James Reimer reclaimed by the Sabres

[Jorcus]

On 11/13/2024 at 2:14 PM, thewookie1 said:

AHL is only possible if we were the sole team to make a claim; otherwise I'd guess Levi goes down or we carry 3 goalies with Muel on IR presumedly.

Did hear Hamilton state we were the only team to put a claim on Reimer so after 3 days with us he can go down to the Amerks without clearing waivers if that's what they want to do. 

[LGR4GM]

13 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

Did hear Hamilton state we were the only team to put a claim on Reimer so after 3 days with us he can go down to the Amerks without clearing waivers if that's what they want to do. 

They should send Levi down and keep Reimer as the backup. When upl needs a night, bring up Levi. 

[msw2112]

11 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

They should send Levi down and keep Reimer as the backup. When upl needs a night, bring up Levi. 

I agree and posted the same thing earlier.  Levi has the ability to be a solid NHL goaltender, but like most goalies, he needs to play a lot to get into a rhythm.  UPL is the same way and he's further along in his development than Levi, so UPL needs to play, and play a lot, to be sharp.  Thus, the best answer is to send Levi down to get some games in to keep him sharp too, and he can be called up for the occasional start.  It's not a demotion for poor play, but just the best way to get him some live game action.  Plus, the Amerks are down a goalie due to injury anyway, so they could use the help.  Levi has not been particularly good this season, but, again, I think that's because he's not getting enough game action to be sharp.

Some guys are career veteran backups and can step in and play OK on occasion, based on mostly practice reps.  Young, developing guys, however, need more game action.  I'd love to see UPL and Levi eventually develop into the modern-day "Edwards-Sauve" tandem, but for now, they both need to play a lot.  They every-other-game switch that they tried at the beginning of the season did not work very well.

For clarity, as long as UPL is injured, Levi can and should stay with the Sabres and play.  Levi wasn't great last night, but he was OK, only giving up 3 (plus one where the post bailed him out), and if UPL is still injured, I would start Levi in the next game and see if he can get hot - and if so, ride him until he isn't.

Edited November 15 by msw2112

[mjd1001]

24 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

They should send Levi down and keep Reimer as the backup. When upl needs a night, bring up Levi. 

Agree.  Levi needs to play. But right now its clear UPL is the better goaltender at the moment.

As you said you can move Levi up and down...but even take that out of it, Its not like Levi has been much better than Reimer in the small sample size this year. Reimer save% in his 2 games .864.  Levi .870.  Both awful in a small sample size, but I would say both are likely to be somewhat better with more work.

I've had a couple people disagree with me on this, but Levi to me does not look good at all this year. On the goals he has allowed, he has kicked out some big time rebounds, he isn't tracking the puck well (he sometimes goes to the wrong side of the net when the puck is behind the net, it happened last night), and he is letting bad goals in. I know these are NHL shooters, but when you see the shooter, the shot is not screened, you have time to set for the shot AND there is no one trailing or on the other side to worry about, you need to make those saves.  He didn't do that last night on the 2nd goal and he's allowed some softies in during other games.

He needs more work. 

-He needs experience working with Pro D-men and knowing how to communicate with them and understanding what they will do.

-He needs experience tracking the play from the net, learning how to follow the puck and anticipate where it might go.

-He needs experience knowing what angles to take or how much to come out of the net to challenge guys with pro level shots

That is game-level experience you can't really get in practice or learn by watching film. He isn't doing that on the bench, he CAN be doing that in Rochester.

If he can go to Rochester, play another 30-50 pro games this year, he will be a much better goalie for it.

 

13 minutes ago, msw2112 said:

Some guys are career veteran backups and can step in and play OK on occasion, based on mostly practice reps.  Young, developing guys, however, need more game action.  I'd love to see UPL and Levi eventually develop into the modern-day "Edwards-Sauve" tandem, but for now, they both need to play a lot.  They every-other-game switch that they tried at the beginning of the season did not work very well.

Going back to the 80's on that one, I was a little kid.  I barely remember but I was thinking more of the Barrasso/Cloutier combo later in the 80's. I didn't look up the numbers, but I throught those 2 did somewhat of a 50-30 split (on average) over the course of a few years.

Edited November 15 by mjd1001

[msw2112]

1 minute ago, mjd1001 said:

Going back to the 80's on that one, I was a little kid.  I barely remember but I was thinking more of the Barrasso/Cloutier combo later in the 80's. I didn't look up the numbers, but I throught those 2 did somewhat of a 50-30 split (on average) over the course of a few years.

I'm a little older than you....although not that much!  I just found the following clip online which speaks to the Edwards-Sauve duo.  Barrasso/Cloutier was OK, but Cloutier really wasn't that good (Barrasso was).

 

Don Edwards and Bob Sauve, 1979-80

"Sabres goaltenders Don Edwards and Bob Sauve co-received the Vezina for the 1979-80 season. Edwards became the team’s starting goalie in 1978 and appeared in 72 games, with a .906 SV% and 2.64 GAA. By the 1979-80 season, the Sabres had cut down Edwards’ starts, because they didn’t want to overuse him. Despite this, Edwards finished 1980 with a respectable 2.57 GAA. He also played in two All-Star games in 1978 and 1980

Bob Sauve, Buffalo’s backup goaltender, led the NHL in GAA during the 1979-80 season with 2.36 and enjoyed a .901 SV%, higher than Edwards’ .893. What makes this more impressive is that Sauve only started in 32 matchups that year, compared to Edwards’ 49. Regardless of who had the better stats, the NHL awarded the goaltending duo the Vezina Trophy in 1980 for their efforts in front of the Sabres’ net."

[ska-T Palmtown]

10 minutes ago, msw2112 said:

I'm a little older than you....although not that much!  I just found the following clip online which speaks to the Edwards-Sauve duo.  Barrasso/Cloutier was OK, but Cloutier really wasn't that good (Barrasso was).

 

Don Edwards and Bob Sauve, 1979-80

"Sabres goaltenders Don Edwards and Bob Sauve co-received the Vezina for the 1979-80 season. Edwards became the team’s starting goalie in 1978 and appeared in 72 games, with a .906 SV% and 2.64 GAA. By the 1979-80 season, the Sabres had cut down Edwards’ starts, because they didn’t want to overuse him. Despite this, Edwards finished 1980 with a respectable 2.57 GAA. He also played in two All-Star games in 1978 and 1980

Bob Sauve, Buffalo’s backup goaltender, led the NHL in GAA during the 1979-80 season with 2.36 and enjoyed a .901 SV%, higher than Edwards’ .893. What makes this more impressive is that Sauve only started in 32 matchups that year, compared to Edwards’ 49. Regardless of who had the better stats, the NHL awarded the goaltending duo the Vezina Trophy in 1980 for their efforts in front of the Sabres’ net."

Is that the era when the Vezina was automatically awarded to the tendies from the team that allowed the fewest goals against?

[msw2112]

3 minutes ago, ska-T Chitown said:

Is that the era when the Vezina was automatically awarded to the tendies from the team that allowed the fewest goals against?

Yes.  Per Google:

"Through the 1980-81 season, the Vezina was awarded to the goaltender(s) who played a minimum of 25 games for the team allowing the fewest goals during the regular season. In 1981-82, Billy Smith of the New York Islanders was named the first winner of the Vezina under the current system."

In the current system, the Vezina is awarded to the goaltender deemed the best by way of a subjective vote and not by the objective number for the fewest goals against.  I believe the "fewest goals against" award is now the Jennings trophy.  It sort of makes sense, because the "best" goalie may not be the one who gives up the fewest goals or has the best save percentage, as teams play different styles and have different levels of defensive talent.  A goalie with a .915 Save Percentage and a 2.95 GAA may be on a team with terrible defense and could be "better" than a goalie who has a .922 save percentage and 2.78 GAA.  Not all shots on goal are created equal.  An unobstructed shot on goal from the point is not the same as one with a bunch of traffic in front and is definitely not the same as a SOG on a breakaway or 2-on-1.  (Sadly, we Sabres fans know this all too well.)  I realize I'm stating the obvious, but it's the reason that the NHL changed the criteria for the Vezina and added the Jennings.  The Jennings is still a good award, as the teams that give up the fewest goals should also be recognized, regardless of how they did it (great goalies, great defensemen, a good system, etc.)

An interesting fact I saw via Google:  7 goalies have won BOTH the Vezina and the Jennings.

[Taro T]

Very good night by Reimer.  Will admit, did not think he had this kind of a game in him at this point of his career.

Real important for the team moving forward, because the coaches now know that they can trust him and that they can decide who to play when based on keeping the workload they want for UPL and not having to overthink whether they can "risk" playing James.

What a great way to head into a mini-break right before the holidays.

[DarthEbriate]

On 11/23/2024 at 8:44 PM, Taro T said:

and not having to overthink whether they can "risk" playing James.

What a great way to head into a mini-break right before the holidays.

I think the risk is minimal -- veteran, composed goalie to manage a youthful D-corps.

The really good part is it now sets up stability, particularly for Luukkonen who is playing like a true #1. If it's an evening game, ride Luukkonen and he knows it. Then, Reimer gets to use his experience to handle all the odd times each weekend through the new year:

11/29 - 3 PM Vancouver; 12/7 - 1 PM Utah; 12/15 - 5 PM @ Toronto; 12/29 - 3 PM @ St. Louis    and... depending on how that Toronto game goes, give him Toronto or Boston on the 20th/21st back-to-back (probably Toronto again). Then, UPL just maps out his continuing good progress and quality starts. 

[French Collection]

Reimer is used to being the backup so he would be mentally strong in this role. His journeyman career would have exposed him to a lot of coaches and I am sure some nuggets of knowledge could be passed along.

Another veteran presence in the room is always welcome, until he becomes a liability on the ice, see EJ, KO.

[mjd1001]

4 minutes ago, French Collection said:

Reimer is used to being the backup so he would be mentally strong in this role. His journeyman career would have exposed him to a lot of coaches and I am sure some nuggets of knowledge could be passed along.

Another veteran presence in the room is always welcome, until he becomes a liability on the ice, see EJ, KO.

Ultimately, I want the best player to be my backup goalie. If Levi is going to allow one less goal than Reimer, give me Levi most of the time.

But I how much it matters in the NHL today having the 'veteran backup'.  The Craig Anderson effect.  With being in the league so long, are there things he's seen or situations has been in that he can convey to UPL that Levi wouldn't?  Knowing he isn't ever going to be a #1 goalie for the rest of his career, is he content in the role he is in and can he even give you 10% of that 'coach on the ice/in the room' that is beneficial?

I really don't know.  I would hope he can bring some of that.

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, mjd1001 said:

Ultimately, I want the best player to be my backup goalie. If Levi is going to allow one less goal than Reimer, give me Levi most of the time.

But I how much it matters in the NHL today having the 'veteran backup'.  The Craig Anderson effect.  With being in the league so long, are there things he's seen or situations has been in that he can convey to UPL that Levi wouldn't?  Knowing he isn't ever going to be a #1 goalie for the rest of his career, is he content in the role he is in and can he even give you 10% of that 'coach on the ice/in the room' that is beneficial?

I really don't know.  I would hope he can bring some of that.

IMHO the biggest reason that Reimer is the backup and Levi is in Ra-cha-cha is that Levi has looked good with regular usage but has not looked good getting very limited situational starts.  And right now UPL is the #1 and they only have ~3 more 3 games in 4 nights stretches prior to the AS break so if he's healthy he'll be getting the lion's share of starts.

Doubt they get to a point this season where they consider making Levi a 1B to UPL's 1A as they really don't start to stack btb's until March and if things are working with Reimer as the backup can't see them risking messing with UPL's psyche (and to a lesser degree the Amerks playoff push).

The veteran presence is merely gravy, again, IMHO.