JohnC

Not only is our defense upgraded with the additions of these two player but also our PK should be improved. Improving the PK is an aspect of the game that needed to be addressed. And it appears that has been.

Entering this season, the bigger issue/s than the play of the goalies (regardless which one is inhabiting the position) is the play of the blueliners, the PK unit and more responsible two-way play. Simply put: team defense. That's the bigger issue that circumscribes the goalie issue. What makes me more encouraged than most here is the end of the season's tighter play during the push for the playoffs when Levi was mostly entrusted with the position. That demonstrated that the team can play that brand of hockey when determined to do so. And as I see it, with the additions that were brought in, the Sabres should be better in the areas that I was concerned about before the acquisitions. The sunglasses that I wear are rose colored. I'm seeing things with an upbeat tint. 🏒

You are very astute in recognizing that KA is committed to the moneypuck approach to building and running a franchise. That adherence was bravely applied to the Ullmark saga. Last year, he talked about the Ullmark saga and explained on WGR what his stance was toward the player and his philosophy in genera. He clearly stated that he and his analytical staff established a value for him, and he was not willing to go beyond it. (As it applied to this player, I disagreed then and now. Too inflexible for me. I believe that his decision cost us a playoff spot.) In general, I agree with your observations with the exception over the goaltending situation. You know my often-stated position so there is no need to rehash. In my view acquiring Levi and watching his performance at the end of the season altered how I viewed the situation. Is it a risk depending so much on a young goalie? Yes. Is it worth the risk to take? As I see it, yes. With respect to your last paragraph and the questions you present, I am a little more sanguine than you. I expect better defense from the blueline, better PK, more responsible two-way play from the lines and internal improvement from many of the young players on this team. I'm in the cautious optimistic category.

I think that you are getting too fixated on Stillman. As someone else said we got a player who is on the team for a player who was unlikely ever to make the team. I'll make that swap any day. Incremental improvement is better than no improvement. Stillman is likely to be a fourth pairing player. That's exactly where he belongs. As you and others point out both Johnson and Clifton should help to improve the PK, a major vulnerability for this team. So, both of those players address a couple of major defensive issues that were apparent last year. Most contributors here are advocating for the GM to be bolder in dealing for another higher-level defenseman such as Hanifan or Pesce. I wouldn't bet on it happening because I believe that the coach has a higher opinion of Joki than most people have here.

Thorny, You are irrepressible and consistent. You are going to wear out that downward pointing thumb! 🍺

One of the fun aspects of being a fan is play-acting as a GM. There's nothing wrong with that. It's the normal behavior that fans in all sports have.

The attached link is an article by Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News listing the goalie options. After he goes through most of the options it becomes apparent that for a variety of reasons (some of them due to contracts) that taking a status quo approach is the best approach for now. And in this article it becomes clear that the GM is invested in Levi as his primary goalie. The young goalie's end of season play solidified his standing with the GM. https://buffalonews.com/sports/columns/sabres-goaltending-mike-harrington/article_aa571c14-19a6-11ee-9cdb-4319459758a2.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

I don't see Johnson on the second pair with Power. At his age, 35, regularly playing extended second pair minutes would be too taxing. There may be end of the game situations where he would be moved up but for the most part I don't see him getting more than 15 to 16 minutes on a regular basis. His value is going to be on the PK. And that will be an important role for him.

Of course, he is trying to improve his roster, as is every GM in the league. He has made deals. Maybe not to your satisfaction but he has sealed the deal on a couple of defensive pickups. And that was his priority since the season concluded. From a general standpoint, he is doing exactly what he said he was going to do i.e. focus on building from within. And that's exactly what he has done. GMs frequently talk with their fellow GMs during the season and offseason. A fraction of the feelers they put out end up coming to fruition. That's true for all GMs. You made the point that I'm implying that he is in general happy with his roster entering the offseason. Based on how he has performed I would say yes he is. There may be more tweaks to the roster but as it stands is as it stands. I'm more than comfortable with his approach.

I'm glad that the GM kept the first-round pick and used it to take Benson.

There is a good reason why he hasn't been able to consummate a deal for an upper tier defenseman and goalie: It has to do with the cost associated with the assets moving out and the talent and contract coming in. Do you doubt that he has been making the calls, as all GMs do, to bring in players? There are a lot of people who wanted to give up our #1 pick for a defenseman or a goalie. I'm not in that camp. I'm glad that the GM used the pick for the player he got in the draft. I like Hanifin. But I would prefer keeping our pick and picking up a lesser but still a good defenseman in Clifton. In general, I have no problem with the judgment that our GM has exercised in adding talent (mostly on the blueline) to the roster.

