Player Discussion All Purpose Goaltending Thread

[ValJamesDuex]

Yeah, why didn't they add a $5M AHL goalie...

KA has said they want players who want to be here. CP decided he didn't want to be here after college.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Adams doesn't want players who don't want to play for Buffalo. Not that Petersen has been great in the past, much less so this season. Even Bob with some retain and sweetener would look better.

The difference between NHL and AHL shooters is huge. Not impressed by his AHL save percentage.

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

I hope they do make a play for a starter next season on a 3 or 4 year deal. Comrie will only be under contract for another season which would give Levi a year minimum in the AHL which he will definitely need. It will also give Buffalo a chance to ease him into a starting role and make him earn it.

The bigger issue I see right now for next season is where do they play them all. I don't know if UPL is going to be ready for the NHL full time next season based on his play so far this year. I don't blame him completely for his play, but he still clearly needs some work as he's been tracking the puck very poorly. Levi will need to start in Rochester next season, but then what do they do with UPL? What about Portillo if he does sign with the team? No way they run a 3 headed monster in Rochester. I could see trying to manage 2 guys down there like Jersey did with Daws and Schmid, but 3 isn't feasible.

If UPL shows he's not ready I really think it forces KA's hand where he needs to move someone. Whether it's Portillo or UPL to make sure the other 2 get the reps they need.

 

[Der Jaeger]

UPL looks like a goalie who is struggling with a new technique and is getting into his head. That 4th goal against Nyqvist was an easy save. But he's making other big time saves. Tell tales signs that he's struggling with technique.

 

[Club]

UPL looks like a goalie who is struggling with a new technique and is getting into his head. That 4th goal against Nyqvist was an easy save. But he's making other big time saves. Tell tales signs that he's struggling with technique.

He's a huge goalie. Who sometimes doesn't use it to his advantage.

 

[Der Jaeger]

He's a huge goalie. Who sometimes doesn't use it to his advantage.

When you see him hunched over a bit, that's the new technique which is being coached. Goalies are being taught to enhance mobility, which means they have to lean forward and get more on their toes.

 

[ForsbergMoDo21]

I hope they do make a play for a starter next season on a 3 or 4 year deal. Comrie will only be under contract for another season which would give Levi a year minimum in the AHL which he will definitely need. It will also give Buffalo a chance to ease him into a starting role and make him earn it.

The bigger issue I see right now for next season is where do they play them all. I don't know if UPL is going to be ready for the NHL full time next season based on his play so far this year. I don't blame him completely for his play, but he still clearly needs some work as he's been tracking the puck very poorly. Levi will need to start in Rochester next season, but then what do they do with UPL? What about Portillo if he does sign with the team? No way they run a 3 headed monster in Rochester. I could see trying to manage 2 guys down there like Jersey did with Daws and Schmid, but 3 isn't feasible.

If UPL shows he's not ready I really think it forces KA's hand where he needs to move someone. Whether it's Portillo or UPL to make sure the other 2 get the reps they need.

I think Portillo is likely gone. Alternately, UPL may develop into a passable backup by next October. Then it’s Comrie/UPL, or maybe they find a new, better stop gap if neither trend better during the course of this season. At which point, who cares if one of these guys sits or gets waived or needs to be traded for a nothing pick.

As far as there being one and only one net, I don’t think it’s a concern. Even a “workhorse” starter is only playing like 60 games at most. Nobody’s development is going to be crushed by only starting 40 instead of 60 games.

In 08-09, the Rockford Ice Hogs had a nearly even split between Antti Niemi (38 games) and Corey Crawford (47 games). They’re both cup winning goalies, so I think they developed just fine with a shared net in the AHL.

 

[Jim Bob]

KA has said they want players who want to be here. CP decided he didn't want to be here after college.

I doubt that played into it all that much. His contract and poor play this season were the major factors.

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

I think Portillo is likely gone. Alternately, UPL may develop into a passable backup by next October. Then it’s Comrie/UPL, or maybe they find a new, better stop gap if neither trend better during the course of this season. At which point, who cares if one of these guys sits or gets waived or needs to be traded for a nothing pick.

As far as there being one and only one net, I don’t think it’s a concern. Even a “workhorse” starter is only playing like 60 games at most. Nobody’s development is going to be crushed by only starting 40 instead of 60 games.

In 08-09, the Rockford Ice Hogs had a nearly even split between Antti Niemi (38 games) and Corey Crawford (47 games). They’re both cup winning goalies, so I think they developed just fine with a shared net in the AHL.

Yes I agree with splitting the net, That's why I said the issue was if Portillo does sign and UPL is also not ready, 3 is a crowd, 2 is manageable.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Der Jaeger, perfect deadline acquisition:
- A consistent pattern of liking prospects with Swedish last names
- Versatility post any thread
- Writes low-grammar mistake posts
- Witty & low maintenance
- Kill goaltending trolls
- Vet poster & dry personality
- 13x year HF poster

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Der Jaeger, perfect deadline acquisition:
- A consistent pattern of liking prospects with Swedish last names
- Versatility post any thread
- Writes low-grammar mistake posts
- Witty & low maintenance
- Kill goaltending trolls
- Vet poster & dry personality
- 13x year HF poster

I'll take Der Jaeger over Schenn, but I have to see the trade package first.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

I'll take Der Jaeger over Schenn, but I have to see the trade package first.

Good thing you added the word “trade” in there

 

[pigpen65]

Yeah, why didn't they add a $5M AHL goalie...

Probably the same reason Tim Murray passed on a free 25 year old Jacob Markstrom. Stupidity

 

[Jim Bob]

Probably the same reason Tim Murray passed on a free 25 year old Jacob Markstrom. Stupidity

Cool story, bro.

