Sabres sign Goalie Prospect Topias Leionon to 3 year ELC

[Weave]

42 minutes ago, inkman said:

You’ll have to be more specific.  I work with 15 dudes named Jesus. 

[shrader]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

Why are you confused about the analytics and scouting staff on the Sabres forming a consensus on who they were taking at 41? How is that pointless? 

Your response here is salty for no reason. You're like jar jar in the exchange. 

My source is Jesus. 

Dudacek understood it. I read that as consensus among the talking heads, not the team. I’m pretty sure you’d agree that among the talking heads that really doesn’t exist at even 15 or 20, let alone 41. 

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

Why are you confused about the analytics and scouting staff on the Sabres forming a consensus on who they were taking at 41? How is that pointless? 

Your response here is salty for no reason. You're like jar jar in the exchange. 

My source is Jesus. 

Dudacek understood it. I read that as consensus among the talking heads, not the team. I’m pretty sure you’d agree that among the talking heads that really doesn’t exist at even 15 or 20, let alone 41. 

[LGR4GM]

23 minutes ago, shrader said:

Dudacek understood it. I read that as consensus among the talking heads, not the team. I’m pretty sure you’d agree that among the talking heads that really doesn’t exist at even 15 or 20, let alone 41. 

Dudacek understood it. I read that as consensus among the talking heads, not the team. I’m pretty sure you’d agree that among the talking heads that really doesn’t exist at even 15 or 20, let alone 41. 

Talking heads don't have consensus after the top 5, so yes I fully agree. 

[DarthEbriate]

4 hours ago, shrader said:

No offense, but “consensus choice at 41” has to be one of the most obscure and pointless factoids I’ve ever heard. I’m not so sure such a thing even exists. I can’t even think of a funny analogy for this one. Maybe something like @DarthEbriate already used up all the well know characters for his latest Star Wars reference, so he had to go with whatever background character Cliff Claven played in Empire. 

I didn't create a Star Wars name for Leinonen. My thoughts on Leinonen have always been. NO! It's right there in the name. LeiNO.

I did do potential pick names for everyone I thought they could consider at 9, 16, and 28. I had Del Bel Belluz as a potential pick for 28.  (And yes, I had Kulich in the 16  range and Östlund as a possibility at 28). Full recap here: 

  

[DarthEbriate]

All this said, I hope he's amazing and wins 2 Conn Smythe trophies for the Sabres.

[Second Line Center]

If this team is serious about the playoffs next year neither UPL or Levi is the starter next year.  
 

You have to trade for a proven goalie.  
 

No “hoping” for UPL to fix it.  No time to try and force Levi to be the no 1 if he isn’t ready.  
 

 

I hate to say it.  The move might be to trade Levi and a forward if we want an elite goalie coming back.  I don’t want to trade Levi but UPL is worthless.  Thinking we’d get anything for him - it ain’t happening.

We cannot start the year with UPL again.  

[In The Buff]

3 hours ago, pi2000 said:

Levi is doing well in Rochester, but watching some of those games I still don't think he's going to succeed in the NHL.  Makes the athletic save but gives up too many softies.   Hope he proves me wrong.

Leinonen? Leino? nen?  Nope!

I too have serious doubts. I know much has been said about it already in the past but he just plays so small in net. Levi may be able to mitigate it thru his athleticism in the AHL but when he plays versus high end skill guys in the NHL, who can pick the top corners with consistency, i just fear his lack of size in the net will be a detriment to him.

I know there are other goalies his size who have found success, but those would be the exceptions & expecting Levi to also be 1 of those seems like wishful thinking.

Time will tell & i hope he succeeds but from what ive seen in his limited time here, i havent been able to get as excited about him, as i have with other goalie prospects in the past.

[lothar]

1 hour ago, Second Line Center said:

If this team is serious about the playoffs next year neither UPL or Levi is the starter next year.  
 

You have to trade for a proven goalie.  
 

No “hoping” for UPL to fix it.  No time to try and force Levi to be the no 1 if he isn’t ready.  
 

 

I hate to say it.  The move might be to trade Levi and a forward if we want an elite goalie coming back.  I don’t want to trade Levi but UPL is worthless.  Thinking we’d get anything for him - it ain’t happening.

We cannot start the year with UPL again.  

Good luck trying to find an actual elite goalie that's available. The modern NHL is filled with average goalies that play out of their minds for a year or two, then sink back into meh. We may have had someone in Ulmark but we all know how that went. I reckon if we brought in 2 physical defensive defensemen, our goalies will start to look proportionally better.

[Huckleberry]

1 hour ago, Second Line Center said:

If this team is serious about the playoffs next year neither UPL or Levi is the starter next year.  
 

You have to trade for a proven goalie.  
 

No “hoping” for UPL to fix it.  No time to try and force Levi to be the no 1 if he isn’t ready.  
 

 

I hate to say it.  The move might be to trade Levi and a forward if we want an elite goalie coming back.  I don’t want to trade Levi but UPL is worthless.  Thinking we’d get anything for him - it ain’t happening.

We cannot start the year with UPL again.  

There are 18 teams in this league looking for what you want 🙂

[7+6=13]

1 hour ago, Second Line Center said:

If this team is serious about the playoffs next year neither UPL or Levi is the starter next year.  
 

You have to trade for a proven goalie.  
 

No “hoping” for UPL to fix it.  No time to try and force Levi to be the no 1 if he isn’t ready.  
 

 

I hate to say it.  The move might be to trade Levi and a forward if we want an elite goalie coming back.  I don’t want to trade Levi but UPL is worthless.  Thinking we’d get anything for him - it ain’t happening.

We cannot start the year with UPL again.  

Which elite goalie are you getting for Levi and a forward?  And which forward?

[gilbert11]

4 hours ago, lothar said:

Good luck trying to find an actual elite goalie that's available. The modern NHL is filled with average goalies that play out of their minds for a year or two, then sink back into meh. We may have had someone in Ulmark but we all know how that went. I reckon if we brought in 2 physical defensive defensemen, our goalies will start to look proportionally better.

Yeah, and get Owen Power out of here.

[HOUSE]

When will the Sabres sign a goalie named John Smith ot Fred Jones ?

When???

 

[Second Line Center]

19 hours ago, lothar said:

Good luck trying to find an actual elite goalie that's available. The modern NHL is filled with average goalies that play out of their minds for a year or two, then sink back into meh. We may have had someone in Ulmark but we all know how that went. I reckon if we brought in 2 physical defensive defensemen, our goalies will start to look proportionally better.

 

I said a “proven” goalie.  
 

When I suggested a hypothetical trade involving Levi and legit forward prospect I’d want an elite one back - elite is probably too much to ask plus there aren’t many - I meant at least someone better then good.

[The Jokeman]

On 3/28/2025 at 3:20 PM, LGR4GM said:

He is indeed, instead of being a center for the Buffalo Sabres who decided to draft Leinonen instead.

How many young Centers do we need? Hopefully we don't draft Anton Frondell with our top pick but I got a feeling...

Speaking of goalies, what happened to Erik Portillo as he played great in his Kings debut but poof he got loaned to another team? Any ideas why?

Edited March 29 by The Jokeman

[LGR4GM]

46 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

How many young Centers do we need? Hopefully we don't draft Anton Frondell with our top pick but I got a feeling...

Speaking of goalies, what happened to Erik Portillo as he played great in his Kings debut but poof he got loaned to another team? Any ideas why?

2 things 

First: centers can always be converted to wing so yes, I am all for drafting more centers. I'm not that interested in Frondell, I think Eklund runs that line. 

Second: Portillo was like a lot of goalies. Once nhl teams have a book on you, unless you adjust, you're done. Portillo plays for LAs AHL affiliate. 

And an add on. I don't necessarily have an issue with Leinonen but Buffalo could have had a better goalie prospect but took Rosen instead. It's such a short sighted approach and so dumb on their part. That's the issue. 

[shrader]

This just popped up during a random google search. We might be in trouble. 
 

 

[xzy89c1]

On 3/29/2025 at 6:59 PM, Second Line Center said:

 

I said a “proven” goalie.  
 

When I suggested a hypothetical trade involving Levi and legit forward prospect I’d want an elite one back - elite is probably too much to ask plus there aren’t many - I meant at least someone better then good.

you think an AHL goalie and a forward prospect will bring us an elite goalie? If we add another forward prospect we could get macdavid or mackinon.

On 3/28/2025 at 11:22 PM, lothar said:

Good luck trying to find an actual elite goalie that's available. The modern NHL is filled with average goalies that play out of their minds for a year or two, then sink back into meh. We may have had someone in Ulmark but we all know how that went. I reckon if we brought in 2 physical defensive defensemen, our goalies will start to look proportionally better.

the rare excellent post on this board. great analysis and great opinion on the dmen.

[Doohickie]

On 3/28/2025 at 5:00 PM, Pimlach said:

I think Rob Ray does.  

 

[inkman]

On 3/28/2025 at 9:17 PM, LGR4GM said:

Talking heads don't have consensus after the top 5, so yes I fully agree. 

[MattPie]

3 hours ago, xzy89c1 said:

you think an AHL goalie and a forward prospect will bring us an elite goalie? If we add another forward prospect we could get macdavid or mackinon.

See, the Sabres have been playing 4d chess. The team is so awful, and players that get traded suddenly get better, that everyone is clamoring to trade for our mediocre prospects because it's just the team that's hindering them.

[Doohickie]

38 minutes ago, MattPie said:

See, the Sabres have been playing 4d chess. The team is so awful, and players that get traded suddenly get better, that everyone is clamoring to trade for our mediocre prospects because it's just the team that's hindering them.

[shrader]

3 hours ago, MattPie said:

See, the Sabres have been playing 4d chess. The team is so awful, and players that get traded suddenly get better, that everyone is clamoring to trade for our mediocre prospects because it's just the team that's hindering them.

People always run with this 3d/4d chess analogy, but you can still play a game even if you suck at it.

[PromoTheRobot]

On 3/29/2025 at 8:35 PM, shrader said:

This just popped up during a random google search. We might be in trouble. 
 

 

Breaking barriers!

[PromoTheRobot]

On 3/28/2025 at 10:06 PM, Second Line Center said:

If this team is serious about the playoffs next year neither UPL or Levi is the starter next year.  
 

You have to trade for a proven goalie.  
 

No “hoping” for UPL to fix it.  No time to try and force Levi to be the no 1 if he isn’t ready.  
 

 

I hate to say it.  The move might be to trade Levi and a forward if we want an elite goalie coming back.  I don’t want to trade Levi but UPL is worthless.  Thinking we’d get anything for him - it ain’t happening.

We cannot start the year with UPL again.  

Here's a little secret about goaltenders: if a team thinks a goalie is good, much less elite, they aren't trading them. They only trade the ones they have questions about. 

Now you can get lucky and end up with the next Dom Hasek, but it's more likely you the up with the next Logan Thompson. 

Edited April 1 by PromoTheRobot

[Archie Lee]

25 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Here's a little secret about goaltenders: if a team thinks a goalie is good, much less elite, they aren't trading them. They only trade the ones they have questions about. 

Now you can get lucky and end up with the next Dom Hasek, but it's more likely you the up with the next Logan Thompson. 

I think we would all take Logan Thompson and his career .912 save %.