Ulmark

[jamze132]

Kind of wish we kept him. Are we going to be ok at goalie with what UPL?

[OpIv37]

Kind of wish we kept him. Are we going to be ok at goalie with what UPL?

That's the million dollar question. There are times where he looks to be developing into an NHL goalie, but then there's always a setback. A lot of people are doubting whether he'll ever be an NHL starter.

The Sabres have a lot of good, young offensive players, and aren't far from being true contenders in terms of offense. In terms of D and goaltending, they have work to do.

[JATMtheJATM]

Ullmark was happy in Buffalo, but Buffalo looked the other way, and by the time they looked at Ullmark, he decided to test free agency. And the Sabres have neglected the position ever sense.

Dont get me wrong. I'm thrilled with UPLs development this season. And I'm thrilled with Anderson playing great at age 41. And I'm happy they tried Comrie. It was believed he could come into his own.

But...

Anderson can't play heavily IF they make the playoffs. UPL still has bad stats that are looking better, but nothing you should say "THATS OUR GUY!" with

And Comrie has been awful.

But they're locked in. And with a weak UFA goalie class this off-season, it's unlikely to be addressed for NEXT SEASON either.



And no, Levi is not an option for next year. Let him grow in the AHL

[sukie]

Some say Levi at 21 will be NHL ready. Perhaps in a back up role at first.

[POTLAND PSILBYLO]

Put Levi in GOYLE.

[JATMtheJATM]

Some say Levi at 21 will be NHL ready. Perhaps in a back up role at first.

No one should be expecting Levi to be ready. If you are.... Woof.

The sabres would be best to find a true starter (if they expect to compete next year) and have UPL back him up.

[sukie]

So we don’t start goalies in the NHL until mid 20s earliest?

[JATMtheJATM]

So we don’t start goalies in the NHL until mid 20s earliest?

Why rush him? Do we want to stunt his growth?

If he's ready, he's ready. But a season in Roch is going to help, not hurt.

Call him up for a game or so next year. But don't expect him to carry a backup load for a team that desires to make the postseason

[Skooby]

We have like 8 all-stars on the team right now, anyone watch the 3 on 3 OT’s lately ?? The other teams are like oh F- we can’t skate with these guys. Our goalies take turns scaring us with 3-4 goal leads, that’s not easy.

[jamze132]

It sucks because we have one of the best offenses in the league finally. We have to score at least 4 to win and sometimes that’s not enough.

[JATMtheJATM]

It sucks because we have one of the best offenses in the league finally. We have to score at least 4 to win and sometimes that’s not enough.

I was thinking about this last night.

I'm old school. Build from the net out. Get a goalie, build your defense. You can win being stingy. Offense is really the easiest weakness to go out and fix, right? So this feels backwards to me.



However! They seem to be doing it right. They have a potential franchise goalie in Levi. They have power who is developing, Sammy, who is great in his own end, and that Dahlin guy isnt bad either. You get a few more quality d-men, and you are REALLY cooking.

[mightysimi]

Who do you guys think was the last elite goalie to hit the open market? I can't think of anyone personally. Not sure I would call Bobrobsky elite. Can't really think of anyone else. Might need to trade for a goalie or draft one.

I also don't think it's fair to compare the Bruins to the Sabres IRT Ullmark. They are the best team in the league by 7 wins with a history of elite D and their no 1 C is an elite shut down man. Not exactly a fair comparison. I think early last year, they were regretting the deal. We will see if this is the new normal or a long heater.

[OpIv37]

Who do you guys think was the last elite goalie to hit the open market? I can't think of anyone personally. Not sure I would call Bobrobsky elite. Can't really think of anyone else. Might need to trade for a goalie or draft one.

I also don't think it's fair to compare the Bruins to the Sabres IRT Ullmark. They are the best team in the league by 7 wins with a history of elite D and their no 1 C is an elite shut down man. Not exactly a fair comparison. I think early last year, they were regretting the deal. We will see if this is the new normal or a long heater.

