Player Discussion All Purpose Goaltending Thread
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ValJamesDuex
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So Levi will be in Roch all season and Reimer (one way) will backup UPL then ?
Jacob582
Registered User
- Oct 16, 2012
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I don't think Reimer is tagged for Rochester. I just can't imagine their plan is to risk losing their #3 goalie and Rochester starter to waivers.
I can't believe Reimer would sign up for that either, unless he just wasn't getting any other one-way contract offers from anyone.
I know several media guys (Mike H., Lance L, WGR Joe) don't think Reimer will be UPL's backup. I just don't see it that way.
Now if Reimer bombs in training camp then anything can happen.
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Zman5778
Moderator
I don't think that's the plan at all. I think to start the year, UPL and Reimer will be in Buffalo and Levi in Rochester. However, UPL does have a tendency to suffer a few dinks here and there......and if/when he does, I think the team will turn to Levi as the starter while Reimer backs him up. Kind of like how if a defenseman suffers a longer-term injury, Johnson is likely the guy to step in to replace him even if he starts in Rochester.
Zman5778
Moderator
Eh, I don't see that. I think Gilbert is ticketed to be the #7 Dman and I don't think they risk losing Bryson to waivers (which is VERY possible -- guys who've played 200 NHL games and make $900k don't often appear on waivers).
If UPL gets hurt game 1, they'll redeye Levi over and have him backup Reimer in game 2.
Jacob582
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They are allowed an expanded (up to 27 maybe?) roster for their games in Europe.
They'll bring more than 2.
I think the thought process is that we will carry 3 goalies from time to time.
There are stretches in the schedule where it just makes sense. There's a 6 game in 10 night stretch in late November.
Heck, from Mar 1 till April 17th, we play 25 games. You are going to want to alternate your best two goalies in there.
I think Levi will get mostly AHL action to start, but get probably 10-20 NHL starts before the season is over.
I think it'll be 45-50 starts for UPL, 10-15 starts for Reimer, 15-20 starts for Levi
With Levi getting 50-60 total starts over the course of the season between the AHL/NHL.
There are stretches in the schedule where it just makes sense. There's a 6 game in 10 night stretch in late November.
Heck, from Mar 1 till April 17th, we play 25 games. You are going to want to alternate your best two goalies in there.
I think Levi will get mostly AHL action to start, but get probably 10-20 NHL starts before the season is over.
I think it'll be 45-50 starts for UPL, 10-15 starts for Reimer, 15-20 starts for Levi
With Levi getting 50-60 total starts over the course of the season between the AHL/NHL.
I believe you are correct and they will have more than 23 allowed to go to Europe. But after they get back, Levi will likely be sent down.
Der Jaeger
Generational EBUG
I think there will be times that Buffalo plays 3 goalies. But it should be really well defined.
Normal operations: UPL gets the starter's workload, with Reimer playing just back-to-backs.
Levi: bring him up specifically to start. If UPL needs a break, Reimer is overwhelmed or breaking down, etc. There should never be a time Levi is in Buffalo sitting the bench as the back up.
Der Jaeger
Generational EBUG
From the UPL thread:
He's made the transition to more of a modern game, and you can see some of his saves look a lot like what we saw from Levi in college and some in the pros.
The "lunging" is a misread on technique by Ostrander. I coached for Mitch Korn at his camp, and he's teaching a technique called "downward tracking." Anyone notice that goalies seem to be pushing their gloves at the shooters, and dropping a lot of pucks? That's a result of downward tracking. You push your upper body toward the shot to get to the puck furthest away from the net. The possible paths the puck can take to score are smaller the closer the pad is to the puck when the save is made. Also, rebounds tend to just drop in front of the goalie, which is preferable.
What Ostrader calls "lunging" is really UPL working on his downward tracking. Since he didn't grow up doing it, because it's new, when he failed, he fell forward. Young goalies learning the technique always end up on the stomachs until they master the balance involved.
UPL is also a far better on staying on his toes. You see his skates are closer together now, and he fights to stay on his feet. By doing so, he's maintaining his lateral mobility with his hips forward. By default, shoulders will be more forward until the goalie masters the technique. You can also see that his lateral pushes are far more effective. By maintaining a narrower base, it's a lot easier to push laterally, even when you incorporate dropping into a slide. On the two shoot out saves, you can see the really small shuffles he uses just prior to the shooter committing, and then he commits to the save technique and still is able to push effectively.
I think now UPL is combining the size with the newer technique. He's able to move laterally on his feet better because he's on his toes instead of the full inside edge of the blade, and then use his technique and size to make the save. Unless he reverts (it's a mental position), he should be able to maintain what he's doing because he's transferred his technique successfully.
He's made the transition to more of a modern game, and you can see some of his saves look a lot like what we saw from Levi in college and some in the pros.
