2023 Prospect Poll #1

[Intermission]

It is close at the top.

Levi + Novikov

 

[HaNotsri]

I messed up and forgot that Levi is a prospect. Voted for Benson...

 

[stokes84]

Kulich add Novikov

Putting ANY goalie in the top 5 even is not something I would do. Too much bust potential. Yes, Levi can come in and be great for us for years to come. But the odds are stacked against that happening, especially for an undersized goalie. I worry that he’s going to be rushed.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Oh damn, Benson pulled ahead at the last second!

 

[tsujimoto74]

Oh damn, Benson pulled ahead at the last second!

There's still another day to vote, but it's been a close back-and-forth between him and Levi the whole time so far.

 

[Jacob582]

Add Poltapov

 

[Rowley Birkin]

Oh damn, Benson pulled ahead at the last second!

Shiny new toy syndrome in full effect....

 

[tsujimoto74]

I messed up and forgot that Levi is a prospect. Voted for Benson...

Would you otherwise have voted for Levi? If so, I’ll make a mental note of that when the poll closes tomorrow (if it stays this close, 1 vote changing would actually matter).

 

[Fezzy126]

Levi - I haven't felt this way about a goalie prospect since Miller, and his number is in the rafters. I think Devon joins him up there one day, that's how strongly I feel about his potential.

Add Neuchev

 

[allsilverdreams]

Around this time last year Benson wasn't even on this team.
And we were not sure if Levi was going to sign.
My , what a year makes.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Shiny new toy syndrome in full effect....

It seems like he's worthy of the hype given that the posters who are most enamored by him are also the ones that have watched him the most. He is an enticing prospect. Im happy we have him and Levi in the system. The fact Kulich and Savoie round out our top-4 is the cherry on top!

 

[Zman5778]

Shiny new toy syndrome in full effect....

Dude. That's more than a bit dismissive and condescending and you know it.

Just because I don't agree that Levi or Kulich or Savoie is our #1 prospect doesn't mean that I have shiny new toy syndrome.

There are things about that Levi's tryout at the end of the year that seriously concerned me and now we're handing him the keys to the car. That's courting a LOT of trouble and more than enough for me to seriously question if Levi will ever hit his potential which is one factor in my PERSONAL rankings.

 

[NotABadPeriod]

Around this time last year Benson wasn't even on this team.
And we were not sure if Levi was going to sign.
My , what a year makes.

Why would anyone have been concerned about Levi signing? He was still 2 years away from going FA at that point, Levi had a history of intentionally staying an extra year at a lower level in his development, and had given no indication that he was in any way not please with the Sabres organization.

I'm going to be really curious how Ryan Johnson's spot in the polls change compared to last year though, given there was a not insignificant chunk of people who refused to vote for him because they assumed he wasn't going to sign. Wonder how many of them though just move the goalposts to "he isn't really that good"...

 

[Sabre the Win]

Dude. That's more than a bit dismissive and condescending and you know it.

Just because I don't agree that Levi or Kulich or Savoie is our #1 prospect doesn't mean that I have shiny new toy syndrome.

There are things about that Levi's tryout at the end of the year that seriously concerned me and now we're handing him the keys to the car. That's courting a LOT of trouble and more than enough for me to seriously question if Levi will ever hit his potential which is one factor in my PERSONAL rankings.

I get that and I don't dispute your overall concerns for Levi but how can you use that against him for someone who hasn't proven himself on that level yet? It's like saying 'the only reason I chose Benson over Levi is because Benson hasn't made a mistake yet'. Based on 5+ NHL games played vs none.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Why would anyone have been concerned about Levi signing? He was still 2 years away from going FA at that point, Levi had a history of intentionally staying an extra year at a lower level in his development, and had given no indication that he was in any way not please with the Sabres organization.

I'm going to be really curious how Ryan Johnson's spot in the polls change compared to last year though, given there was a not insignificant chunk of people who refused to vote for him because they assumed he wasn't going to sign. Wonder how many of them though just move the goalposts to "he isn't really that good"...

I had Johnson in my top 10 last year, but I also had Power, Quinn and Peterka as top 3, as they were prospects even though them being on the Sabres was a given. Then it was Savoie, Levi, Kulich, Ostlund, and Rosen ahead of him. He was basically neck and neck with 6K (for me) as the next best prospect

 

[HaNotsri]

Would you otherwise have voted for Levi? If so, I’ll make a mental note of that when the poll closes tomorrow (if it stays this close, 1 vote changing would actually matter).

Yes I would have voted for Levi!

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

I really don't know who's #1. Any of the FW prospects could emerge as the best guy, but for now who seems to be the most "important" prospect is Levi. Not sure that's the right criteria but it's a tie-breaker for me.

 

[Matt Ress]

Great reading material here.

I'm curious how the "need big dudes" team views the the prospect ranks with so many short players making a run at the top. Even Kulich is below average. There's 0 votes for Wahlberg at this time.

 

[MagnumForce2]

Will there be a vote off between Levi and Benson because this is so close or do you just go with the results as they stand?

 

[Chainshot]

Will there be a vote off between Levi and Benson because this is so close or do you just go with the results as they stand?

Looks like it will be results as they stand.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Will there be a vote off between Levi and Benson because this is so close or do you just go with the results as they stand?

At this point we just jump straight to #3, given the first two have lapped the field so much that they’re about to start the next race. Although I’m sure there’ll be a run-off in the event of a tie

 

[KiwiGriff]

It seems like he's worthy of the hype given that the posters who are most enamored by him are also the ones that have watched him the most. He is an enticing prospect. Im happy we have him and Levi in the system. The fact Kulich and Savoie round out our top-4 is the cherry on top!

I have been watching this poll thinking we are bloody spoilt when our top four prospects are (probably) Levi, Benson, Savoie and Kulich. Add into that our top three D being 23 or younger and that’s an amazing potential for this team.

 

[EichHart]

Poor Levi. People are going to turn on this kid fast when their expectations meet reality of a rookie with no pro experience being thrown into the deep end and sinking.

You‘re expectations are way too high if you‘ve convinced yourself that he’s like…definitely going to be one of the top 3 goalies in the league. Man…

I get the the Adams tenure has starved everyone for even average goaltending. But you have to walk back these expectations before the season starts or you’re going to jump off a ledge.

And that’s with ignoring that goalies are voodoo.

It’s easily Benson and it’s not particularly close

Didn't Levi break a bunch of college records held by Helle?

 

[MOGlLNY]

Poor Levi. People are going to turn on this kid fast when their expectations meet reality of a rookie with no pro experience being thrown into the deep end and sinking.

You‘re expectations are way too high if you‘ve convinced yourself that he’s like…definitely going to be one of the top 3 goalies in the league. Man…

I get the the Adams tenure has starved everyone for even average goaltending. But you have to walk back these expectations before the season starts or you’re going to jump off a ledge.

And that’s with ignoring that goalies are voodoo.

It’s easily Benson and it’s not particularly close.

Yeah, it's getting very dangerous.

Didn't Levi break a bunch of college records held by Helle?

Helle played in the AHL for 2 seasons after he did that.

 

[Fezzy126]

Helle played in the AHL for 2 seasons after he did that.

It was actually one and a half seasons, but the real questions is - did Helle need that AHL time?

There's a very good case to make that he did not.