Hank Balling: 2021-22 Buffalo Sabres: Backup Goaltender – Dustin Tokarski


Friday's post a little bit early due to scheduling issues.

Enjoy the weekend

Hey, I like the Sabres offseason for the most part. Loved the draft, loved the Risto trade, loved the Ventura hire, but a spade is a spade

For some reason it matters what Ryan O’Reilly did when he left here but it doesn’t matter that Hall was a PPG player and scored at a 35 goal clip for Boston?

If Eichel gets an underwhelming return than Adams will have effectively traded Taylor Hall, Sam Reinhart, and Jack Eichel for a LOT less than what they were worth
- sbroads24

Taylor Hall getting the NMC was probably the only reason why he signed with us in the first place.

I’ll cry about the Jack Quinn pick till the end of time but Hall forcing his way to the team of his choice isn’t KAGM’s fault
- Pegullaville

Hey, I like the Sabres offseason for the most part. Loved the draft, loved the Risto trade, loved the Ventura hire, but a spade is a spade

For some reason it matters what Ryan O’Reilly did when he left here but it doesn’t matter that Hall was a PPG player and scored at a 35 goal clip for Boston?

If Eichel gets an underwhelming return than Adams will have effectively traded Taylor Hall, Sam Reinhart, and Jack Eichel for a LOT less than what they were worth

Hey, I like the Sabres offseason for the most part. Loved the draft, loved the Risto trade, loved the Ventura hire, but a spade is a spade

For some reason it matters what Ryan O’Reilly did when he left here but it doesn’t matter that Hall was a PPG player and scored at a 35 goal clip for Boston?

If Eichel gets an underwhelming return than Adams will have effectively traded Taylor Hall, Sam Reinhart, and Jack Eichel for a LOT less than what they were worth
- sbroads24

Nicely said

Nice Read Hank. But isn't Tokarski to short.

Nice Read Hank. But isn't Tokarski to short.
- Buff36

Probably. Not a lot of great options here.

I dont want them to sit UPL on the bench all year

Probably. Not a lot of great options here.

I dont want them to sit UPL on the bench all year
- Hank Balling

Well if UPL is gonna be up with the big club then he better be starting atleast every other game. He needs to play in game situations and practice just doesn't do it.

Probably. Not a lot of great options here.

I dont want them to sit UPL on the bench all year
- Hank Balling

This is a terrible group of goaltenders. Might as well throw houser in as a back up option at this point.

Well if UPL is gonna be up with the big club then he better be starting atleast every other game. He needs to play in game situations and practice just doesn't do it.
- Buff36

Honestly UPL better start in Rochester and be leap frogged for call up by token and houser before coming up. It’s a lost year let him take the load in roch

Well there was a few mistakes with Rhino, not just Adams. And if the story is correct I blame it more on Stank then I do Adams.
- Buff36

I'd love here why Reinhart deserves more blame.

Honestly UPL better start in Rochester and be leap frogged for call up by token and houser before coming up. It’s a lost year let him take the load in roch
- IndianaSabresFan

Well I agree, just going of what Hank said.

I'd love here why Reinhart deserves more blame.
- kingcong39

Who said anything about Rhino?

Man this Heaney is giving up Homer's like people pop chicklet's. Him and Gallo have been huge disappointments.

Who said anything about Rhino?
- Buff36

Who is stank?

This is a terrible group of goaltenders. Might as well throw houser in as a back up option at this point.
- IndianaSabresFan

Isn't it obvious why the Sabres signed the goaltenders they did?

Who is stank?
- kingcong39

Krueger, sorry I just call him that.

Isn't it obvious why the Sabres signed the goaltenders they did?
- kingcong39

If I’m Adams there’s absolutely no chance I’m trying to lose on purpose

He’d be putting immense pressure on himself to be good in 2022-23.

He can’t have 3 bottom 5-10 finishes in a row and keep his job

If I’m Adams there’s absolutely no chance I’m trying to lose on purpose

He’d be putting immense pressure on himself to be good in 2022-23.

He can’t have 3 bottom 5-10 finishes in a row and keep his job
- sbroads24

Hold my lifestyle

If I’m Adams there’s absolutely no chance I’m trying to lose on purpose

He’d be putting immense pressure on himself to be good in 2022-23.

He can’t have 3 bottom 5-10 finishes in a row and keep his job
- sbroads24

Way it looks, it's more 23-24

Hold my lifestyle
- Hank Balling

Even if it’s the “plan” imagine the fan base after year 14 of a drought. They will want heads to roll, the Pegula’s will cave. Round and round we go.

Just go get good players. It doesn’t have to take forever

Even if it’s the “plan” imagine the fan base after year 14 of a drought. They will want heads to roll, the Pegula’s will cave. Round and round we go.

Just go get good players. It doesn’t have to take forever
- sbroads24

Haven't we been saying that for years.

Even if it’s the “plan” imagine the fan base after year 14 of a drought. They will want heads to roll, the Pegula’s will cave. Round and round we go.

Just go get good players. It doesn’t have to take forever
- sbroads24

I hear ya, but they're still going to have to go backwards a little longer. JB only made 6 draft selections in each of his 3 drafts. The Sabres just made 11 this year but it'll take years for any of that to show up. KA made 5 selections after trading up for Peterka last year.

Barring insane PDO and an explosion of young talent under Meatballs, this thing is 2-3 years away at least.

This is rebuild year 1 (again)

I hear ya, but they're still going to have to go backwards a little longer. JB only made 6 draft selections in each of his 3 drafts. The Sabres just made 11 this year but it'll take years for any of that to show up.

Barring insane PDO and an explosion of young talent under Meatballs, this thing is 2-3 years away at least.

This is rebuild year 1 (again)
- Hank Balling

I think our bar is so low based on the two last bad GM’s and bad coaches

We have a very solid base of talent and if we land a Krebs + Tuch + Elvenes say for Eichel, we’re set up to compete pretty quickly

The defense is set up for long term success and so is the middle six

Go get a top 6 player or two and an actual goalie

I think our bar is so low based on the two last bad GM’s and bad coaches

We have a very solid base of talent and if we land a Krebs + Tuch + Elvenes say for Eichel, we’re set up to compete pretty quickly

The defense is set up for long term success and so is the middle six

Go get a top 6 player or two and an actual goalie
- sbroads24

Yup. I think they could really surprise people with those two ingredients. As is, this goaltending looks awful and they're over relying on Cozens and Mitts.

Defense looks totally serviceable to me. I'd be fine with Anderson as the backup

I think our bar is so low based on the two last bad GM’s and bad coaches

We have a very solid base of talent and if we land a Krebs + Tuch + Elvenes say for Eichel, we’re set up to compete pretty quickly

The defense is set up for long term success and so is the middle six

Go get a top 6 player or two and an actual goalie
- sbroads24

That's why this Eichel trade is so important, it could speed things up, or we could be waiting 3yrs.