a bad idea because of his experience and no one wants to be the penguins you jump right to 'because he didn't try every trade must have been a loss' Maybe you're right with adams as GM

Its not my job to identify what players to bring in. There are plenty of examples through free agency or trade that could have helped this team the last 2 seasons

(frank)ing goaltending isn't even the reason we're bad.

we all knew his contract would be very expensive and LONG…the combination of Acquisition Cost, Contract Cost (for year 2+) and the Contract Term made him a horrible fit specially when you add in the probability of Levi as a starter in a relatively short period of time.
It would have been an absolutely dumb nove to make…IMO of course.
- IonSabres

Does bringing him in require the significant adjustment in systematic play?

Having a goalie to rely on would allow the team to play to their strength and learn the 200' without losing another season of playoff chances.

I don't agree it would have been a dumb move, I don't agree justifying Levi might become something as good enough to waste 2 NHL seasons on.

You are watching the season of doing nothing, it's a disaster.

It sure seems like they love all their players, and they have no interest in upgrading from one of their beloved player/prospects for another player they have no ties to.

I don't think they can totally build from within and be successful.
- kingcong39

I don't really think so either, there missing pieces.

You would've had to give up quite a bit. The thought originally was Benson and a 2024 1st. Still want to play?

I don't. As Sabretooth said, paying an old goalie 8.5M forever would've been a poor choice.

Not only that though, and out of curiosity, how much better of a save percentage and gaa does he have that our place in the standings is any different? What would've impacted the team more is not signing the guys you mentioned and bringing in quality players instead. Do that and you impact the game significantly. Signing Hellebucyk would've been putting lipstick on the pig.
- QuinnFan

So you're good with a pig without lipstick?

(frank)ing goaltending isn't even the reason we're bad.
- TheSabresTaco

It also severely hurt them in the beginning of the season and it hasn’t been “good” until recently.

https://twitter.com/23sab...luKJAODzufTQcQc6aJBw&s=19

Glad we're talking about goalies

(frank)ing goaltending isn't even the reason we're bad.
- TheSabresTaco

It's up there with adoring a mental patient.

It also severely hurt them in the beginning of the season and it hasn’t been “good” until recently.
- ImThatGuy

scapegoat argument.

You would've had to give up quite a bit. The thought originally was Benson and a 2024 1st. Still want to play?

I don't. As Sabretooth said, paying an old goalie 8.5M forever would've been a poor choice.

Not only that though, and out of curiosity, how much better of a save percentage and gaa does he have that our place in the standings is any different? What would've impacted the team more is not signing the guys you mentioned and bringing in quality players instead. Do that and you impact the game significantly. Signing Hellebucyk would've been putting lipstick on the pig.
- QuinnFan

Atleast that Pig might have helped while the Sabres adjusted through the early part of the Season. Since I was told TC and preseason isn't for that.
Sabres could have done both this offseason, trade for Hellebuyck and changed there whole bottom 3 and it would have only put a scratch in there Prospect pool.

I can't believe UPL didn't score any (frank)ing goals

https://twitter.com/Megha...Ea3Eg1zFvojSdAEwn_wg&s=19

scapegoat argument.
- TheSabresTaco

Why ? Everyone blames the goalie's around here for everything.

The jalapenos have sucked some of you into this delusion that these prospects, that only have potential, are worth significantly more than what they are worth.

the worst part is, the idea to continue to lose NHL seasons until these players develop and solve the problem...which is already identified and they are in the organization and are not solving the problem.

scapegoat argument.
- TheSabresTaco

The entire team has been bad….including the goalies.

How is that a scapegoat argument.

https://buffalonews.com/s...acking-source=mp-homepage


"One side of this goofy organization finally figured out how to fix the pizza, nachos and beef on weck in KeyBank Center. The other side somehow broke the team.

Still, the Sabres need better sets of eyes. Pegula won’t hire a president of hockey operations, a philosophical misstep the owner will apparently make on an annual basis in perpetuity because he’s cheap or stubborn or both."

Adams and staff seem unwilling to relent on making one of their key prospects available as part of a trade (Savoie, Ostlund, Kulich, Rosen).

I wonder if they are willing, and teams would be interested, in any of their second tier prospects (Poltapov, Strbak, Wahlberg, Neuchev).

Are the Sabrses willing to trade Mittelstadt to upgrade at forward or defense?

Are they willing to trade Samuelsson for a better, true top 4 defender?
- kingcong39

Mitts is really interesting to me based on his utility at playing several positions, and more specifically the chemistry he and Cozens had the other night. It was just one game, but I’d like to see them play together more to see if that is a thing.

I have been all about using Mitts as trade bait or a Top 4 D man, as I think that is a bigger need…yet at the same time another Tuch in the F group would be great as well.

They don’t need to make an immediate decision, so first let’s see him with Cozens for 5 - 10 games.

If Adams get a true Top 4 RHD, then I would absolutely consider moving Sammy…that contract for a 3rd Pair is excessive.

Now will Adams actually pull either trade off??
Doubtful based on history

Why ? Everyone blames the goalie's around here for everything.
- Buff36

it's so (frank)ing irrelevant this year.

The entire team has been bad….including the goalies.

How is that a scapegoat argument.
- ImThatGuy

Well because if the goalies had this exact level of play, and the offense was, I don't know, average, they'd be well over 500.

Sitting here whining about the goalies is so (frank)ing disingenuous.

Well because if the goalies had this exact level of play, and the offense was, I don't know, average, they'd be well over 500.
- TheSabresTaco

Right now, not earlier. Geez Levi has been really good since coming back up but he still has under a 900 save percentage and Comrie has been awful. Can we live with the goaltending know, Yes. Doesn't mean better goaltending earlier in the season couldn't have helped right the ship.

Their Plan B was Kane.

Moronic management.
- kingcong39

Was Kane a REAL thing or a Hockeybuzz thing?

Was Kane a REAL thing or a Hockeybuzz thing?
- TC4145

Real! They thought they had him

So you're good with a pig without lipstick?
- washedup20

Honestly, I'm just sick of the pig. We have the ability to own a bull. I would like a bull and he won't require any makeup whatsoever.

Real! They thought they had him
- Buff36

Where was this? Who is they?