Player Discussion All Purpose Goaltending Thread

[oldgoalie]

Devon Levi has re-entered the chat.

holy shit, what a save.

 

[TehDoak]

Granato is taking a unique approach to this team. It is so unique that it is frustrating to a lot of fans and media when there are bumps in the road.

Granato is leaning into this team's youth, speed, and offensive talent. He wants his players to play free offensively and to not worry too much about what might happen if they try something and it doesn't work out. Granato also wants players to play through mistakes and learn from them and doesn't bench and healthy scratch guys immediately after a bad game or a bad shift.

Most coaches try and increase the odds of winning by coaching mistakes out of the game. Granato is trying to allow his players to play creative and free and leaning into their offensive talent. That is the innovation, for me.

....and leads to the ceiling of Granto (and the current version of the Sabres)

I love the idea of outscoring teams....but at some point they need to learn how to take care of their zone and win a 2-1 game without the goalie standing on their head. That's the difference between a team who gets 100 points and trounced in the 1st round and a team who gets 95 points and goes 2+ rounds deep every year. You simply need to look north of the border to Toronto and see the ceiling of a highly skilled group of forwards will get you. It's the wrong thread for this, I know.

 

[Jim Bob]

....and leads to the ceiling of Granto (and the current version of the Sabres)

I love the idea of outscoring teams....but at some point they need to learn how to take care of their zone and win a 2-1 game without the goalie standing on their head. That's the difference between a team who gets 100 points and trounced in the 1st round and a team who gets 95 points and goes 2+ rounds deep every year. You simply need to look north of the border to Toronto and see the ceiling of a highly skilled group of forwards will get you. It's the wrong thread for this, I know.

We have no idea if Granato and this core group of Sabres will look like as the team develops over the next few years.

I could see this team growing into a Colorado Avalanche type team in a few years. Thinking that Granato and the players won't grow and adapt moving forward is a fixed mindset that I cannot buy into today.

 

[TehDoak]

We have no idea if Granato and this core group of Sabres will look like as the team develops over the next few years.

I could see this team growing into a Colorado Avalanche type team in a few years. Thinking that Granato and the players won't grow and adapt moving forward is a fixed mindset that I cannot buy into today.

That is 100% fair.....I do think it's a valid concern as we look past the development phase of this roster though. Moral victories and vibes aren't going to be enough as expectations start to escalate. Are we setup to move beyond that?

 

[Jim Bob]

That is 100% fair.....I do think it's a valid concern as we look past the development phase of this roster though. Moral victories and vibes aren't going to be enough as expectations start to escalate. Are we setup to move beyond that?

I have a lot of faith in Don Granato as a coach. And I think he will grow and adapt his approach as the roster matures and they move into other phases of the build.

The analogy to team building that I like to look at is from the strength and conditioning world. Louie Simmons was one of the best powerlifting coaches of all time. He took the conjugate system that the Eastern Bloc countries used to dominate the Olympics (along with a lot of juice) and adapted it for his sport of powerlifting. He also worked with people in a lot of other sports, including football.

Louie's approach was to improve performance by attacking limiting factors. I think Granato and Adams have the potential to do that in the future.

They had to rebuild the core and the culture of the team. They have done a really good job of that so far.

My biggest concern at this point is that the prospect pipeline has a lot of skilled wingers and it could use some more D, especially on the right side, and some robust bottom six forwards.

But, maybe the plan is to trade skilled forwards for those pieces. If that works out, it could be a really solid plan.

 

[old kummelweck]

Watching what is going on with FL, NYI, and even PIT, I am not sure Buffalo has the goaltending to get them into one of the last two playoff spots. Being patient with your goal tending and letting it develop is one of the hardest things to do at the NHL level.

 

[Jim Bob]

Watching what is going on with FL, NYI, and even PIT, I am not sure Buffalo has the goaltending to get them into one of the last two playoff spots. Being patient with your goal tending and letting it develop is one of the hardest things to do at the NHL level.

NYI & PIT are getting better goaltending than the Sabres. Florida is not.

Save% of the main goalies (top 2 for NYI, PIT, & FLA and top 3 for BUF):

NYI .924
PIT .914
BUF .903
FLA .902

Where the Sabres have had the advantage is in Shooting% for.

The Sabres are 3rd in the NHL with an 11.4% shooting percentage.

The Pens are 16th at 9.8%.
The Panthers are 20th at 9.7%.
And the Islanders are 24th at 9.3%.

