kas23

I agree with this. The key is we don’t need to pull the trigger until we are on the board. If the guy we’re targeting to improve our defensive within 1-2 is gone, then we flip that pick for a guy that will be.

The problem is this is supposedly a deep draft. There’s going to be some decent defensive UFAs available we could get without surrendering the pick. If there’s some non-UFA KA wants, then I’m all for giving up the 2024 1st rounder.

He’d be a free agent this summer.

So, basically Freshman 15 and Sophomore 15 too. My guess is he’ll be tickling 200 by end of the summer.

The crazy part here is that Levi is just scratching the surface. He’s gonna get a LOT better than what we’re seeing now.

Johnson will be playing NHL games either in 23-24 or 24-25. He may not be good, but he’ll likely be playing. Why would we give this up for the 63rd pick in 2024 has close to a 0% of playing in a Sabres game in 24-25. Why would you think any otherwise?

This would be an extremely odd move from KA. Giving up a young defenseman, who could be in NHL in 1-2 years for a 2nd rounder? A 2nd rounder wouldn’t likely touch the NHL for 2-3 years or even 3-4 years if a defenseman. Plus, push these time lines out another year because it would be a 2024 2nd rounder. The only thing good thing about a 2024 2nd round pick would be if we included it in a package for a vet defenseman as a sweetener.

Should we panic yet? Are both parties still waiting around staring at their phones?

He’s definitely not untouchable, but I would need a youngish Top 4 D coming back. If I were KA, so would start exploring what Mitts would cost to sign.

Any game where a player is playing is better than a game where he is not. It’s that simple.

“Hey bitch, hey bitch, refill this *****”

I’m not a Legend of a Borgen person, but if I wanted him to stick around, that’s how I would’ve done it. Fact is, KA was inexperienced at the time and got played. We let a great asset go for nothing. He should’ve been clear with the press about moving players at the deadline who didn’t want to be here. Ulmark being moved would’ve been disappointing, but we would’ve understood. He could’ve done something similar with the expansion deadline. Said another way, KA has always done a good job in identifying players would didn’t want to be Sabres and moving them. Moving Ulmark would’ve been been any less popular than moving Rhino. But, I don’t think Ulmark was truthful with KA.

Hindsight is 20/20, but I would have left Ulmark exposed and protected Toker. The problem is Ulmark probably said, “don’t worry, I’ll sign”, so he was protected. Obviously this was a lie. Ulmark could’ve been the carrot/decoy to be dangled. Kevyn should’ve played hard ball with him and shipped him at the deadline if he wasn’t signed. He learned.

So, it seems like the kid gloves will have to come off before we coronate Levi. I think he may get to the point where we can hang him out to dry most nights, but I’m not sure how soon. Maybe it doesn’t matter to some, but I’m not sure of the entertainment value of winning a bunch of games 2-1 or becoming the Islanders. I think we know how this is going to play out. Levi is gonna start in Rochester. We’ll have Comrie and UPL in Buffalo. We have them under contract. They’ll be no Anderson distraction and they’ll fight to the death. If they stink it up, Levi will be installed at a moment’s notice.

My only concern with Levi is whether we’re playing “off our game” with him in net. I haven’t watched these 2 games, so am unsure if we’re intentionally using a more defensive game plan while he’s in net. Have we been playing our usual opened up style of play with him in net? I do see we’re having some issues putting the puck in the net while Levi has been playing.

Isn’t this the prospect that still have 2 more seasons on his KHL contract? If I were him, I’d be looking for a way out of the country asap. He’s not playing those 2 extra years.

Did he not even look what was behind him! That’s some focus!

He was a competent goalie in Buffalo. Probably the same skill as now. The difference is we aren’t the Bruins and he was injured all the time. Either way, it’s probably a mistake KA wishes he had back.

I’m ecstatic he is approaching 50 pts. Great situation for us to trade him (and VO) for a high quality defenseman. We are a top 3 offensive team in the NHL, so I’m in the high tide lifts all ships camp. I’m sure Kulich or Savoie will deliver us equal results within the next 2 years. We cannot sign all players we develop, especially forwards. We just don’t have the cap room to sign him to an above $5M contract. We need defensive help big time and I view Mitts as part of the solution to get it.

April Fools jokes are usually ones that are crazy or out there. Like Belicheck trading for Rodgers instead of the Jets. This one isn’t. It’s probably what should be happening.

I’m fine with Comrie starting in goal tonight. There’s no need to overwhelm Levi at this point. He’s being eased in. Let him relax and bask in the glory for a bit, then throw him back in.

It works both ways though. Besides the chicken wing, Buffalo’s best export is people. Here in DC, there are plenty of Sabres fans in attendance when they play the Caps. I imagine it’s like this at a lot of East Coast arenas in cities experiencing population growth.

He shouldn’t have said this. As we know, Putin’s paying attention. He may be analyzing Kevyn’s comments right now. The good news is he’s probably a bit distracted on how to respond to the NHL’s Pride practice jersey usage.

I’m sure this is a statement you can only make if you have relatives living in Russia. I don’t agree with him, but I have no problem if he has concerns family members may mysteriously fall out of windows.

Levi is not chopped liver. Giving him a start against MTL would be consistent with us trying to win.