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Can Lalime Carry the load?


bob_sauve28

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Posted
I dunno.

Unless such a backup can be had for next to nothing, I say we go with what we got.

Making the playoffs with Miller was far from certain, making them with Lalime even more of a longshot, so trading commodity for a backup to a team that may quite likely hit the tees early just seems hasty.

I would hope that Legace would be cheap. He's a 36 year old, soon to be UFA, who is playing in the AHL. With Miller, looking at the six teams competing for four spots, I would have given us at least 50/50 odds to make it. With Lalime, we should know more soon. By next weekend, we should have a better idea of how Lalime is looking, how the team is playing in front of him and what the timetable for Miller (and probably Vanek) will be. The deadline is nine days away. I wouldn't give up a lot, but if we're looking OK and Miller will be out most of March, it would be worth looking into.

Posted

I know Enroth has had a some bad games recently (according to the numbers), but has anyone here had a chance to watch him play?

Posted
Adding to the problem, Enroth is coming off a terrible month of goaltending...

 

February stats

 

Record - 0-5-3

GAA - 3.85

Save % - .888

 

That being said, I could see Lalime getting a couple of games and if he is below average, you can bet Lindy is going to give Enroth a shot in hurry.

 

I like to think that is more of the reality that the farm team he is tending goal for is being pillaged by the big league team. There has to be no continuity at times in front of him.

 

I would like to see how he would react in the big leagues... Even if he is still "raw." Throw him in there and see how he reacts.

Posted

I love the Sabres and hope that they can somehow pull this off...but I don't think they will.

 

First of all, I think Miller is out for at least a month, and probably longer. The normal recovery time for a sprained ankle on a goalie is almost never 1-2 weeks, but more like 1-2 months or longer. And judging by how bad Miller looked trying to get back into the crease and then off the ice, his certainly looks to be pretty severe. So I think we're stuck with 40 for the rest of the season.

 

Secondly, I hope I'm wrong but I think this bunch will fold up and mail it in when it becomes clear that Miller is done for the year. I don't see them being mentally strong enough to "rally around" or "circle the wagons" or any other cliche you want to use. They just haven't shown us any sign of being capable of this...it's merely wishful thinking. Somebody made a comparison to the "Frank Reich" phenomenon...but can you seriously compare this group to those Bills teams?

 

I hope they do rise to the challenge. I'm not saying they can't...hell I definitely believe that they can, they have enough talent and ability (albeit barely, and mainly because the teams around us aren't that great either). But I doubt they will.

 

My heart says yes but my brain says no. :(

 

Hope I'm wrong.

Posted
I love the Sabres and hope that they can somehow pull this off...but I don't think they will.

First of all, I think Miller is out for at least a month, and probably longer. The normal recovery time for a sprained ankle on a goalie is almost never 1-2 weeks, but more like 1-2 months or longer. And judging by how bad Miller looked trying to get back into the crease and then off the ice, his certainly looks to be pretty severe. So I think we're stuck with 40 for the rest of the season.

 

Secondly, I hope I'm wrong but I think this bunch will fold up and mail it in when it becomes clear that Miller is done for the year. I don't see them being mentally strong enough to "rally around" or "circle the wagons" or any other cliche you want to use. They just haven't shown us any sign of being capable of this...it's merely wishful thinking. Somebody made a comparison to the "Frank Reich" phenomenon...but can you seriously compare this group to those Bills teams?

 

I hope they do rise to the challenge. I'm not saying they can't, hell I definitely believe that they can, they have enough talent and ability (albeit barely, and mainly because the teams around us aren't that great either). But I doubt they will.

 

My heart says yes but my brain says no. :(

 

Hope I'm wrong.

 

It's hard to tell. I've sprained an ankle playing soccer once, where two guys had to carry me off the field. I couldn't walk the next day or the day after. That ankle was the color of the friggin' rainbow, and at least twice it's normal size.

 

Yet I was back next week. Standing in as a goallie mind you, but that's only cause I didn't want to run on it so soon, for fear that my ligaments had loosened and would make it easier for me to sprain it again.

 

Another guy from the team got a similar injury, and didn't return until 3 months later.

 

My point is, I think it was very positive to see him skate off the ice, even with a limp, but no two sprains are the same by any means. Miller's ankle could be all taped up 2 weeks from now, for all we know. Or the swelling may already have come down again. No way of telling.

 

My sprain happened over 15 years ago, and my ankle is still bigger than the other. That's never gonna change. Sprains can be nasty, or they just seem to go away in no time.

Posted
It's hard to tell. I've sprained an ankle playing soccer once, where two guys had to carry me off the field. I couldn't walk the next day or the day after. That ankle was the color of the friggin' rainbow, and at least twice it's normal size.

 

Yet I was back next week. Standing in as a goallie mind you, but that's only cause I didn't want to run on it so soon, for fear that my ligaments had loosened and would make it easier for me to sprain it again.

 

Another guy from the team got a similar injury, and didn't return until 3 months later.

 

My point is, I think it was very positive to see him skate off the ice, even with a limp, but no two sprains are the same by any means. Miller's ankle could be all taped up 2 weeks from now, for all we know. Or the swelling may already have come down again. No way of telling.

 

My sprain happened over 15 years ago, and my ankle is still bigger than the other. That's never gonna change. Sprains can be nasty, or they just seem to go away in no time.

 

 

 

That's awesome, it is certainly a possibility in this case. I'm sure that's what we're all hoping for.

