Speculation: Sabres Roster Speculation - Pre-season 2023 Edition

[HOOats]

For some things, I'm happy to get in the analytical weeds. For goalie, I go based on magic and swag. Levi absolutely has IT imo. There will be growing pains, but he's special and I'm fine giving him the reigns. Especially since the people who get paid well to agonize over this stuff for 70+ hours a week appear to feel that way.

We should be firmly in the mix to make noise in the division this year, but we're probably still a year away from the Atlantic big three majorly faltering. Bringing in someone like Gibson with a garbage contract for one year of giddy hopefulness is foolish to me. I'd much rather forge Levi in the fire and have the team elevate and mature their game for him as we saw down the stretch.

 

[Jim Bob]

See…it wasn’t that hard.

It wasn't hard, but it was pretty pointless.

 

[Bendium]

At this point, maybe KA makes a trade mid season if the goalie situation isn't working.

We've got Joker and VO as trade chips. Maybe they are waiting to see if Kulich or Savoie will make the team before we see a trade, whether for a forward or draft picks

This is 100% what I think is happening. I think they intend to go to camp and have some battles for spots. Then they will trade or waive to the minors the losers. If all three goalies are playing well, they always have the ability to send Levi to Rochester. If the goalie situation is not working by the end of the first quarter, then KA start working the phones. Not what I would do, but what I expect them to do. I think the last two defensive spots going to be battled for as well.

 

[Jim Bob]

This is 100% what I think is happening. I think they intend to go to camp and have some battles for spots. Then they will trade or waive to the minors the losers. If all three goalies are playing well, they always have the ability to send Levi to Rochester. If the goalie situation is not working by the end of the first quarter, then KA start working the phones. Not what I would do, but what I expect them to do. I think the last two defensive spots going to be battled for as well.

Trading for a goalie mid-season when other GMs know you are desperate is not a great game plan. Especially for a GM that has had a ceiling for what he'd give up in a trade.

I think Adams is unlikely to make a trade happen in-season and they just hope they get enough out of the goalies that they have.

 

[Bendium]

Trading for a goalie mid-season when other GMs know you are desperate is not a great game plan. Especially for a GM that has had a ceiling for what he'd give up in a trade.

I think Adams is unlikely to make a trade happen in-season and they just hope they get enough out of the goalies that they have.

I agree. Like I said, its not what I would do. Its just what I think they are going to do. They will role what we have and only try to fix it if it doesn't work. Its a reactive approach. I prefer the proactive approach where you get what you need now. Hope is not a plan.

 

[Jim Bob]

I agree. Like I said, its not what I would do. Its just what I think they are going to do. They will role what we have and only try to fix it if it doesn't work. Its a reactive approach. I prefer the proactive approach where you get what you need now. Hope is not a plan.

I doubt he lands a trade that "fixes it" mid-season, though.

 

[TehDoak]

For some things, I'm happy to get in the analytical weeds. For goalie, I go based on magic and swag. Levi absolutely has IT imo. There will be growing pains, but he's special and I'm fine giving him the reigns. Especially since the people who get paid well to agonize over this stuff for 70+ hours a week appear to feel that way.

We should be firmly in the mix to make noise in the division this year, but we're probably still a year away from the Atlantic big three majorly faltering. Bringing in someone like Gibson with a garbage contract for one year of giddy hopefulness is foolish to me. I'd much rather forge Levi in the fire and have the team elevate and mature their game for him as we saw down the stretch.

Magic, Swag and a set of pads will get you 2006 Justin Pogge.

 

[HOOats]

Magic, Swag and a set of pads will get you 2006 Justin Pogge.

Zero magic and zero swag detected in this post. Keep hanging on to negative counter examples, I'm sure it's way more fun that way. After all, it's entertainment that we have no control over.

 

[Asymmetric Solution]

Ok but was Tom Brady on a rookie contract for 20 years?

I'm not sure what the context of this reply was to but I felt obliged to answer it anyway. A generational talent that consistently took pay cuts to ensure there was enough money to go around in order to stay competitive, is not an argument I'd make to compare any situation that either the Bills or the Sabres are dealing with.

 

[OkimLom]

This is 100% what I think is happening. I think they intend to go to camp and have some battles for spots. Then they will trade or waive to the minors the losers. If all three goalies are playing well, they always have the ability to send Levi to Rochester. If the goalie situation is not working by the end of the first quarter, then KA start working the phones. Not what I would do, but what I expect them to do. I think the last two defensive spots going to be battled for as well.

At this point, maybe KA makes a trade mid season if the goalie situation isn't working.

We've got Joker and VO as trade chips. Maybe they are waiting to see if Kulich or Savoie will make the team before we see a trade, whether for a forward or draft picks

Based on Adam's tenure as a GM so far, what gives you the idea that this would be a path Adams would take. He's been the epitome of "sticking with what brought you to the fight".

 

[Jim Bob]

B/R NHL Roundtable: 4 Bold Predictions for the Rest of the Offseason

The dust has finally settled on the majority of free agency. As teams struggle with the fairly flat salary cap, the offseason options are slowly dwindling…

bleacherreport.com

The Sabres Will Not Trade for a Goalie​

When we think back to the factors that contributed to the Buffalo Sabres missing the postseason by two points, (they were one behind the Florida Panthers but lost the tiebreaker) one was extremely obvious. Their goaltending was inconsistent and not-so-great.

The trio of Craig Anderson (now retired), Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Eric Comrie traded starts all season long trying to ride the hot hand as much as possible. That was made a little more difficult because 41-year-old Anderson started once a week and he was the best of the bunch. Devon Levi's arrival late in the season gave the Sabres a lift and he very nearly got them to the playoffs with his play.

All signs pointed toward the Sabres addressing goaltending somehow in the offseason. Maybe they'd jump into the fire and trade for Connor Hellebuyck or perhaps an expensive desperation deal to add John Gibson. But they're not going to do any of that. They're going to run it back with the guys they know.
The Sabres are going to stick by Levi, Luukkonen and Comrie and try to end the 12-year playoff drought despite calls from fans to not do exactly that. It's a gamble by Sabres GM Kevyn Adams but they believe the additions of Erik Johnson and Connor Clifton will make them stronger defensively and particularly on the penalty kill (Buffalo had the fifth-worst PK in the league).

The Sabres are going to score a bunch and be a lot of fun to watch, but now they have to make the playoffs in 2023-2024 and goaltending is going to be watched meticulously.

---

- Joe Yerdon

 

[toddkaz]

Yes, and he looked bad and inconsistent. You can be with Adams on this, I don't care.

So if you trade for a starting goalie that pushes UPL out and he is done as a sabres player. Then reading off of your posts you feel there is a chance Levi could struggle so now you have 1 goalie and you still have to trade for a 2nd goalie if Levi struggles and is sent to the AHL. So you just created a whole other mess.

Adams isn't going to give up on UPL and tell Levi is a backup just to satisfy the fans who think they aren't capable in their roles.

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

He won't play 82 games.

UPL had a winning record last year but the team had to score a lot. I think his gaa is 3.7 or something similar. Unsustainable.

Comrie had 50% when it comes to points, not playoff pace. Levi would have to compensate for that in his starts.

The dream scenario is having two NHL goalies. We have 0 proven goalies right now.

Ya but 0 proven nhl goalies has always been about comfort not performance. You want a proven player because you don’t want to worry that Levi can’t hack it. The team has never shown those same concerns for any of their younger players. They want them on the ice, in the highest level league they can play in.

 

[Fjordsen]

So if you trade for a starting goalie that pushes UPL out and he is done as a sabres player. Then reading off of your posts you feel there is a chance Levi could struggle so now you have 1 goalie and you still have to trade for a 2nd goalie if Levi struggles and is sent to the AHL. So you just created a whole other mess.

Adams isn't going to give up on UPL and tell Levi is a backup just to satisfy the fans who think they aren't capable in their roles.

No, it is not necessary that Levi will be bad, on the contrary, I believe in Levi, but I do not believe in UPL and Comrie. I will even be satisfied with a conditional DeSmith instead of one of Comrie and UPL. But there are also other goalies.

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

Trading for a goalie mid-season when other GMs know you are desperate is not a great game plan. Especially for a GM that has had a ceiling for what he'd give up in a trade.

I think Adams is unlikely to make a trade happen in-season and they just hope they get enough out of the goalies that they have.

Trading for a goalie when you’re desperate in the off-season is not a great game plan. Especially for a GM that has a ceiling for what he’d give up in a trade.

I think Adams is unlikely to make a trade happenen in the the off-season and they just hope they get enough out of the goalies they have.

Like this off season when he went out and found that carter Heart was being shopped for 2 1st rnd assets, helly was for 2 roster assets and a top prospect, Saros wasn’t available, Jarry resigned and Gibson doesn’t like coaching.

 

[5 Minute Major]

It wasn't hard, but it was pretty pointless.

Nah, it really wasn’t. Especially since a lot of people are conversing about it.

 

[Bendium]

I doubt he lands a trade that "fixes it" mid-season, though.

Again. We agree. I still think their primary plan is to go with what they got, and react to what happens, trying to trade if need be. Not what I would do, just what I think THEY would do.

 

[SabresFanNorthPortFL]

Lots of talk about Levi’s mental state….maybe we’re missing another big thing here…UPL’s mental fortitude. Maybe he went back to Finland and trained his butt off with the attitude that he isn’t loosing the net to Levi, and we have a healthy competition between the two. UPL steps it up….we are talking about supposed world class athletes.

