tsujimoto74
Moderator
- May 28, 2012
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- 23,387
100%. The team stumbled out of the gate this season, but if they keep trending like they have been, I have little doubt all of our goalies will see improvement in their
Player Discussion All Purpose Goaltending Thread
- Thread starter Der Jaeger
- Start date
100%. The team stumbled out of the gate this season, but if they keep trending like they have been, I have little doubt all of our goalies will see improvement in their
PatLaFontaineASMR
Registered User
The funny thing is your "logical" explanation completely ignores the report that this rumor came from.
Friedman in December 2022 said that "2-3 years ago a good team could've had Tage for a 5th"
So that would be from 2019-2020. Adams was the GM only for 6 months in that period. During that 6 months he signed Tage to an extension on October 5th 2020 so it makes no sense he would be trying to move him.
The expansion draft was in the summer of 2021. Not close to the timeline Friedman mentioned. Adams also protected Tage during the draft. If Adams was actually that willing to sell off Tage for scraps he wouldn't have protected him over Girgensons.
So you just completely ignored the original report to completely make up a rumor that Adams tried to trade him for scraps.
"GMJB was fired in July 2020."
Botts was still expected to be the GM going forward before he got fired. Pegulas publicly supported him as GM a month before that. The firing came when Botts refused to fire some his staff.
Tage was an RFA at the end of the summer. Not that crazy for Botts to move on from a guy if he wasn't playing on giving him a QO. It was almost 2 years from the ROR trade at that point. Plenty of fans were very down on Tage at that time & wanted him to be traded. You can definitley trade a player when they're injured. Might've even been the reason why the contender turned down the trade.
I think the best assumption about a Thompson for 5th trade rumor, is that it's completely false regardless of who the GM was.
It's far more likely that his "guess" on the timeline was wrong. It doesn't make any sense for GMJB to move Thompson for scraps. He had AHL eligibility left.
I think the likely scenario is Adams wanted to protect 4 d-men (Dahlin/Risto/Borgen/Joker) but didn't want to lose Thompson for nothing so he offered around and found no takers.
The only real spot that would fit that narrative would be the 2020 trade deadline.
I can't find a reason why a contender would take on a project prospect that wasn't AHL eligible and had a potential career ending injury that they would have to qualify that summer.
The most logical fit for the team dumping Thompson was the 2021 expansion draft. He had a disappointing season, was signed for two more years, and Adams was probably exploring what he could get for him rather than lose him for nothing if he opted for a different protection plan.
I'm sure neither GM would ever fess up no matter the case. I still think Adams being the one that dangled him is FAR more likely than GMJB.
This year over a very small sample of nine games, we have Levi slightly below, UPL just below average and Comrie above. saves expected. The problem in 2023-24 is we are not scoring. If we get this level of goaltending, which would be average, we will make the playoffs because I believe the scoring will rebound. We got nowhere near this goaltending from UPL or Comrie last year, and they played a lot of games. We got really bad goaltending in 2021-22 from Tokarski /Anderson/Dell.
All the Sabres need is average goaltending if you ask me. If we get actual decent/good goaltending, this team could be dangerous.
I'm not saying expected goals is the only measure, like any stat, it has its flaws.
GrierIsGod123
Registered User
I do believe the Sabres are playing a more defensively sound brand of hockey. However, that is going to come at a cost to their goalscoring. I just don't think we're going to see the kind of numbers we did last season, especially from Tage who seems to be turning the corner on his 2-way play.
That said, I'll happily take a 35 goal/75 point season from Tage if it means he's a strong 2-way guy that is winning key draws and playing against top players. The goal for him should be to "win" his matchup and the points will come.
Thompson's D-zone coverage was horrific last year. You can only get away with that if you score like he did. The D also just better (until we get nailed with injury.) Erik Johnson is better than almost everything we had on 3rd pair last year, and that's true for Clifton, too. But the bar is pretty low with Fitzgerald, Stillman, Pilut, Bryson, Clague. We did not have NHL players for multiple games. Expect injuries and a real decline if we lose one of top 3 for extended time. Jokiharju is playing very well, but we have seen that show before. He's a 4/5 guy. To me the wildcard is whether Ryan Johnson can ramp up his game in Rochester and play meaningful NHL minutes in 2023-24. I don't see much else on roster for D and that includes Bryson.