 

However, isn't there a big difference between a "high" ankle sprain and a "regular" ankle sprain? I'm no doctor, but that seems to be the case. With over 1000 SabreSpace members, surely there must be at least a handful of doctors among us...I'm surprised none of them ever weigh in here.

Posted
I love the Sabres and hope that they can somehow pull this off...but I don't think they will.

 

First of all, I think Miller is out for at least a month, and probably longer. The normal recovery time for a sprained ankle on a goalie is almost never 1-2 weeks, but more like 1-2 months or longer. And judging by how bad Miller looked trying to get back into the crease and then off the ice, his certainly looks to be pretty severe. So I think we're stuck with 40 for the rest of the season.

 

Secondly, I hope I'm wrong but I think this bunch will fold up and mail it in when it becomes clear that Miller is done for the year. I don't see them being mentally strong enough to "rally around" or "circle the wagons" or any other cliche you want to use. They just haven't shown us any sign of being capable of this...it's merely wishful thinking. Somebody made a comparison to the "Frank Reich" phenomenon...but can you seriously compare this group to those Bills teams?

 

I hope they do rise to the challenge. I'm not saying they can't...hell I definitely believe that they can, they have enough talent and ability (albeit barely, and mainly because the teams around us aren't that great either). But I doubt they will.

 

My heart says yes but my brain says no. :(

 

Hope I'm wrong.

Good post. The bolded part is the key question right now. Will they hide under the bed? Or will they dig their heels in and play with fire and determination? This will be a telling stretch for this team.

Posted
The real question is how long are the Sabres willing to count on Enroth as the backup for? Realistically, he is not a starting-level NHL goalie yet. So, if Miller is out for a while, do you go past the deadline with a backup that really isn't capable?

 

One options that has been mentioned is trading for Manny Legacy. He was sent down to the AHL after Mason took over the starting job and he had a rough stretch in early 2009. However, he's been a starting NHL goaltender and was even one with decent stats as recently as last year (66 GP, 2.44 GAA, 0.911 S%.) He would have to pass through re-entry waivers, so there is a risk that he would be claimed, but (I believe) the Blues would have to cover half of his salary, making him fairly cheap. Another option would be to trade with NJ for Kevin Weekes when Brodeur returns this week. They have a great backup now in Clemmensen, so they could afford to trade away Weekes. Certainly, Darcy should being watching the waiver wire closely.

 

Interesting.

 

What is the Sabres' perspective on Lalime as a legit backup?

 

Maybe they will have a better idea by the end of the week, but let's say that hypothetically, the FO realizes that Lalime won't be the answer for backup after this season. In this case, it may be a good idea to go after a Legace or a Weekes (or someone they think will be a better fit than Lalime) now, while Miller is out. And based on my hypothetical fact that they'd desire a different backup for next season anyway.

 

By the way, Legace and Weekes are both FA after this season anyway though. We have Lalime through next season (making $1M).

 

Lastly, what other potential backups are out there?

Posted
Adding to the problem, Enroth is coming off a terrible month of goaltending...

 

February stats

 

Record - 0-5-3

GAA - 3.85

Save % - .888

 

That being said, I could see Lalime getting a couple of games and if he is below average, you can bet Lindy is going to give Enroth a shot in hurry.

 

It is disappointing his stats took such a hit as of late, but considering he was without many of his top D-men recently, it might be expected.

Posted

I think and hope he can shoulder the load, another point is if the boys in front of him sh!t the bed. His team has left him swinging the the breeze on occasion. But it kind of boils down to the forethought of Darcy. If Lalime does well he looks the genius if he flounders people will be calling for Darcy's head on a pike.Did Darcy make the right call in signing Lalime, the time is now.

Posted
Good post. The bolded part is the key question right now. Will they hide under the bed? Or will they dig their heels in and play with fire and determination? This will be a telling stretch for this team.

 

Yup, that's the $64,000 question. And we should have our answer in about 30 hours. I'm going to the game and I can't wait. :beer:

Posted

Because I JFGI, here's a picture of the 'HAS' sprain.

 

 

High ankle meaning the ligament that holds your two bones together that go from the knee to the ankle, not the liggy that holds your ankle to your 'foot'.

 

Most HAS happen because of turning of the foot outwards like what happened to Miller. When he got hi, turned and spun on that left ankle. Most of his pain will be trying to do exactly that, turn his foot out, not in.

Posted
Because I JFGI, here's a picture of the 'HAS' sprain.

 

 

High ankle meaning the ligament that holds your two bones together that go from the knee to the ankle, not the liggy that holds your ankle to your 'foot'.

 

Most HAS happen because of turning of the foot outwards like what happened to Miller. When he got hi, turned and spun on that left ankle. Most of his pain will be trying to do exactly that, turn his foot out, not in.

Thanks for the medical lesson.

 

Probably the best description and picture I've seen.

 

Equally the most excruciating to look at. My ankles hurt just thinking about it.

Posted

Eh, I think it's simply a case of the Sabres giving up points for Lent. That's respectable, no?

 

I actually did that to myself while (get this) fishing when I was 17 or 18 years old. No, I'm not kidding. I had my foot stuck in a rut and turned the wrong way much too fast. For the next couple/three days I could hardly put any weight on it. It didn't swell up very much either. It took about a week before I could use it normally... walking, biking, and so on. I'd expect another week or so on top of that when playing hockey... maybe longer for a goalie as that side-to-side motion is somewhat crucial.

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