nfreeman

Fantastic.

OK -- the Lehner posts (or most of them, anyway) have been moved to the Lehner thread.

Would you rather give Cam Ward a 1-year deal at $3MM, or Lehner 4 years x $5MM? How about Anton Khudobin or Anti Raanta on a 1- or 2-year deal?

Good stuff RF. One more point about the "similar production for half the cost" point (which is an excellent one) -- when we calculate "half the cost", we need to consider what it will cost to keep Lehner after this year, both in annual pay and term. I think it's reasonably possible that the Sabres can get similar production for $2MMish next year. And if it will take a 3-year deal or longer to keep Lehner, then I'm certain the Sabres can get similar production at a much lower cost.

...and the Lehner noose tightens ever further around duda/Mick's neck.

It seemed like after the 1st period they used the ordinary camera angles most of the time. Maybe the shadows made those cameras unusable in the 1st?

Regarding Jones -- I don't think the difference in price is splitting hairs. The #29 pick a year from now is a significantly lower price than the #21 pick 3 days from now. The broader point is not, respectfully, that I (and others) are unjustly blaming Lehner for the team's record. I think the Sabres would have 4-5 more wins if they had a top-5 goalie, but it wouldn't be a game-changer. It's that I think he's pretty much JAG and am deeply repelled at the thought of committing to him as the starter for any significant period of time. Separately: I don't think we can just look at 5x5 SV%. Special teams are a huge part of the game and I think Lehner is somewhere in the 20s in overall SV%.

Of the guys you've mentioned recently in the not-starter-when-acquired category, IMHO Dubnyk, Anderson, Jones and Bishop are all clearly better than Lehner and all cost less to acquire (Schneider is also better but cost more). You are right that some of them required big contracts, but not all. Jones didn't get his contract until he played 2 years for the Sharks -- and BTW, they traded a #1 in a draft 12 months later that ended up being #29 -- whereas GMTM traded the #21 in a draft 3 days later for Lehner. Bobrovsky was in this category a few years ago and cost less (a 2nd and 2 4ths). And there are also the 2nd-tier veterans who move around or are likely to do so, like Halak, Neuvirth, Jimmy Howard, Mike Smith, Brian Elliott, etc.. I think JBott can find one if needed who would give the Sabres pretty much what they get from Lehner until Ullmark or someone else is ready. (To be clear I don't need one of these guys over Lehner next year unless Lehner demands a long-term contract, but I'm OK either way.)

Awesome.

Well, I think you'd have to include guys like Lehner and Andersen who weren't starters when acquired, and when that group is included, I think there are going to be a few guys available every year who are as good or better than Lehner, available for less than the #1 that the Sabres gave up for him and won't cost a huge FA contract either. I also disagree that Halak is a downgrade and that Bishop and Anderson are lateral moves.

Highly (and irrationally) underappreciated, IMHO. What if McCoy is out or severely limited -- and TT ekes out a W anyway? It could happen. Very nice. Outstanding.

It depends on what it costs to keep Lehner. Another short-term deal? I can live with it if nothing better is out there. A deal that commits the Sabres to Lehner as the starter for 3 years? NFW. Not as easily as Pouliot, but easier to replace than, say, Scandella.

Yessir. I am holding out hope for 75K fans in the Ralph sometime in the next 2 seasons for a Leafs-Sabres matchup. Winter Classic is probably not realistic, but I think it would be a very strong Stadium Series game. This too. And this. And this. Overstated but a good amount of truthy stuff in here. Optimistic use of past tense here. This is obnoxious.

Another great save.

I am not coming around on him, but that was a very good save.

ref-cam is pretty cool.

Sabres have allowed 14 shots in less than 10 min.

Correct.

I like it. No more shots, drams or snifters. The Bills are in the playoffs and the gloves are off.

Drane and I did. Very nice here too. Maybe the ocean liner has turned in the right direction.

Very nice. And: awesome!

Holy mackerel.

3rd and 15. Looking grim.

End of discussion. Separately: As a frequent critic of Lehner's, I will note that the GTG was not saveable and while a save would've been nice on the GWG, Risto let a decent NHL goalscorer cruise into the slot and coil up for a wrister. That's a much bigger fail by the supposed #1 defenseman than by the goalie.

This.