Player Discussion All Purpose Goaltending Thread

[TehDoak]

I think we’re talking past each other not going in circles.

We’ve known for some time that they weren’t looking to block the young goalies (UPL and Levi) just like they weren’t at other positions. I’m guessing this epiphany explains your zeal in the previous responses.


The number #1 goalie comment in the first post doesn’t make sense. There are two goalie spots. Having one filled by a NHL starter doesn’t black Levi from a NHL roster spot. But it would block UPL. Plus acquiring that level goalie is pretty hard to do

Agreed. It's a tall ask to sign a good veteran goalie knowing he's coming in as a stop-gap for Levi until he's ready. In the meantime, you lose UPL who had a good rookie season despite how some people around here feel about it.

It's the dream - but it's a tough thing to find - good, vet, cool with being a backup but can be a full-time starter....

From a pure asset management point of view:

- Buyout/Trade Comrie
-Sign/Acquire Upgrade to Comrie on a 2 year term.

That would give us 1 year of Levi in the AHL a year of UPL getting significant NHL starts to really make an informed decision on what to do. There's a good likelyhood that Levi will get starts at the NHL level as well, especially if we opt for an older vet. And you sign the vet to be the starter. If you really want to sweeten the pot, give them most of their salary as signing bonus the 2nd year so they can retire after one season if they aren't happy with the situation.

Moving UPL now would be selling low. Especially if we can successfully add a top 4 d-man and refit our bottom 6F to get the play in their own zone improve, it would give us a more realistic view of what to do.

 

[joshjull]

Agreed. It's a tall ask to sign a good veteran goalie knowing he's coming in as a stop-gap for Levi until he's ready. In the meantime, you lose UPL who had a good rookie season despite how some people around here feel about it.

It's the dream - but it's a tough thing to find - good, vet, cool with being a backup but can be a full-time starter....

In perfect world we upgrade Comrie with a better vet and they pair with UPL in NHL With Levi in AHL.

 

[TehDoak]

From a pure asset management point of view:

- Buyout/Trade Comrie
-Sign/Acquire Upgrade to Comrie on a 2 year term.

That would give us 1 year of Levi in the AHL a year of UPL getting significant NHL starts to really make an informed decision on what to do. There's a good likelyhood that Levi will get starts at the NHL level as well, especially if we opt for an older vet. And you sign the vet to be the starter. If you really want to sweeten the pot, give them most of their salary as signing bonus the 2nd year so they can retire after one season if they aren't happy with the situation.

Moving UPL now would be selling low. Especially if we can successfully add a top 4 d-man and refit our bottom 6F to get the play in their own zone improve, it would give us a more realistic view of what to do.

In perfect world we upgrade Comrie with a better vet and they pair with UPL in NHL With Levi in AHL.

 

[dkollidas]

In perfect world we upgrade Comrie with a better vet and they pair with UPL in NHL With Levi in AHL.

Yes… but we’ve seen if they feel a player is ready they won’t block him. Right or wrong, I think they believe Levi is ready. He’s young, but this game is more and more going towards younger players and maybe Levi is the beginning of that happening in net? We’ve seen guys do ~30gm stints in the AHL and then come and do well in the NHL. Hellebuyck and Vasilevskiy come to mind immediately. While it probably didn’t hurt their development, I’d assume they could’ve started immediately with the big club and not been hurt.

Levi just gives different vibes. And I know I’m totally drinking the kool-aid, but he’s shown a lot of composure in a tough situation to walk into (playoff race where every game was basically win or done)

 

[joshjull]

Yes… but we’ve seen if they feel a player is ready they won’t block him. Right or wrong, I think they believe Levi is ready. He’s young, but this game is more and more going towards younger players and maybe Levi is the beginning of that happening in net? We’ve seen guys do ~30gm stints in the AHL and then come and do well in the NHL. Hellebuyck and Vasilevskiy come to mind immediately. While it probably didn’t hurt their development, I’d assume they could’ve started immediately with the big club and not been hurt.

Levi just gives different vibes. And I know I’m totally drinking the kool-aid, but he’s shown a lot of composure in a tough situation to walk into (playoff race where every game was basically win or done)

Can’t disagree with this. Levi starting here next season wouldn‘t be surprising and would be roughly in line with Knight/Swayman.

 

[Jim Bob]

I really, really hope the Sabres pay for access to CSA's data...

 

[dkollidas]

Can’t disagree with this. Levi starting here next season wouldn‘t be surprising and would be roughly in line with Knight/Swayman.

I think the best option for the team is trading Luukonen and signing whichever goalie Carolina is unable to retain between Raanta & Andersen. My guess is Andersen is the one who gets free. Bring him in, let Levi battle for starts, and have Comrie waiting in Rochester in case Levi isn’t ready.

 

[Jim Bob]

I think the best option for the team is trading Luukonen and signing whichever goalie Carolina is unable to retain between Raanta & Andersen. My guess is Andersen is the one who gets free. Bring him in, let Levi battle for starts, and have Comrie waiting in Rochester in case Levi isn’t ready.

One problem that you create by moving UPL this off season is that you lose the one team controlled goalie you have not named Levi.

That is one of the problems that are created if they want to start Levi in Buffalo and not have the problematic 3 goalies in Buffalo again.

 

[Fjordy]

What do we have with the goalies for next season? Anderson retired, Comrie just seems like the wrong guy. Levi seems to have made a good debut and we expect to see him in the NHL next season? What did the UPL look like? Will there be a young tandem with Levi or do you still need a proven good goalier? Is Levi going to be in the NHL at all?