Jim Bob
RIP RJ
Goalie Day 2023 - InGoal Magazine
Ten premium articles unlocked as our gift to the Goalie Community on this special day
ingoalmag.com
They opened up 10 articles for Goalie Day 2023.
There are two Sabres-specific ones:
Pro Drills with Devon Levi and Marco Raimondo - InGoal Magazine
Adding a Cognitive Element to Simple Crease Movement
ingoalmag.com
Pro Tips: with Eric Comrie - InGoal Magazine
Stick Mantra Keeps Comrie in Right Mindframe
ingoalmag.com
Jim Bob
RIP RJ
Jim Bob
RIP RJ
That isn't on the table as long as Comrie is hurt. And even when he is healthy, it likely won't be on the table unless Levi plays significantly worse than UPL & Comrie.
Zman5778
Moderator
And have Tokarski as the backup? Or Cooley?
Nah, that's not even in the conversation until Comrie is healthy.
BuffaloGooner
Registered User
2 goalies with a positive GSAX I never thought I’d see the day!
I agree. I have never believed this. Almost any former late first rounder gets more
Based on two games. Wow.
Also, something Marty touches on was that the first four games (all of Levi’s starts), vs the five prior to last night are dramatically different defensively. Levi went out and they ramped up being better in their own zone. Yes, last night was more of a throwback, but the team is doing more to help than prior. I want to see Levi with that sort of defensive play in front of him.
Mattilaus
Registered User
I though it was possible but I'd be lying if I said I predicted it for THESE two goalies.
HaNotsri
Regstred User
- Dec 29, 2013
- 8,658
- 6,524
UPL needs to start the next game as well unless he is tired/hurt. If we go the path of developing a starter you should absolutely ride the hot hand but if you want growth you need to offer multiple chances snd bounce back games.
He does need some serious breakaway training though.
He does need some serious breakaway training though.
Disagree with you on this one. He's not "hot" at all. Levi 's turn.
UPL is Lehner level performing on breakaways. God help this team if he has to perform in a shoot out.
HaNotsri
Regstred User
- Dec 29, 2013
- 8,658
- 6,524
Yeah I'd change goalie in OT.
Not saying he's hot now but if we want to get to some sort of "baseline goaltending" there needs to be continuity.
It's hard to play in front of different goalies. If we switch to Levi then we should stick with him at least. If we continue to suck like this he's probably the one best equipped to handle the breakaway bukkake.
UPL still has the same issues he's had for years, mostly not trusting his size. Weeksie pointed out what we've been saying for years before last nights game, when he's calm, stays upright and trusts his size he's usually fine. But for a 6'5 goalie, he too often plays like he's 6'0 leaning forward sprawling on the ice. Bales certainly hasnt helped him with that, seems like he's still content with trying to glove everything vs just letting the damn puck hit him.
Fjordy
Registered User
- Jun 20, 2018
- 17,194
- 9,466
An experienced starting goaliewould solve some problems, at least in order not to give Levi and UPL a greater workload and allow them to develop, instead they get four games in a row, and the coaching staff does not seem to understand how to manage such goalies.
He's got a big body, and when he uses it right he might be an NHL backup. His reflexes are not NHL and he couldn't stop Bill Hajt on a breakaway. He's terrible one on one. He played two games and had some moments and people said he arrived. He'll be back where he belongs, a below average goalie.
The Sabres have $8.5 M in cap. Could create even more with Bryson in minors. They put their faith on three goalies with little or no resume to show -- not a slight against Levi who should be given some AHL team on a normal team.
We went into last year with no goaltending plan that was realistic and we did it again this year.
It boggles the mind after 12 years of no playoffs..
Jim Bob
RIP RJ
That is because solving it is easier in theory than in practice.
Exhibit A: The Oilers giving Campbell 5x5 on 7/13/2022 and wanting to fire him into the sun a mere 16 months later.
There were no locks when it comes to goalies that changed teams in FA this summer.
There is no way I would have wanted the Sabres to outbid Ottawa for Korpisalo.
Blackwood may have been the best guy that changed teams and who knows what he would look like here given that he is getting torched in SJ behind a horribad rebuilding team.
And none of the big name trade targets moved anywhere, likely because their GMs wanted an insane trade return.
Jim Bob
RIP RJ
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