The thing about UPL for me, and I’m sure there’s disagreement, is that all he lacked was consistency. He had the draft pedigree, the play before going pro, and showed well at times over the past 2 years prior to this one. The double hip surgery really slowed his development path, but the talent was there, it was just locking in consistently.
- SDSabre

Nobody and I mean nobody was predicting that UPL would become what he has.

Not even the Buffalo Sabres.

The Sabres are still giving up crazy amounts of high danger chances. UPL like you mentioned decided that he wanted to come to play this year.

Issue he is due a contract next year. At this point I can’t see anything less than $4.5M if not 5M if he keeps this up.


What do you do?

The thing about UPL for me, and I’m sure there’s disagreement, is that all he lacked was consistency. He had the draft pedigree, the play before going pro, and showed well at times over the past 2 years prior to this one. The double hip surgery really slowed his development path, but the talent was there, it was just locking in consistently.
- SDSabre

He has definitely cleaned up his game from October to December.

But yeah I always will get PTSD and never truly trust him.

Nobody and I mean nobody was predicting that UPL would become what he has.

Not even the Buffalo Sabres.

The Sabres are still giving up crazy amounts of high danger chances. UPL like you mentioned decided that he wanted to come to play this year.

Issue he is due a contract next year. At this point I can’t see anything less than $4.5M if not 5M if he keeps this up.

What do you do?
- ImThatGuy

One year prove it deal.

Nothing long term.

Need to see him do it again, and for a full season.

One year prove it deal.

Nothing long term.

Need to see him do it again, and for a full season.
- kingcong39

You'd be crazy to pay him based on his second half alone.

A lot of talk about how goalies are voodoo last offseason. That still applies.

Treliving:

Botched the Nylander signing and had to over pay. Gave a career 4th liner in Kampf too many years and too much money.

His d-men acquisition’s in a cup contending year were Klingberg, Benoit, Lybushkin, and Edmundson.

Reaves sucks, Domi is meh, Bertuzzi is on pace for 37 points.

And he chose to ride Samsonov as his number 1 and lucked into Woll being a decent NHL starter.

Yikes
- Swedish_Jesus

Benoit has been good for them. Boosh in the game i saw him play when he got back with tem was flying aorund against us.

Domi and Bertuzzi have been good all year. Bertuzzi a little snake bitten. They'll be solid in the playoffs for them I would imagine.

Woll has been a good goalie since he got in the league. Just needed seasoning in the minors to hone the game. He did not "luck into Woll"

You'd be crazy to pay him based on his second half alone.

A lot of talk about how goalies are voodoo last offseason. That still applies.
- Lunaion

Sure but UPL is going to push for the longer contract and high AAV. As he should.

Benoit has been good for them. Boosh in the game i saw him play when he got back with tem was flying aorund against us.

Domi and Bertuzzi have been solid as of late. They'll be solid in the playoffs for them I would imagine.

Woll has been a good goalie since he got in the league. Just needed seasoning in the minors to hone the game. He did not "luck into Woll"
- DirtyDan

Again there is a double standard.

Other GM Luck into Woll
Sabres were brilliant to carry three goals because UPL.

Rough underlyings but puts up points.

He’s young enough to potentially turn it around, but he hasn’t been “good” for a year and a half now
- Swedish_Jesus

Kids good. No partner. See Owen Power.

Again there is a double standard.

Other GM Luck into Woll
Sabres were brilliant to carry three goals because UPL.
- ImThatGuy

Waaaaa?

edit nvm i see now.

Just have to get UPL signed to a reasonable deal. Then we can have him and Levi for 5-6 years and truly have one of the best tandems in the league. Think Ullmark/Swayman.

Sure but UPL is going to push for the longer contract and high AAV. As he should.
- ImThatGuy

Think he's willing to hold out? A G missing camp would be a hell of a gamble on his part.

He can file for arb, but that would be a one year deal.

You're right though, after watching KA hand out a bunch of big long term deals, he should try too. He just doesn't have a lot of options.

Just have to get UPL signed to a reasonable deal. Then we can have him and Levi for 5-6 years and truly have one of the best tandems in the league. Think Ullmark/Swayman.
- QuinnFan

Said this before the season started. Can't see UPL commanding to much with only 1 good season.

Tuch - Tage - Do something
Peterka - Cozens - Quinn (? or not)
Benson - Krebs - Greenway or Do something
Greenway or Do something - Do Something for the Dot - Girgs (really not that bad if he stays here and only here at 10 min/game but would not be mad if upgraded)

Dahlin - Byram/Joker
Power - Byram/Joker
Clifton - Johnson/Bryson (or do something as Bryson walks)

UPL
Do Something (Levi - one more year in AHL)


What are the do somethings? I do not know as I watch hockey and am not "in" hockey.

Think he's willing to hold out? A G missing camp would be a hell of a gamble on his part.

He can file for arb, but that would be a one year deal.

You're right though, after watching KA hand out a bunch of big long term deals, he should try too. He just doesn't have a lot of options.
- Lunaion

Goalies don't get a lot of money or term unless they really proven. IF KA changes that it may be a big mistake.

Can't hand him the keys to the future cause 1 season.

And Im one of the kids biggest advocates here.