The "lunging" is a misread on technique by Ostrander. I coached for Mitch Korn at his camp, and he's teaching a technique called "downward tracking." Anyone notice that goalies seem to be pushing their gloves at the shooters, and dropping a lot of pucks? That's a result of downward tracking. You push your upper body toward the shot to get to the puck furthest away from the net. The possible paths the puck can take to score are smaller the closer the pad is to the puck when the save is made. Also, rebounds tend to just drop in front of the goalie, which is preferable.
What Ostrader calls "lunging" is really UPL working on his downward tracking. Since he didn't grow up doing it, because it's new, when he failed, he fell forward. Young goalies learning the technique always end up on the stomachs until they master the balance involved.
UPL is also a far better on staying on his toes. You see his skates are closer together now, and he fights to stay on his feet. By doing so, he's maintaining his lateral mobility with his hips forward. By default, shoulders will be more forward until the goalie masters the technique. You can also see that his lateral pushes are far more effective. By maintaining a narrower base, it's a lot easier to push laterally, even when you incorporate dropping into a slide. On the two shoot out saves, you can see the really small shuffles he uses just prior to the shooter committing, and then he commits to the save technique and still is able to push effectively.
I think now UPL is combining the size with the newer technique. He's able to move laterally on his feet better because he's on his toes instead of the full inside edge of the blade, and then use his technique and size to make the save. Unless he reverts (it's a mental position), he should be able to maintain what he's doing because he's transferred his technique successfully.
Zman5778
Moderator
I wasn't aware of that. So yeah, they're bringing all 3 to Europe.
Jim Bob
RIP RJ
I am pleasantly surprised that they have them rated this highly.
Jacob582
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- Oct 16, 2012
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Lance Lysowski stated again (on ATW) that Sabres' intention is to have Levi backing up UPL.
I respect that he typically has a good read on the pulse of the organization.
Anything can happen. But I see this one differently. Lindy is not going to want to carry three goalies, and Karmanos wants to have more than one in Rochester.
I respect that he typically has a good read on the pulse of the organization.
Anything can happen. But I see this one differently. Lindy is not going to want to carry three goalies, and Karmanos wants to have more than one in Rochester.
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I can't see how anyone in the organization or any team related media thinks Levi should/will be on the main roster. Maybe for the trip to Czechia, but after that it only makes sense to have Levi up for a start or emergency back-up if UPL or Reimer get hurt.
And not for nothing, but the possible demand for decent backups seems like it would lead to Reimer getting picked up if they try to assign him to the AHL. I can see the long term view is that Levi will be the backup but that's after this year.
Jim Bob
RIP RJ
If they keep three goalies 
If they waive Reimer and he gets claimed barring Reimer looking cooked and Levi playing out of his mind in camp
If they waive Reimer and he gets claimed barring Reimer looking cooked and Levi playing out of his mind in camp
Backup can mean a lot of things.
I liked how Bakes put it
"Lots of teams have their organizational #2 starting in the AHL" The prime example was dustin Wolf in Calgary.
The fact is, Levi needs professional starts.
It does him little good sitting the bench UPL in Buffalo for 50 games.
I think the all of the following will be true (barring injuries of course)
1. Most of Levi's starts will be in the AHL
2. Levi will start more NHL games than Reimer
3. Reimer will be sitting behind the bench most of UPLs starts.
If everyone remains healthy, I would be surprised if Levi gets more NHL games than Reimer this year.
More STARTS than Reimer. When you add in mop up duty, Reimer probably plays more total games.
Jim Bob
RIP RJ
InGoal Radio Episode 266 with Adam Francilia - InGoal Magazine
Off-Ice Goalie Training expert with more than a dozen NHL clients - presented by The Hockey Shop Source for Sports
ingoalmag.com
If you want to learn more about the trainer that Levi worked with this summer and that Reimer has worked with in the offseason for years, this is a good interview.
Jim Bob
RIP RJ
InGoal Radio Episode 267 with James Reimer - InGoal Magazine
presented by The Hockey Shop Source for Sports - Longtime NHL Goaltender James Reimer surpassed the 500 win mark last season
ingoalmag.com
And as expected, here is the interview with Reimer.
HOOats
born Ruffian
Not sure if this is new reporting from Lance, but this throws a wrench in plenty of folks' projected roster...
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Matt Ress
Don't sleep on me
Weird. Seems like the other way is set up perfectly. What's the rush bro
HOOats
born Ruffian
What's the rush? If we don't make the playoffs this year, the entire franchise gets sucked into a black hole...
Jokes aside, they should play their best players. If internally they believe Levi will be one of the 40 or so best goalies in the league, he deserves starts here.
I prefer the "organizational #2" model of him starting ~35 games in Roch, while getting called up to Buff for 25-30 starts across the year.
