am of the opinion this was the plan all along

yr. 1 of hutton's contract had him earmarked for majority starts
yr. 2 more of a 50/50 weighted towards whomever is playing better
yr. 3 ullmark takes the helm

nice and tidy, eh?
- Michael Pachla

Would have been better if the plan ended at year 2...

That happens to a couple guys every year though
And weren’t they saying that from 20-40 all those guys were pretty close?

Hopefully he works out for us!
What do u see from him that u like?
- jdfitz77

Skates very well. Hard on pucks. Great shot.

He reminds me a lot of Andre Burakovsky.

He had a great tournament last year as well playing with Stutzle and reichel (17th overall pick to Chicago).

Analytics liked him better than Reichel.

Our gain I guess

Conditioning might be an issue, but I would think that the extended time off for a guy like Hutton, and not necessarily all older players, is going to be nothing but a positive. He had back and eye issues last year and 9 months off for some of these guys is probably a god-send.

A lot of the younger guys keep playing in tournaments in the off-season and end up having no time off really, so I also expect a guy like Eichel to be at critical mass and the Hutton-types to be an expired can of fish ready to explode.

Mittelfadt is crap and he's probably a fat mess but Thompson could also be ready to spin-o-rama into a turnover so we'll see.

am of the opinion this was the plan all along

yr. 1 of hutton's contract had him earmarked for majority starts
yr. 2 more of a 50/50 weighted towards whomever is playing better
yr. 3 ullmark takes the helm

nice and tidy, eh?
- Michael Pachla

Makes sense
The problem is that the wheels completely fell off with Hutton last season
If he can bounce back & be (at least) average,
then great
I have no confidence of that happening though
He was just awful in way too many games last season

And Ullmark looked “ok” last year
So if he can improve a little, that’s great too

I just think we’d be in a lot better shape if we replaced Hutton with a legit starter, & Ullmark was our 1B instead of 1A

1. MacKinnon
2. Eichel
3. Matthews
4. Crosby
5. ROR
6. Larsson
7. Draisaitl
8. Ott
9. McDavid
- sbroads24

10. Ryan o'Reilly (C)

Perfect. I agree. The 3 year plan to get Ullmark ready. The balls in his court now.
They must have agreed he was their man and have stuck by that decision and I agree with it. In my own opinion if there was going to be a goaltending change it would have happened already. Having said that the leash will be short for both goalies and changes could happen.
- Camel

it's a ballsy move, considering how disappointing goaltending was for the sabres outside the first five weeks of the season...

i think ullmark is mentally prepared to be the no. 1 and i think he'll have the stamina for a role featuring 35-40 games...how he recovers from rough games or even periods will determine just how ready he is for the long haul...we'll also be seeing just how far his mechanics have come and whether or not they're bona fide starter quality

Carter Hart played 9 more games than Ullmark and had 1100 shots compared to 1066 for Ullmark.
Maybe it was the Flyers who were more defensive. I believe Ullmark is ready to be the number one and Hutton will be the experienced backup who will push him and keep him grounded. Neither one is going anywhere and they are not and have not been the teams problem. More offence and spread out scoring, if it’s there this year will jump this team into the playoffs.
- Camel

Jason ?

Is this you Jason Botterill?


If ullmark isn't a true starter, than hutton plays more, then more losses pile up.

Single biggest worry for me is goaltending

Would have been better if the plan ended at year 2...
- jcragcrumple

maybe...ullmark has gone through every step of the process to get to this point and has also shown definitive progress throughout...he had one stumble--his final year with modo--but that was a bad team and he also single-handedly kept them from getting relegated after the 2014-2015 season

The Flyers didn’t play more defensive
Their offense just held the puck more in the opposing zone
- jdfitz77

I would agree. That’s exactly what I believe will happen with the Sabres this year. More offensive time = more goals = less defensive time

maybe...ullmark has gone through every step of the process to get to this point and has also shown definitive progress throughout...he had one stumble--his final year with modo--but that was a bad team and he also single-handedly kept them from getting relegated after the 2014-2015 season
- Michael Pachla

I seem to recall he also had a kid last off season. Not to give him excuses but I remember him talking about it being hard to get on the ice with a newborn. Ullmark is an interesting dude. I definitely root for him

We need a fuggin goalie

I seem to recall he also had a kid last off season. Not to give him excuses but I remember him talking about it being hard to get on the ice with a newborn. Ullmark is an interesting dude. I definitely root for him
- jcragcrumple

he's a real good interview...he really dissects questions and gives very thoughtful answers...seems like a smart, thought-provoking (Icebear)dude...

then again, he's a goalie and he inhabits his own world like all goalies seem to do

Conditioning might be an issue, but I would think that the extended time off for a guy like Hutton, and not necessarily all older players, is going to be nothing but a positive. He had back and eye issues last year and 9 months off for some of these guys is probably a god-send.