Tuch - Tage - Do something
Peterka - Cozens - Quinn (? or not)
Benson - Krebs - Greenway or Do something
Greenway or Do something - Do Something for the Dot - Girgs (really not that bad if he stays here and only here at 10 min/game but would not be mad if upgraded)

Dahlin - Byram/Joker
Power - Byram/Joker
Clifton - Johnson/Bryson (or do something as Bryson walks)

UPL
Do Something (Levi - one more year in AHL)


What are the do somethings? I do not know as I watch hockey and am not "in" hockey.
- TC4145

One of the things that's really working for them now is Cozens as a defensive C, which also means away from Peterka. I think that's going to continue, in a post-LOG world. Think we're going to see a lot of Benson-Cozens-Quinn/Greenway.

Gotta include Samuelsson on D.

Sabres are 7 points behind, and Tampa has a game in hand.

Tampa is 7 points clear, with their top 5 goaltender not playing anywhere near his normal level.

What does that say about their overall roster?

Where would the Sabres be in the standings if they had goaltending like Tampa has had this season?

Thems the facts.
- kingcong39

Cause he came back to early cause they needed him too.

He wont play at that level the rest of this year you can be sure of that.

Bills have agreed to terms with WR Mack Hollins, formerly of the Falcons, on a one-year deal worth up to $3 million.
Hollins will presumably be the Bills’ Gabe Davis replacement after Davis signed with Jacksonville in free agency. A massive boundary wideout, Hollins caught just 18 passes for 251 scoreless yards in 2023 with the run-heavy Falcons. In 2022, he posted career numbers with the Raiders: 57 receptions, 690 yards, and four touchdowns. Unless Buffalo drafts a starting receiver, Hollins, 30, will likely be an every-down player for the Bills in 2024. That alone should make him fantasy relevant in deeper formats.


STINKS

Tuch - Tage - Do something
Peterka - Cozens - Quinn (? or not)
Benson - Krebs - Greenway or Do something
Greenway or Do something - Do Something for the Dot - Girgs (really not that bad if he stays here and only here at 10 min/game but would not be mad if upgraded)

Dahlin - Byram/Joker
Power - Byram/Joker
Clifton - Johnson/Bryson (or do something as Bryson walks)

UPL
Do Something (Levi - one more year in AHL)


What are the do somethings? I do not know as I watch hockey and am not "in" hockey.
- TC4145

That first do something is tough cause frankin Skinner.

I think Benson-Cozens-Greenway will be the second line going forward for the short term. Greenway has to be improved on. Crouse would be perfect. Greenway to the 4th line. Would be nice if this offseason but probably asking to much of the cuck.

Line 3 Peterka-UpgradeKrebs-Quinn for next year. Not totally against Krebs there though. Ostlund's spot in a couple years. IMO.

4th line could be Robinson-Faceoff winner-Girgs. I liked Robinsons game yesterday. His speed is awesome on the back check. Would preferrbly like to upgrade Girgs with someone nastier. Keep other teams in check. Not let our goalies get beat up on.


Dahlin-Byram is pair #1. This will not change.
Power and Sammy had good underlyings no? I think thats the second pair going forward.
Clifton needs to go or get coached into being a little smarter around his own net.

One of the things that's really working for them now is Cozens as a defensive C, which also means away from Peterka. I think that's going to continue, in a post-LOG world. Think we're going to see a lot of Benson-Cozens-Quinn/Greenway.

Gotta include Samuelsson on D.
- Lunaion

Totally forgot that he existed.
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That first do something is tough cause frankin Skinner.

I think Benson-Cozens-Greenway will be the second line going forward for the short term. Greenway has to be improved on. Crouse would be perfect. Greenway to the 4th line. Would be nice if this offseason but probably asking to much of the cuck.

Line 3 Peterka-UpgradeKrebs-Quinn for next year. Not totally against Krebs there though. Ostlund's spot in a couple years. IMO.

4th line could be Robinson-Faceoff winner-Girgs. I liked Robinsons game yesterday. His speed is awesome on the back check. Would preferrbly like to upgrade Girgs with someone nastier. Keep other teams in check. Not let our goalies get beat up on.

Skinner is my do something. Sit him 82 games, retain 100% and send him into the ethos. Do not care. I do not want him here. The curse of Skinner where the team he is on never makes the playoffs. Addition by subtraction. Pegula's policies are holding us back here.
Dahlin-Byram is pair #1. This will not change.
Power and Sammy had good underlyings no? I think thats the second pair going forward.
Clifton needs to go or get coached into being a little smarter around his own net.
- DirtyDan

Team has some decent trade "bait" in Joker, Bryson (meh), Krebs, to improve some areas.

Then you are being bias. That’s par for the course for you.


Clifton has been good for his role since mid January ish.
- Sabretooth9

BIASED

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

BIASED

Remember part of what made the fan base dislike to even hate the core prior to the tearing down of the roster?

It was the year to year end of season furious march to 9th.

This core may have that in common for 2 seasons in a row.
- kingcong39

Yep

Sid the kid for 2 years in Buffalo would be just what the doctor ordered.
Don’t think he would come here but worth a stab at it by KA
- lulags

He will never leave PGH, imo.

He will never leave PGH, imo.
- Jet Jaguar BD

Agree