Well, I don't think we need to find an elite goalie on the open market, just someone younger than Anderson and more consistent than Comrie to share time with Ullmark for a year or two while Levi develops. If we can find that, then we're a playoff team. Not a real Cup contender, but a playoff team.

[mightysimi]

Well, I don't think we need to find an elite goalie on the open market, just someone younger than Anderson and more consistent than Comrie to share time with Ullmark for a year or two while Levi develops. If we can find that, then we're a playoff team. Not a real Cup contender, but a playoff team.
That's my point, even "serviceable" goalies don't come available. I bet you can have Binnington tomorrow but would you want him? Who else is even remotely available?

Actually just thought about something I read yesterday that the Canucks might trade Demko. He might be available but I doubt he will be cheap. They are looking to rebuild.

[JATMtheJATM]

That's my point, even "serviceable" goalies don't come available. I bet you can have Binnington tomorrow but would you want him? Who else is even remotely available?

Actually just thought about something I read yesterday that the Canucks might trade Demko. He might be available but I doubt he will be cheap. They are looking to rebuild.

The new NHL is not the old NHL when it comes to goalies, that's for sure (thinking about 90s teams with great goalies)

The only decent goalie that is cheduled to hit the market this off-season is Tristian Jarry and I don't think Pitt will let him walk. Freddy Andersen maybe?

I shouldnt say Adams neglected the position completely, I forgot he had a trade set up that would have given the Sabres the 7 pick AND Matt Murray for the 16th pick, but Murray said no.

[sukie]

What’s this new NHL crap… suddenly do youth hockey goalies all blow? I don’t understand the lack of goaltending? What other teams have zero goalies and why? Is the crop of collegiate goals weak? Goalie no longer a glamour position the the entire hockey playing country North of Buffalo?

[JATMtheJATM]

What’s this new NHL crap… suddenly do youth hockey goalies all blow? I don’t understand the lack of goaltending? What other teams have zero goalies and why? Is the crop of collegiate goals weak? Goalie no longer a glamour position the the entire hockey playing country North of Buffalo?

I don't understand the issue here.

Most goalies don't jump from NCAA to the NHL full time. They play in the AHL a season first.

That's how development works

[OpIv37]

What’s this new NHL crap… suddenly do youth hockey goalies all blow? I don’t understand the lack of goaltending? What other teams have zero goalies and why? Is the crop of collegiate goals weak? Goalie no longer a glamour position the the entire hockey playing country North of Buffalo?

I'm not sure what you are complaining about.

It's extremely rare for rookies to jump right to the NHL, regardless of whether they come from the junior leagues or from college. They almost always spend time in the minors first.

[JATMtheJATM]

I'm not sure what you are complaining about.

It's extremely rare for rookies to jump right to the NHL, regardless of whether they come from the junior leagues or from college. They almost always spend time in the minors first.

Some have, and the results have been disastrous

That said, what MIGHT happen, especially if the sabres fall out of the race, is they sign Levi and burn one year off his ELC and guarantee him a few starts down the stretch, and send him to ROCH to start the 23-24 season. Teams have done that to entice college players to sign

[sukie]

I'm not sure what you are complaining about.

It's extremely rare for rookies to jump right to the NHL, regardless of whether they come from the junior leagues or from college. They almost always spend time in the minors first.

I get that but the New NHL without almost every team having great goaltending makes no sense to me.

if there is a shortage of good goaltending in the league then something happened

[OpIv37]

I get that but the New NHL without almost every team having great goaltending makes no sense to me.

if there is a shortage of good goaltending in the league then something happened

Well, I think part of it is that the league wants more scoring, so they're doing everything they can to increase scoring. They got rid of the two line pass, made the goal posts smaller, made the goalie pads smaller, went to 4 on 4 then 3 on 3 overtime, started calling more penalties, etc. It was much easier to be a goaltender in the 90's than it is now.

