Speculation: Buffalo in need of a Legit #1 Goalie

[Otto91]

If The Sabres are truly interested in moving this team forward They had better secure a Legit #1 Goalie!

Lehner still is not 100% healed and not a proven #1. Nilsson even as a back up is questionable @ #2.

If Owners are truly interested in advancing this team they had better consider bringing in a proven #1 Goalie.

Everyone is looking to add Defense which is needed but I strongly feel without a true #1 Tender no matter what they added up front this team will not be able to keep the puck out of the net.


Any Thoughts? Will they go with an unproven Duo to start the season or will a deal get done to bring in a proven #1 Stopper.

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[struckbyaparkedcar]

Tying up cap space in goaltending is full stop bad GMing.

 

[Sabreality]

ride & die with Lehner for now. thats just the way it is...

 

[Myllz]

This will be more of a concern after this season when they have a better idea of what they have in Lehner. If he ends up missing a bunch more time and/or doesn't look good playing #1 minute this season, then yes, looking for a solid starter will become a need. As of right now, it isn't.

 

[Braeden]

You could probably have Miller for cheap

 

[Husko]

You go to different boards and start threads that end in exclamation marks, nice MO.

They're going to ride with Lehner.

 

[Havok89]

Lehner could crash and burn and it wouldn't be hard to aquire a decent guy. We probably won't have that franchise goalie, so improving the defense is still #1 priority going forward.

 

[DANOZ28]

im probably the only wild fan that would do this but i'd trade you dubnyk & pominville for a fair return. that would free up a ton of cap space for us & while pommer is past his prime he would provide some decent leadership for your young guns. im hoping next summer las vegas picks dubnyk so we dont lose a D man. just my one cent. cheers! i have to get to buffalo someday & try the anchor bar wings.

 

[Zman5778]

ride & die with Lehner for now. thats just the way it is...

This is it in a nutshell.

TM paid a first round pick for Lehner. Lehner showed well in his time last year. We ride him and Nilsson (or Ullmark in case of injury) for the year.

We re-assess after this year.

 

[Husko]

im probably the only wild fan that would do this but i'd trade you dubnyk & pominville for a fair return. that would free up a ton of cap space for us & while pommer is past his prime he would provide some decent leadership for your young guns. im hoping next summer las vegas picks dubnyk so we dont lose a D man. just my one cent. cheers! i have to get to buffalo someday & try the anchor bar wings.

Sabres don't have the cap space for 2 large contracts

 

[kenfury]

To echo what others have said. We hitched our wagon to Lehner for this season at least. If he has a bad year it will be an offseason evaluation in 2017, not now.

 

[Myllz]

im probably the only wild fan that would do this but i'd trade you dubnyk & pominville for a fair return. that would free up a ton of cap space for us & while pommer is past his prime he would provide some decent leadership for your young guns. im hoping next summer las vegas picks dubnyk so we dont lose a D man. just my one cent. cheers! i have to get to buffalo someday & try the anchor bar wings.

We have our own Pominville in Moulson, we don't need another one.

 

[Ruckus007]

Tying up cap space in goaltending is full stop bad GMing.

But you don't have to tie up cap space to get good goaltending, right?

 

[JOHNBOY]

Moulson and a draft pick for Pominville and a draft pick

 

[Aladyyn]

But you don't have to tie up cap space to get good goaltending, right?

Sabres 2015-16 season

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Just wondering, but you guys wouldn't consider Lehner for Fleury, would you?

 

[Aladyyn]

Just wondering, but you guys wouldn't consider Lehner for Fleury, would you?

No reason to

 

[Ruckus007]

Sabres 2015-16 season

I'm not getting the point you're trying to make.

 

[Jame]

Tying up cap space in goaltending is full stop bad GMing.

this x100000

 

[SabresFanNorthPortFL]

Goalies are a dime a dozen. The difference between #4 and #25 isn't much. No reason to panic, heck Johnson last year was excellent, and he'll never be mentioned in a conversation about top 25 goalies.

 

[OkimLom]

If The Sabres are truly interested in moving this team forward They had better secure a Legit #1 Goalie!

Lehner still is not 100% healed and not a proven #1. Nilsson even as a back up is questionable @ #2.

If Owners are truly interested in advancing this team they had better consider bringing in a proven #1 Goalie.

Everyone is looking to add Defense which is needed but I strongly feel without a true #1 Tender no matter what they added up front this team will not be able to keep the puck out of the net.


Any Thoughts? Will they go with an unproven Duo to start the season or will a deal get done to bring in a proven #1 Stopper.

If we were in a position where we are CUP Contenders right now, I would probably agree with you. As of right now, only thing that matters is consistent goaltending and the continued improvement of our defense and forward play and better puck possession play.

Buffalo had a good portion of their season, with a horrible defense, goaltending with a Rookie goaltender in Ullmark who came off of 2 hip surgeries that played much sooner than expected, and a career backup goaltender in Chad Johnson. Then Lehner came back from injury and the goaltending didn't drop and possibly rose slightly in play.

Buffalo ended the season tied for 15th in Goals against even though we were 23rd in the standings overall points. An improvement in puck possession from the team, a better transition game, and you could improve those numbers not only in the standings but also in the chances the goaltenders face.

 

[Reddawg]

Lehner is a shockingly good goalie when he's healthy. Ride or die.

 

[dotcommunism]

But you don't have to tie up cap space to get good goaltending, right?

No. But you do need to tie up cap space to get a "proven #1"

 

[stokes84]

I hate what we have after Lehner. You would think Murray would have wanted to shore up the position with a veteran, given his injury history. It definitely feels like a major position of weakness.

 

[Husko]

I hate what we have after Lehner. You would think Murray would have wanted to shore up the position with a veteran, given his injury history. It definitely feels like a major position of weakness.

When we acquired Chad Johnson most considered him the worst backup goalie in the NHL.
By the end of last season everyone had forgotten that and thought him quite a good backup.

It's like throwing darts, and all you have to do is hit the board.