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Jim Bob]

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[Gabrielor]

I'm going to contradict a lot of my past statements with the following:

There's an argument to be made in running with Levi/UPL. It's INSANELY risky, but the upside is also very high.

The current downside is experience, and we need that at a time when we want to make the playoffs. It really can't wait....


...but...if you play Levi/UPL next season, AND you make the playoffs anyways...you're back to a Miller/Biron tandem that's as cheap as can be cost wise.


It's really about whether or not you believe UPL will grow this summer.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

I'm going to contradict a lot of my past statements with the following:

There's an argument to be made in running with Levi/UPL. It's INSANELY risky, but the upside is also very high.

The current downside is experience, and we need that at a time when we want to make the playoffs. It really can't wait....


...but...if you play Levi/UPL next season, AND you make the playoffs anyways...you're back to a Miller/Biron tandem that's as cheap as can be cost wise.


It's really about whether or not you believe UPL will grow this summer.

I'm "ok" with this because -

#1 - I think UPL has room to improve. So many posters are down on him but man, he's only 24 and has so much raw talent. He will be better and that, imo, has to be equal to a decent back-up at least.

#2 - I don't think there are great options this summer for vet goalies with just a few years left under contract (Helly being a pipe dream).

Then there is the fairly good assumption that KA isn't going to make a splash at goalie anyway.

 

[Gabrielor]

The options really suck is what inspires this.

Varlamov is a good UFA choice, but why does he choose us?
Vejmelka is a great trade idea, but what's the price?

After that....

Hellebuyck just doesn't make sense if you really believe in Levi as special, and I do.

 

[elchud]

Hill/Raanta/Varlamov are all upgrades on Comrie and can all be had for 2 or 3 year deals. Kind of a no brainer not to get one of them.

I'm opposed to Andersen because he's gonna cost 4 million minimum and you're making him a 1A over Levi if you sign him. The other three are solid 1Bs who can step up if Levi needs to be sent down.

Levi is the current 1A it's quite clear the organization has all the confidence in the world with him and will expect growing pains and have him play through them. If things get bad I think they will send him to Rochester instead of playing every 3rd game in Buffalo.

Comrie has no trade value at his cap number. Comrie/Subban seems like overkill in Rochester. Buyout seems like the way to go for the players sake.

UPL has trade value and a team like Arizona would probably claim him on waivers. He could be an attractive add on to a VO trade where we wouldn't have to retain salary.

Pairing Levi with a solid veteran in Buffalo is extremely important and shame on Adams if he goes with Levi/UPL. Comrie while a veteran...that aint working either.

I'm preparing to be disappointed with the goaltending situation on opening night.

 

[Fjordy]

Varlamov, Hill and Raanta makes sense like UFA

 

[Jim Bob]

These are the types of chances that the Sabres gave up too much last season. If they don’t clean that up, these are the situations that they need goalies to be good against.

 

[Fjordy]

Varlamov on the future: “I want to stay with the Islanders. I have a good feeling about the team's perspectives."

 

[Jim Bob]

I'm going to contradict a lot of my past statements with the following:

There's an argument to be made in running with Levi/UPL. It's INSANELY risky, but the upside is also very high.

The current downside is experience, and we need that at a time when we want to make the playoffs. It really can't wait....


...but...if you play Levi/UPL next season, AND you make the playoffs anyways...you're back to a Miller/Biron tandem that's as cheap as can be cost wise.


It's really about whether or not you believe UPL will grow this summer.

Banking on the current trio would be walking a tight rope without any sort of safety devices in place in the event that things do not go as well as people hope.

Levi & UPL both have upside and Comrie could be better if he were to stay healthy.

But, I would be worried about what happens if Levi looks like Ryan Miller in his rookie pro season of 2002-03 and needs time in Rochester to adapt to the pro game.

UPL & Comrie is not a duo that gives me confidence if the expectation is to make the playoffs.

My personal preference would be kind of like how last year started, I just would want a solid vet to replace Anderson, UPL is in the Comrie role as the 1A, and then Levi is in the UPL role in Rochester since he does not need waivers to go down.

I just expect it to be the UPL, Comrie, and Levi three headed monster until further notice. And that is scary to me.

Varlamov on the future: “I want to stay with the Islanders. I have a good feeling about the team's perspectives."

That is what I would expect. He loves it there and they love him. I would be surprised if he did not re-sign there for less than he has made to continue in the back up role.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[NotABadPeriod]

Comrie has no trade value at his cap number. Comrie/Subban seems like overkill in Rochester. Buyout seems like the way to go for the players sake.

The big issue with this may be one of timing. Buyout period happens before FA, which means if you buy out Comrie and then strike out on FA goalies, you're screwed. If Rochester ends up with Comrie/Subban then so be it.

 

[Gras]

The big issue with this may be one of timing. Buyout period happens before FA, which means if you buy out Comrie and then strike out on FA goalies, you're screwed. If Rochester ends up with Comrie/Subban then so be it.

Not unless a play goes to arbitration.

 

[NotABadPeriod]

Not unless a play goes to arbitration.

True, but our only arbitration eligible players are Jost, Clague, and minor leaguers. Can't see any of them electing for arbitration.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Ace]

I’m fine with a Levi/UPL pairing next year as long as there are real consequences when it fails spectacularly. Anyone who makes that call after missing the playoffs by one quality start this year shouldn’t be on a hot seat for it. They should be on an ejector seat.