 

[Jim Bob]

I am torn between loving the Dave and hating that my favorite USHL player getting robbed of a beautiful primary assist.

 

[TehDoak]

I still think we need to invest in a better goalie than Comrie to pair with UPL. UPL has been OK this year. I think a good veteran could make this an OK tandem. If Demko is available (and we can get a clear picture of his health), I think that would be a solid investment this summer. Raanta, Anderson, Hill, Jarry, Varlamov are all UFAs this summer. Comrie's salary makes him effectively waiver proof unless a team is in absolute dire straights for a goalie. Buying him out isn't cost prohibitive either.

 

[Chainshot]

Marek saying Seattle was looking at Portillo at the draft in Montreal per draft floor scuttlebutt. That’s the most info I’ve come across about it so far.

 

[Jim Bob]

I still think we need to invest in a better goalie than Comrie to pair with UPL. UPL has been OK this year. I think a good veteran could make this an OK tandem. If Demko is available (and we can get a clear picture of his health), I think that would be a solid investment this summer. Raanta, Anderson, Hill, Jarry, Varlamov are all UFAs this summer. Comrie's salary makes him effectively waiver proof unless a team is in absolute dire straights for a goalie. Buying him out isn't cost prohibitive either.

I think it is too early to tell with Comrie.

Comrie with Samuelsson:

2-2-0 .913 Save% (His only bad start was the loss to Seattle coming back from his injury that UPL was scheduled to start and came down sick)

Comrie without Samuelsson:

3-6-0 .865 Save%

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[TehDoak]

I think it is too early to tell with Comrie.

Comrie with Samuelsson:

2-2-0 .913 Save% (His only bad start was the loss to Seattle coming back from his injury that UPL was scheduled to start and came down sick)

Comrie without Samuelsson:

3-6-0 .865 Save%

Comrie has been in the NHL for 7 years. He's a middling backup. Not a ton of upside there.

 

[Jim Bob]

Comrie has been in the NHL for 7 years. He's a middling backup. Not a ton of upside there.

He has not really been in the NHL for 7 years.

This is only his second season with 4+ NHL games played.

5 years of 1 game, 3 games, 1 game, 3 games, and 1 game is not a real long look to determine who a goalie is.

UPL has more NHL seasons of 4+ NHL games played than Comrie does. And if you think UPL is who he is...

 

[old kummelweck]

I think it is too early to tell with Comrie.

Comrie with Samuelsson:

2-2-0 .913 Save% (His only bad start was the loss to Seattle coming back from his injury that UPL was scheduled to start and came down sick)

Comrie without Samuelsson:

3-6-0 .865 Save%

It's so hard to evaluate Comrie. This is going to be a really hard aspect to a goalies game to substantiate, but I feel like UPL and Anderson make momentum-changing saves. UPL battles inconsistency, but he has that big save or two in him each game. Comrie seems to be the opposite. Makes the easy saves, with more consistency, but does not seem to have those momentum-changers.

Of course all of that is perception, and hard to substantiate with metrics or stats.

 

[TehDoak]

He has not really been in the NHL for 7 years.

This is only his second season with 4+ NHL games played.

5 years of 1 game, 3 games, 1 game, 3 games, and 1 game is not a real long look to determine who a goalie is.

UPL has more NHL seasons of 4+ NHL games played than Comrie does. And if you think UPL is who he is...

...and that is the problem. A goalie has a problem making and keeping a NHL spot on teams short on goaltending year after year ? Goes on waivers multiple times? And isn't getting starts?

Are all the NHL teams stupid and us smart? Or is Comrie simply not good enough to be a starter in the NHL?

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

...and that is the problem. A goalie has a problem making and keeping a NHL spot on teams short on goaltending year after year ? Goes on waivers multiple times? And isn't getting starts?

Are all the NHL teams stupid and us smart? Or is Comrie simply not good enough to be a starter in the NHL?

He's a decent back-up at this point, but that doesn't justify paying the farm for Demko.

 

[Jim Bob]

...and that is the problem. A goalie has a problem making and keeping a NHL spot on teams short on goaltending year after year ? Goes on waivers multiple times? And isn't getting starts?

Are all the NHL teams stupid and us smart? Or is Comrie simply not good enough to be a starter in the NHL?

In Winnipeg, he was stuck behind some bum named Connor Hellebuyck and this is the first shot he's had to be anywhere near an NHL starter. And this year has been impacted by Dahlin throwing a guy into him.

There are plenty of examples of teams not realizing a guy is capable of being a solid NHL starting goalie and them blossoming in the right place at an advanced age.