That would be a great situation, and could happen. Let’s not forget goalies take longer to develop and UPL is getting to his time to show it age.

Hopefully

 

[Bendium]

Based on Adam's tenure as a GM so far, what gives you the idea that this would be a path Adams would take. He's been the epitome of "sticking with what brought you to the fight".

Based on his tenure, the past action would suggest he goes into the season with the goalies he has. Do you challenge that?

Once in the season, if the "goalies he's got" plan fails, trading for one will be his only option. Do you have another?

Or are you trying to say that Adams history suggests that even if the goalies are failing, Adams will ultimately do nothing about it in season, and just hope they develop. You could easily convince me that inaction would be his action if that is your point.

 

[Bendium]

Lots of talk about Levi’s mental state….maybe we’re missing another big thing here…UPL’s mental fortitude. Maybe he went back to Finland and trained his butt off with the attitude that he isn’t loosing the net to Levi, and we have a healthy competition between the two. UPL steps it up….we are talking about supposed world class athletes.

That would be a great situation, and could happen. Let’s not forget goalies take longer to develop and UPL is getting to his time to show it age.

Hopefully

I definitely think Levi has the mental part VERY under control. What he needs time to work on is developing his pro game. I would not be upset if they start him in Rochester giving him every game they can for the first 20 games or so for him to engrain what I am sure he has been working on this offseason....like his rebound control. Once the book is out, NHL teams will eat him alive slapping rebounds in the backdoor.

UPL's biggest issue is definitely the mental side, especially his focus. So many times he got beat last year by shots he just wasn't ready for. Sometimes it was a lack of play anticipation, and sometimes he just wasn't expecting the shooter to shoot. So he got caught looking alot. Maybe Levi could help him with that.

The chaos around Comrie made it hard to evaluate, so I have no opinion thee yet. That said, his style was supposed to the kind that kept him on his feet to make the latteral saves better. Didn't see it happening, so meh.

 

[The Blunder Years]

Some notable FA’s left. Any interest in any of these players on a 1 year deal?

Kane
Tarasenko
Dumba
Tatar

After that the list gets really rough.

Tarasenko and Tatar would probably be the only ones I would be excited about. I would with Kane just in a nostalgic way, but I don’t think it’s a fit at all with where we are heading.

Dumba kind of blows but would rather have him over Boosh, Joker, or Bryson if we could move out some of those guys.

 

[Zman5778]

Some notable FA’s left. Any interest in any of these players on a 1 year deal?

Kane
Tarasenko
Dumba
Tatar

After that the list gets really rough.

Tarasenko and Tatar would probably be the only ones I would be excited about. I would with Kane just in a nostalgic way, but I don’t think it’s a fit at all with where we are heading.

Dumba kind of blows but would rather have him over Boosh, Joker, or Bryson if we could move out some of those guys.

Tatar makes some level of sense as he's a playmaker and has apparently become a plus player defensively. Cozens and Tatar might make one helluva duo on the 2nd line while Quinn recovers.

Kane is a big ole nope. Tarasenko? Doubt he'd come here.

Dumba would be pushing out Stillman/Joker on the 3rd pair.....but I think he'll want too much money for 3rd pair duties.

 

[Sabre the Win]

Some notable FA’s left. Any interest in any of these players on a 1 year deal?

Kane
Tarasenko
Dumba
Tatar

After that the list gets really rough.

Tarasenko and Tatar would probably be the only ones I would be excited about. I would with Kane just in a nostalgic way, but I don’t think it’s a fit at all with where we are heading.

Dumba kind of blows but would rather have him over Boosh, Joker, or Bryson if we could move out some of those guys.

Tatar or Tarasenko would be nice but I have a feeling Kulich is taking Quinn's spot.

 

[TehDoak]

Zero magic and zero swag detected in this post. Keep hanging on to negative counter examples, I'm sure it's way more fun that way. After all, it's entertainment that we have no control over.

Boiling down the development of a professional goaltender to swag and magic is stupid. There are tried and true methods to develop goalies.

Might as well plant some magic beans in the crease and see if what grows can stop the puck.

As an aside, Kevyn, if you are reading this, I have magic goalie beans for sale.

 

[Fjordsen]

Some notable FA’s left. Any interest in any of these players on a 1 year deal?

Kane
Tarasenko
Dumba
Tatar

After that the list gets really rough.

Tarasenko and Tatar would probably be the only ones I would be excited about. I would with Kane just in a nostalgic way, but I don’t think it’s a fit at all with where we are heading.

Dumba kind of blows but would rather have him over Boosh, Joker, or Bryson if we could move out some of those guys.

Tarasenko or Tatar please