K-9

You can solicit a meaningful discussion about realistic expectations for Levi at any time. Is it surprising that hopeful fans would choose the most optimistic choice in a poll in the preseason when hope springs eternal? I mean why would you feel the need to call people out on that? But now that we are in the depths of the harsh realities of yet another trying season, perhaps we should conduct another Levi poll that now includes an option to choose “Time Split Between AHL and ECHL.”

Do you ever stop to hear yourself? This forum is about a lot of things to a lot of people. From Team Sunshine to Team Storm Cloud and everything in between. From the rah-rah cheerleaders to the gloomiest of Guses. From the most naive to the most informed “good hockey people” (whatever that means). Must be frustrating that so many fall below your lofty standards. Perhaps a more live and let live philosophy might help.

Obnoxious? That’s how you view other’s optimism? That’s all I need to know. And it’s not about “hockey knowledge” my condescending curmudgeon friend; it’s about hoping, wishing for the best all the while knowing the odds are long that those wishes will be fulfilled. But for some reason, you feel a need to call out those who feel this way. There are 60 games remaining and I think the Sabres will go 60-0-0 over that span. And then go 16-0 in the playoffs as they claim their first cup. Gotta problem with that? Gonna yell, “l told you so!”, from the rooftops when that doesn’t happen? Never mind. I really don’t GAF.

You’re right. I did not choose the split time option. Instead, I selected the “Vezina winning, ROY” choice, such was my unbridled optimism at the time. And I make no apology for it. Why you and other curmudgeon sticks in the mud feel the need to call out those that don’t share your pessimism is beyond me.

Talk about lazy arguments.

In that case, Adams offered him 25 for 5 and was turned down. 😂

Oopie played 33 games last year and to have amassed the below average stats like he did while providing quality goaltending in two thirds of them almost defies logic. His quality games were the exception to say the least. Obviously, you feel differently about his performance last season, so I’ll just agree to disagree and continue to hope he continues his play of late.

With all due respect, this seems like selective memory. To my recollection, Oopie has never strung together 20 games of quality goaltending. I’m too lazy to look up his game splits from last season, but will gladly stand corrected if I’m wrong about those 20 games.

The more I think about this, the more I see the similarities to Ryan Miller’s career arc.

Much appreciated, Promo. But as Sabre season ticket holders ourselves, perhaps others would benefit more than me.

Teenager? He will be 22 next month. But your point is well taken.

You most certainly are not alone in not giving a crap that Kane is from Buffalo. The middle six forward issue will resolve when Tage and Quinn return to the lineup, imo.

I just might take a drive down the 90 myself. Having not been to an Amerks game in 30 plus years, it might be fun.

Kane may no longer be that “solid veteran” as he was in a decline well before requiring his recent hip surgery. Questioning his current status is a legitimate concern.

I agree, but imo, they need a solid D man addition far more than forward help given the inevitable return of Tage and Quinn. And if they do feel they need the forward help instead, they were correct in not signing a huge question mark like Kane. I’ll need to see him play a while upon his return from major hip surgery before saying we screwed the pooch in not signing him.

Right. But that shouldn’t even be a remote factor in determining whether it was wrong for Adams to not sign him. And I think it is for some around here given the “bad look for KA” posts I’ve seen. Thus the question I posed.

Absolutely. And as I said in an earlier post up thread, he gets all my praise for his emerging improvement and we all hope it continues. But for anyone to insist that those of us who rightfully criticized his piss poor play previously owe him an apology for that criticism is absurd. These twitter X zealots posting their apology forms have short memories and should better acquaint themselves with the facts of Oopie’s entire body of work to date.

If Kane weren’t from Buffalo would those voicing concern about him not signing here even give a crap?

A clue.

In terms of getting some wins, yeah. But there were few actual scintillating goaltending moments as Oopie required four or more goals to in support to get many of those wins last year. I fully understand that we don’t ask how, only how many and there’s a lot to that as a win is a win is a win. But winning in spite of less than average goaltending is never sustainable and most of us weren’t swayed.

That was the definition of a makeup call if there ever was one. The refs were clearly intimidated by the chants of “a$$hole, a$$hole, a$$hole” after the questionable call for interference by Pitlick on Peterka. Seems refs in several sports have become more of a joke than ever.

Yep. Vesey was fitted for casts on both legs after the game last night.

It’s a bad look for Adams by avoiding a bad signing by Adams? The rule of double negatives applies. Well done, Adams. On a serious note, why should we assume Adams did much of anything in the way of convincing Kane when the cons for signing him far outweigh the pros?

Oopie found a permanent place in my heart when he gave my daughter his 3 Star hat after the Penguins game. That said, I feel no need to “apologize” for criticizing his piss poor play in Rochester and the NHL prior to this recent emergence. The simple fact is, he sucked. Big time. His lateral movement was below standard and he often had trouble tracking the puck, especially on long shots he had good views of. His rebound control still leaves much room for improvement as well. And there were several analysts who also agreed his future as an NHL net minder was questionable; Marty being one of them. There was ample reason to doubt him. So no, I don’t owe Oopie an apology nor do I need to pay heed to those around here who to dish out “I-told-you-so” wisdom with their 20/20 hindsight. I do owe him continued praise for his excellent play as of late, which I gladly give. It’s on Oopie to continue to prove the doubters wrong and not on the doubters to apologize for simply being correct in their assessments in the past. Here’s to hoping he continues to do just that.

They have totally different jobs and as bad as Rob may be, he is a far better at color commentary than Dunleavy is at play by play.