Just look at Hasek's career arc. Or Tim Thomas.

Hasek was 28 years old before he got a shot to be a starter in the NHL.

Tim Thomas was in his 30s.

Saying a goalie is or is not capable of being an NHL starter after only 41 career NHL games played is pure guesswork.

 

[Jacob582]

...and that is the problem. A goalie has a problem making and keeping a NHL spot on teams short on goaltending year after year ? Goes on waivers multiple times? And isn't getting starts?

Are all the NHL teams stupid and us smart? Or is Comrie simply not good enough to be a starter in the NHL?

Washington took a chance on Charlie Lindgren. LA went to Copley.

There is a dearth of NHL goaltenders.

 

[Dirty Dog]

...and that is the problem. A goalie has a problem making and keeping a NHL spot on teams short on goaltending year after year ? Goes on waivers multiple times? And isn't getting starts?

Are all the NHL teams stupid and us smart? Or is Comrie simply not good enough to be a starter in the NHL?

You’re ignoring that plenty of goalies develop late and plenty develop after years as a backup or in the minors

 

[TehDoak]

Just look at Hasek's career arc. Or Tim Thomas.

Hasek was 28 years old before he got a shot to be a starter in the NHL.

Tim Thomas was in his 30s.

You are pointing out two pretty rare cases of a goalie having a late career revival.

Comrie played for two of the most goalie starved teams in NJ and Detroit and couldn't stick.

I'm not saying it CAN'T happen. I just think its highly unlikely given his age and the fact that multiple teams have seen him up close and chose to put him on waivers. If we have an opportunity to upgrade that position, we absolutely should.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

You are pointing out two pretty rare cases of a goalie having a late career revival.

Comrie played for two of the most goalie starved teams in NJ and Detroit and couldn't stick.

I'm not saying it CAN'T happen. I just think its highly unlikely given his age and the fact that multiple teams have seen him up close and chose to put him on waivers. If we have an opportunity to upgrade that position, we absolutely should.

Signing a guy for two years and trading him before one year is not a good look. Besides, he hasn't fallen on his face or anything to justify ditching him at the first opportunity. He's only going to get traded by the TDL or walk next season anyway, and by then Levi will have had time in Rochester and might be next man up. If UPL didn't step up then I'd say get another goalie for next year, but having UPL and Comrie next season is just fine. That's not some dire scenario that justifies a trade or an over-priced UFA signing this summer. We all know the goalies are suffering from a youth/system issue anyway. There just isn't a need to go after another goalie.

 

[Jim Bob]

You are pointing out two pretty rare cases of a goalie having a late career revival.

Comrie played for two of the most goalie starved teams in NJ and Detroit and couldn't stick.

I'm not saying it CAN'T happen. I just think its highly unlikely given his age and the fact that multiple teams have seen him up close and chose to put him on waivers. If we have an opportunity to upgrade that position, we absolutely should.

He also was only with NJ & Detroit for short periods during COVID seasons.

Comrie is 27yo this season.

Pekka Rinne was 26yo in his first season as an NHL starter (and he had 3 NHL games played prior to that season).

Sorokin was 26yo in his first season as an NHL starter.

Binnington was 26yo in his first season as an NHL starter.

Georgiev is 26yo this year and this is his first real shot as a starter.

Darcy Kuemper was 28yo the first time he got into more than half of his team's games.

Markstrom was 28yo the first time he got into more than half of his team's games.

Raanta was 28yo the first time he got into more than half of his team's games.

 

[TehDoak]

He also was only with NJ & Detroit for short periods during COVID seasons.

Comrie is 27yo this season.

Pekka Rinne was 26yo in his first season as an NHL starter (and he had 3 NHL games played prior to that season).

Sorokin was 26yo in his first season as an NHL starter.

Binnington was 26yo in his first season as an NHL starter.

Georgiev is 26yo this year and this is his first real shot as a starter.

Darcy Kuemper was 28yo the first time he got into more than half of his team's games.

Markstrom was 28yo the first time he got into more than half of his team's games.

Raanta was 28yo the first time he got into more than half of his team's games.

Long run ups to earning the starting role isn't unique for goalies.

Doing so on your 4th NHL team is.

 

[Dingo44]

Guys desperate to dump Comrie are up there with guys wanting to fire Sean McDermott or those who use Mitts as a throw-in on any potential trade. Their "mind" is made up and it's an emotional dislike at this point. and they don't want to hear about any facts or logic.