[mightysimi]

I think goalies are just so unpredictable. Even year over year it is hard to predict results. There was a reason teams stopped drafting them in the 1st round as it was just such a crap shoot and traditionally, goalies take a bit of time to develop.

For Canada the answer is fairly simple, when we started allowing teams to bring in overseas talent, they saw no value in developing a Canadian kid who maybe wasn't as good. On top of the fact that as hockey gets more expensive, and goalie equipment being the priciest, less people play the position. So less people + no where to go after minor hockey = very few quality goaltending products.

The US has really taken a lead in North America in terms of goalies but again a crap shoot but looking around the league. Vasy drafted in the 1st round, Helle drafted in the 5th round, Saros drated in the 4th round, Oettinger 1st round, Sorokin 3rd round. That is most of the guys near the top of the s% list and no correlation to the draft positon.

[JATMtheJATM]

Well, I think part of it is that the league wants more scoring, so they're doing everything they can to increase scoring. They got rid of the two line pass, made the goal posts smaller, made the goalie pads smaller, went to 4 on 4 then 3 on 3 overtime, started calling more penalties, etc. It was much easier to be a goaltender in the 90's than it is now.

They didn't make the goalposts smaller. They made the goals less deep.

Small pads actually help goalies. We can get deeper angle of attacks and move more fluidly and quickly now. Goaltending has turned into a butterfly league where goalies are more agile down than up.

- - - Updated - - -


I get that but the New NHL without almost every team having great goaltending makes no sense to me.

if there is a shortage of good goaltending in the league then something happened

It's not that there's a shortage. It's that the gap between elite goaltenders and average goaltenders has narrowed considerably

[Skooby]

Who forgot how hot the Blues’ goalie got & won the a cup, we had Hasek in his prime & only made the show one season. We have the NHL’s top scoring offense, so there’s one thing down with another defenseman / hot goalie to go.

[Night Train]

Is Ullmark elite or a product of being surrounded by a great team ?

I think he's good but never a difference maker at all when he was here. Didn't we have cap issues when that decision needed to be made ?

Could this be folks looking strictly at Stats and equating that to preceived greatness ? I don't care what so called awards he wins this year. He's not the best NHL goalie in the NHL in actual ability.

[mightysimi]

Is Ullmark elite or a product of being surrounded by a great team ?

I think he's good but never a difference maker at all when he was here. Didn't we have cap issues when that decision needed to be made ?

Could this be folks looking strictly at Stats and equating that to preceived greatness ? I don't care what so called awards he wins this year. He's not the best NHL goalie in the NHL in actual ability.
Top goalie in the league in goals saved above expected which shows he isn't just tagging along, and he has a killer team.

[swiper]

And no, Levi is not an option for next year. Let him grow in the AHL

Ok.

[JATMtheJATM]

Ok.

Bruh, that was January. Given the track records of goalies needing to marinate in the minors, this was a safe bet. But one I lost in this case

[swiper]

Bruh, that was January. Given the track records of goalies needing to marinate in the minors, this was a safe bet. But one I lost in this case

No need to go mental, Bro.

[JATMtheJATM]

Ullmark was happy in Buffalo, but Buffalo looked the other way, and by the time they looked at Ullmark, he decided to test free agency. And the Sabres have neglected the position ever sense.

Dont get me wrong. I'm thrilled with UPLs development this season. And I'm thrilled with Anderson playing great at age 41. And I'm happy they tried Comrie. It was believed he could come into his own.

But...

Anderson can't play heavily IF they make the playoffs. UPL still has bad stats that are looking better, but nothing you should say "THATS OUR GUY!" with

And Comrie has been awful.

But they're locked in. And with a weak UFA goalie class this off-season, it's unlikely to be addressed for NEXT SEASON either.



And no, Levi is not an option for next year. Let him grow in the AHL

This really came to fruition.

But Levi was Stout tonight

[Woodman]

Some say Levi at 21 will be NHL ready. Perhaps in a back up role at first.

On board with this! :cheers: