JohnC

Since the GM was installed, he has repeatedly publicly stated his philosophy on rebuilding this franchise. There is no hidden agenda. Every time he is interviewed his robotic response is the same: The word patience is included in almost all his sentences. The over-arching rebuild strategy in his rebuild is to "draft and develop". There really is nothing innovative about it because it is a standard approach that is widely used. Yzerman took that approach when he was with Detroit (successfully so), then with Tampa (successfully so) and is now employing it back in Detroit (starting to show results). We all agree that there needs to be a goalie upgrade. What's obvious is obvious. And most of us agree that a solid veteran defenseman and forward should be added. But it is unlikely that a high cost and top tier player will be filling any of those positions. Would I like to see the GM go after the best goalie available? Absolutely! But based on what the GM has stated and on how he has operated during his tenure I don't see him taking that more costly road. I have a more favorable view of Mitts than you appear to have. And I don't consider it wishful thinking. I'm basing my projection on how he performed last year when he was healthy. And I have the same positive view of Cozens for next season. As I said before the main source of this team's improvement next season will be due to internal improvement more so than from outside additions. I highly doubt that there will be any blockbuster deals that will have the fans buzzing with excitement. That's how I see it.

For which team?

Your condescending characterization is off the mark.

I believe, as others do, that Levi is the goalie of the future that the GM is counting on to anchor this team. I, and others, also believe that he prefers to add a stopgap goalie until Levi or maybe UPL is ready to assume the heavy load. His longer view of the position is understandable but carries a risk of sabotaging the current roster's ability to compete. With the goalie position I wish he would focus on the present more and upgrade the position sooner rather than later.

The reason why the Rangers made the leap forward is that their goalie played like one of the top two or three goalies in the league. We are definitely not going to get that level from play regardless of who the GM brings in. As I said in prior posts the primary driving factor is going to come from internal improvements from players who are already on the roster. Not only is that the best way moving forward, it is the fastest way to move forward. I am counting Mitts and Cozens to up their game the most and improve the team. The Italian coach with the cool blue framed glasses has stated that Mitts was the best player in camp. That is encouraging. I'm also counting on the GM to bring in players at the positions you noted. But although they won't be at an exceptional level, they should collectively contribute to improve the team. How much so? I can't say. What I can say is that the young GM has been clear on his strategy to rebuild the roster. It's obvious to me that he is adhering to it. Some people don't like his approach because it doesn't meet their desire for instant gratification. I'm on board because I know that I don't reside in a fantasy world.

As you noted there are a number of teams interested in goalies. That's why I hope that the GM doesn't get too cute and hardnosed in his negotiations for a goalie. We have an abundance of draft assets where we are in a better position to deal than other teams are.

My opinion: If the Sabres deal for one of Washington's goalies, it won't be for a second round pick. Maybe a third or fourth round pick? I would be very happy with a Campbell acquisition. The stumbling block is going to be the length of the term more than the annual salary. Marty Biron has opined on a couple of occasions that he didn't believe that Campbell would be an acquisition because of the length of term the player wanted match what the GM wanted to give. What you demonstrate in your post is that there are a number of options. I'm just hoping that the GM doesn't get too cute and allow some of the opportunities to pass him by. As far as a Kane deal I just don't see it happening. The issue isn't that Buffalo wouldn't want him as much as what would Chicago want in return.

Contrary to what you are implying I do have a sense of urgency. What I don't want to see is this organization make some short-term decisions that due to impatience that ultimately set this team back. The failed history of the Pegula regime is replete with the organization make decisions that set this franchise back instead of enhancing its future. How has that approach worked out? The Sabres had an inordinate number of injuries last year. And they clearly had inadequate of goaltending. Despite those handicaps there was a clear line of demarcation in improved performance once the injured players returned to play. The issue comes down to is how do you get better and get to the point where the team is considered to be a serious team? I strongly believe with some judicious additions this offseason, starting with adding a competent goalie and with the internal improvement of players currently on the roster, this team will be improved and be on the right course. I understand why people are impatient. But the course of action that the GM is taking is the standard course that successful rebuilding teams take. It's the same course that Yzerman is taking in Detroit.

I said this in a previous post so excuse me for the redundancy but when looking for another goalie option keep your eye out for Washington who is probably going to deal one of their two (Samsonov, Vanecek) goalies. And the cost should be very manageable.

You are making the assumption that the Sabres won't be competitive this upcoming season. Why? There certainly is a void in net right now but it is more likely than not that another goalie will be brought in. In the last third of the season the Sabres were very much so a competitive team. And there is no doubt that the young players currently on the roster such as Dahlin, Power, Samuelsson, Tage, Cozens, Mitts etc. will improve. It will be internal improvement more than the added players that will make the Sabres a better team. I understand how one can be impatient and skeptical with this organization but I don't understand your level of despair when there is visible evidence that the team will be better.