There is a good chance that the Sabres already have their stalwart goalie in Levi. Time will tell on that. However, there is no denying that the GM already has been successful in expanding the talent base not only for its NHL team but also throughout the system. The GM has been methodical in executing his rebuilding plan. In my mind, he is one year ahead of schedule. Understandably, the GM has recently been criticized by some for his conservatism and unwillingness to make a splash deal in order to accelerate the team's progression. I take a different view. It is because of his resoluteness in adhering to his beliefs is why this franchise has advanced as quickly as it has under his guidance.

I have often heard Marty comment on our goalies. As you point out, he's not a fan of his. The issue becomes does the GM believe that the big goalie can improve on his weaknesses. The major focus was coming into camp better conditioned and quicker. We shall see how this works out.

Echoing what you stated is the reason why I don't believe the GM will deal for a top shelf goalie. Another reason is that a team such as Winnipeg is not going to give up a highly prized asset for a minimal price. There is no question that his upcoming UFL status lowers his trade value. But by biding their time there may come a time in the season where a contending team needs a goalie due to an injury or to compete. The assets that many of the posters want to give up are not satisfactory to the receiving team, and those who advocate paying a higher price for a rental don't take into consideration that KA has a history of being reluctant in giving up assets, especially those that are young. I'm not as aghast with our goalie situation as most are here. The bigger and overriding issue for me is improved team defensive play. With the additions that KA made so far it should help in that area. I'm really excited about the upcoming season!

You are one member of a large crowd. It seems to get larger by the day. I'm marching to a different tune. Most people would say I'm out of step. 🙃

I just don't think based on how he has conducted business during his tenure that he is interested in shedding assets for goalies that he doesn't believe are either worth the cost or at a level that isn't, as he perceives it, better than what we currently have. I agree with your last sentence. It is a comment that gets @GASabresIUFAN very agitated and riled up.

What goalie do you think is available and would fit our needs?

The issue is not what would you be willing to give up as it is what would Winnipeg be willing to accept for their prized goalie. If you offered Rosen for Helle, the snickering from the team located in western Canadian would turn into an uproarious laughter. As @dudacekhas wisely pointed out the market for goalies that would be considered an upgrade from what we have has diminished almost to the point of being nonexistent.

It would be a fleeting consideration because of Helle's contract status. Since KA has taken over he has been inclined to acquire assets and been reluctant to shed them, especially for someone who could walk away in one year. That's not how he operates.

I have no problem with Levi being the primary goalie and the other two goalies competing for the backup duty. There are a few elite goalies and many more jags playing the position. And considering the reality that most goalies (not elite ones) are very mercurial and can't be predicted how they would perform season in and season out. My recommendation is to keep your assets and stay the course. The best way to improve the play of our netminders is for this team to play better two-way hockey. Our blue line unit has been strengthened, hopefully our PK will benefit with the added players and our lines need to play a more responsible game in their end. It's the general defensive play of the team where our attention should be focused on.

There were many factors why the PK was horrendous. He wasn't the problem. Sometimes stats aren't as illuminating as people think. They don't often give the context in which the numbers are accumulated. In the end of season playoff chase the team tightened up defensively. His line was a factor for that improvement by working against the top lines of the many good teams it faced. There are reasons associated with leadership factoring into his returning back this upcoming season. It's not in dispute that he is a contributor more on the defensive end than on offensive end. That's the role that fourth liners perform. My point is that he is not a liability to this team. If he were, he would have retired and worked for the organization in some compacity.

You are wrong. His line was one of the better defensive lines in the league. Without question he was an instrumental player on that line. At the end of season playoff run, Granato constantly put his line on the ice to stymie the other team's best line as the game was winding down. Just because at this stage in his career he isn't much of a scorer doesn't mean that his role as a fourth line player isn't important.

Anyone who has watched the opposing team's broadcast of Sabre games recognizes that the outsider's view of the Sabres is very high. In general, I would say that it is higher than the locals' view. There has been a dramatic perception change over the past couple of years. The point of demarcation came when KA took over and in relative short order reworked and remade the roster.

@K-9made the point in a previous post that with the addition of Clifton and Johnson, our penalty kill should be much better. Another benefit would be that Dahlin and maybe Power wouldn't have to play so many minutes because they would have less usage there. Not having to accumulate those added minutes on the ice should help them as the season grinds on.

Yes, he did. He dropped the mike and it fell on his foot. He limped off the stage with a broken toe. The audience roared with laughter. 🤡