 

[5 Minute Major]

I’m not going to pretend to be some NHL goaltending guru but why can’t Levi be given a shot at the end of this season and possibly be the answer as our starter next year?

I mean, I remember, once upon a time when the Sabres had a starting goalie that was in a US high school the year before and was a 1st team All Star and won rookie of the year…and followed the next season with a dang good year as well. I know….decades ago.

I don’t want to over simplify things but kids are playing around the league every year. Why not goalies?

 

[sabremike]

Letting Ulmark walk is easily the single biggest blunder Adams has made in his tenure and the consequences could end up being quite severe. We essentially spent years developing a starting goalie for our division rival.

You can literally get every single other thing right but if your goaltending sucks your season is ending after 82 games every single year.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

I’m not going to pretend to be some NHL goaltending guru but why can’t Levi be given a shot at the end of this season and possibly be the answer as our starter next year?

I mean, I remember, once upon a time when the Sabres had a starting goalie that was in a US high school the year before and was a 1st team All Star and won rookie of the year…and followed the next season with a dang good year as well. I know….decades ago.

I don’t want to over simplify things but kids are playing around the league every year. Why not goalies?

Poor Tom would be excoriated for his sub .9 save percentage

 

[Chainshot]

I’m not going to pretend to be some NHL goaltending guru but why can’t Levi be given a shot at the end of this season and possibly be the answer as our starter next year?

I mean, I remember, once upon a time when the Sabres had a starting goalie that was in a US high school the year before and was a 1st team All Star and won rookie of the year…and followed the next season with a dang good year as well. I know….decades ago.

I don’t want to over simplify things but kids are playing around the league every year. Why not goalies?

Because they are rarely even close to ready immediately. Spencer Knight is the closest thing to a goaltending phenom in the last two decades still took two NCAA seasons and STILL had part of an AHL year in year three and is still basically splitting duties with Bob in Florida. Levy might push early but maybe there is enough evidence in the 40 years since Barrasso did what he did to show it just doesn't happen.

 

[sabremike]

Because they are rarely even close to ready immediately. Spencer Knight is the closest thing to a goaltending phenom in the last two decades still took two NCAA seasons and STILL had part of an AHL year in year three and is still basically splitting duties with Bob in Florida. Levy might push early but maybe there is enough evidence in the 40 years since Barrasso did what he did to show it just doesn't happen.

Which is why just waiting for Levi is unacceptable and if that is the plan it's incredibly foolish. We need to find an actual credible NHL goalie right now for at least the next 3 seasons.

 

[joshjull]

Yes I agree with splitting the net, That's why I said the issue was if Portillo does sign and UPL is also not ready, 3 is a crowd, 2 is manageable.

One can go to ECHL and get a ton of games. It wouldn’t be the first time a future NHL goalie started his pro career there.

 

[5 Minute Major]

Poor Tom would be excoriated for his sub .9 save percentage

Right, but those were high marks back then.

 

[sabremike]

One can go to ECHL and get a ton of games. It wouldn’t be the first time a future NHL goalie started his pro career there.

I don't think "sign with us and we'll send you to the ECHL" is going to get Portillo to sign as there will likely be multiple teams offering him a much better opportunity. I am still very bitter about this because we could've taken Tyce with that pick.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Letting Ulmark walk is easily the single biggest blunder Adams has made in his tenure and the consequences could end up being quite severe. We essentially spent years developing a starting goalie for our division rival.

You can literally get every single other thing right but if your goaltending sucks your season is ending after 82 games every single year.

This was the reason I took a hiatus from the team and HF boards. I saw KA being hired as the easiest "company man" option, a bunch of scouting staff fired, and letting the only capable goalie walk over a mil or so difference in contract demands (I don't care what the actual numbers were). The reason I'm back is because KA has allowed his scouting staff to have a voice in building the team, and following a draft-first team building path that I thought/hoped Botterill was going to follow. So I give KA props for that, but the Ullmark scenario still grits my teeth.

 

[joshjull]

This was the reason I took a hiatus from the team and HF boards. I saw KA being hired as the easiest "company man" option, a bunch of scouting staff fired, and letting the only capable goalie walk over a mil or so difference in contract demands (I don't care what the actual numbers were). The reason I'm back is because KA has allowed his scouting staff to have a voice in building the team, and following a draft-first team building path that I thought/hoped Botterill was going to follow. So I give KA props for that, but the Ullmark scenario still grits my teeth.

Not a very rational way to look at it. Ullmark’s rumored ask was 6x6 to stay here. Roughly what Grubhauer got in Seattle. We reportedly wanted less years and lower AAV. Thats a lot more than a million or so difference.

Ullmark had all the leverage and used it wisely to get a nice deal with a better team. But would have taken even more to stay here. I have no issues with them not handing out that contract or something similar and letting him walk.

If they were going to have a chance to keep him around. It would have been the previous offseason and signing him to a 2 or maybe 3 year deal.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Not a very rational way to look at it. Ullmark’s rumored ask was 6x6 to stay here. Roughly what Grubhauer got in Seattle. We reportedly wanted less years and lower AAV. Thats a lot more than a million or so difference.

Ullmark had all the leverage and used it wisely to get a nice deal with a better team. But would have taken even more to stay here. I have no issues with them not handing out that contract or something similar and letting him walk.

If they were going to have a chance to keep him around. It would have been the previous offseason and signing him to a 2 or maybe 3 year deal.

I don't care about the numbers because it's not possible to guess what the negotiations were over. So really I care, but I don't think debating about it is productive/useful. Bottom line is that one way or the other, this team let their only legit starter walk with no plan afterward. I don't care which GM had more "fault", or if Ullmark maybe was just using leverage to get out no matter what. Don't care...the scenario was botched.