I went back and reread his post. You are correct that I misread his comment. Would you deliver an apology for me. I don't want to antagonize him because sometimes he can get a little ornery. 😃

The Sabres were not a bubble team last year. I agree with you that they should be a bubble team this year.

Then Portillo issue should be buried for you. ☠️

I'm sure that Adams has leanings toward his goalie prospects, or prospects at any position. He's going to be patient and see how the situation unfolds. There is nothing else he can do other than have options if things don't go the way he wants it to. As far as staying in school and earning his MBA it is not going to hurt his hockey ambitions. On the contrary, it will enhance them. He will get more playing time in a big time college program and he will put himself in a free agent status and give him league wide options.

Keep an eye out for one of the two Russian goalies on Washington's team. It's likely that one of them will be dealt. I don't believe the price for procurement would be too high.

At this time KA doesn't know what Portillo is going to do after next year. There is a good chance that the college player in question doesn't even know what he is going to do after the next college hockey season. Making a judgment at this time on what the GM says or doesn't say about the player he knows is returning to college is a thin basis to make a judgment on what the GM feels about the player.

Portillo's priority was staying in school for another year. It wasn't what goalies he was going to compete against in the organization that drafted him. When Power was asked about his college teammate's intentions were he said that school was a priority for him and his family. At this point it is probable that Portillo will become a free agent. If and when he gets to that point, he will decide what is in his best interest as a player. Wherever he goes he will have to compete. It's the nature of the business.

The issue for the Russian prospects isn't so much whether they will be drafted as it is how it affects where they will be drafted? It wouldn't be surprising that if a drafting team has a choice of taking a non-Russian prospect in the same tier of a Russian player, the team will take the non-Russian player because there is less possible complication. On the other hand, with a team like the Sabres who have a lot of picks they are in a good position to take a highly rated Russian and deal with the added risks and complications. Miro at the 28 spot would be a steal.

Of all the returns that KA got for dispatching our old core (Eichel, Risto and Reinhart) getting Levi might be the most consequential player from that group. Just like with the Tage for ROR deal it might take a few years to fairly evaluate the trade that brought us Levi.

I agree that no top veteran free agents are interested in signing with the Sabres. And the Sabres are not interested in pursuing high cost, top tier free agents. That's not part of their repeatedly stated plan. The Sabres are choosing to mostly rebuild from within because that is the approach they wanted to take since the installation of KA. Who doesn't agree with the view that the GM needs to get a starting goalie? What's obvious is obvious! I'm very hopeful bordering on confident that a credible (not top tier) goalie will be added to the mix who will get most of the starts.

It's not surprising that many players weren't keen on staying with this unstable franchise. There were plenty of players who wanted out, and got out. That's the tumultuous past. It seems to me that since KA took over he established a rebuild plan that is being followed. There is a coherent plan that is being consistently followed throughout the organization. What's encouraging is that there is no more lurching forward and then backward with a mishmash approach to building a roster. The patchwork mentality of putting together a roster is the opposite of a longer view that KA is taking. I don't blame players like Jack, Risto, Reinhart, ROR and Ullmark wanting out. They recognized that the ship they were on had gaping holes and was sinking. It just seems to me that the hockey operation has stabilized and is steadily pursuing a vision that is attainable. The numerous failures of the past are easy to point out. The players now here want to be here and are invested in the team's success. Evidently, Ullmark wasn't a player who wanted to be here. That's understandable and is his prerogative.

The GM has been candid about how he is going to rebuild this roster. The veterans on the team know that the focus of the GM is on the young players and the future. They are smart enough to recognize that and accept the situation for what it is. If they didn't, they wouldn't remain on the team. Okposo is one of the veterans who knows that the GM is working on rebuilding this roster with mostly young players and prospects within the system. No one should be surprised.

I agree with you about Adams's high view of Levi. Paul Hamilton on WGR just mentioned that Adams brings up Levi's name more than any other goalie, including UPL. As I indicated in a previous post it seems that the GM's goalie strategy is to buy time until either UPL or Levi is ready to take over.

The Sabres are likely going to sign a goalie to be their #1 for next season. The goalie they sign is more likely to be a second-tier goalie who would be a short-term option. My opinion is that the goalie they bring in is going to be on a short term and a low to medium cost contract. The GM's horizon is longer than most of our preferred shorter horizon.

I agree with you that KA had it in mind for a long-time that if Anderson wanted to come back, he would be signed as a low usage backup goalie. The GM was waiting on getting an answer from Anderson about what his plans were. Once Anderson gave him an answer that he wanted to come back, he was signed. This option was always on the table. No surprise.