A lot of the younger guys keep playing in tournaments in the off-season and end up having no time off really, so I also expect a guy like Eichel to be at critical mass and the Hutton-types to be an expired can of fish ready to explode.

Mittelfadt is crap and he's probably a fat mess but Thompson could also be ready to spin-o-rama into a turnover so we'll see.
- 3rd GM's the charm

If and just if Hutton's eye issue was a legit thing and is fixed he can play 15 games and be fine as the back up if he returns to his previous form

My issue with Thompson is his hockey IQ...he has the tools but can he piece it together in the NHL?

I have seen and heard some guys talk about maybe Thompson on line one with Hall and Eichel and the problem with that to me is, can he elevate his play and can his brain keep up with those guys?

maybe...ullmark has gone through every step of the process to get to this point and has also shown definitive progress throughout...he had one stumble--his final year with modo--but that was a bad team and he also single-handedly kept them from getting relegated after the 2014-2015 season
- Michael Pachla

Think ullmark is a top 4 goalie in the division?

Rask
Jarry
Hart
Samsonov
Valamov
Nyr tandem - shersterkin
*Blackwood

I have him ranked 5/7th out of 8 in the division

Samsonov and shersterkin havnt proved anything yet

Jason ?

Is this you Jason Botterill?


If ullmark isn't a true starter, than hutton plays more, then more losses pile up.

Single biggest worry for me is goaltending
- Boss34

Sorry I’m not Jason but I really don’t think he was all that bad as some think. As for Ullmark if they didn’t think he was the real deal they would have traded him or let him walk and went all in on a new goalie. They obviously have faith in this duo and in my opinion they are right on.

Jason ?

Is this you Jason Botterill?


If ullmark isn't a true starter, than hutton plays more, then more losses pile up.

Single biggest worry for me is goaltending
- Boss34

😂😂😂

Think ullmark is a top 4 goalie in the division?

Rask
Jarry
Hart
Samsonov
Valamov
Nyr tandem - shersterkin
*Blackwood

I have him ranked 5/7th out of 8 in the division

Samsonov and shersterkin havnt proved anything yet
- Boss34

I'll go with that right now, but he could surprise while others (jarry, shersterkin?) might falter a bit dependent upon the overall team performance in front of them

I would agree. That’s exactly what I believe will happen with the Sabres this year. More offensive time = more goals = less defensive time
- Camel

It’s great in theory
Still need goaltending to be better though

Saying Hutton wasn’t a problem,
when he had a sub .900 save% is just crazy though

We absolutely need better goaltending

Sorry I’m not Jason but I really don’t think he was all that bad as some think. As for Ullmark if they didn’t think he was the real deal they would have traded him or let him walk and went all in on a new goalie. They obviously have faith in this duo and in my opinion they are right on.
- Camel

Fair enough, I was just kidding around.

Good post in regards to acquiring a goalie. Probably would have happened, and it hasn't, so they must be content with our duo.

I'm concerned, this is a big season and we have alot of eggs in a young kinda unproven goaltender's basket.

And an older proven to not be good backup goalie in Hutton. Hopefully hutton can go :

5-4-3 ( T.M. jcrags) 13 points /12 games

if you don't at least well up during that scene you're either lying or stone cold
- Michael Pachla

Mary Bailey is a green light.

i see cozens has three primary assists as canada leads germany 9-1...

is that even fair?

Mary Bailey is a green light.
- Der Kaiser

violet would be a lot of fun...high-maintenance but probably a real fun-loving gal...

kinda like a mary ann and ginger scenario

i see cozens has three primary assists as canada leads germany 9-1...

is that even fair?
- Michael Pachla

Just went end to end and scored too

violet would be a lot of fun...high-maintenance but probably a real fun-loving gal...

kinda like a mary ann and ginger scenario
- Michael Pachla

Talks too much

I'll go with that right now, but he could surprise while others (jarry, shersterkin?) might falter a bit dependent upon the overall team performance in front of them
- Michael Pachla

Definitely a team game. Seems like alot of hope.

I really like ullmark, the Sabres have definitely taken the time and $ to groom him for this opportunity.

Just seems like we match up poorly in net.

Valarmov
Rask
Hart

Samsonov was a 1st
Jarry was a 2nd
Blackwood was a 2nd
Stechikov was a 4th

Ullmark a 6th

Draft status doesnt always matter but......