That doesn't even come remotely close to getting a top 5 goalie in the entire league

Also under what basis is Nashville looking to retool?

Just testing the waters...but NSH had a 1st round exit and isn't getting any younger or better, are they?

Don't think Nashville is gonna make that move, we saw what they where like without Saros, and Levi isn;t gonna solve that.

Maybe Saros would have taken down the Avs...

Even if NSH was going to go full tank-mode and trade Saros there's not enough value here, or the right pieces. Levi doesn't make sense for NSH as the main return in a trade, when they already have Askarov.

That's a fair point. As I said, just throwing it out there. Askarov and Levi could duel it out. I'd also argue that, it's 3 really good pieces. Mittelstadt still has #1C or 2C potential. And it's a deep draft. NSH needs prospects and future players.

Any counter offers?

UPL instead of Levi? He's ready to step into the NHL and could really blossom, as soon as next year.

I don't think NSH has a youth issue -- Tomasino, Tolvanen, Fabbro, Carrier, Jeannot, Trenin, and Kunin are all 25 or younger (Saros only 27) -- and then you have L'Heureux, Svechkov, Afanasyev, Parssinen, Glass, Farrance, Askarov, Evangelista, and others ready within 1-3 years. Plenty of youth. They're missing high-end, offensive skill. That's their biggest weakness and this doesn't solve that at all.

And NSH isn't trading Saros for another goalie (or anyone right now) when they have Askarov already.

Fair enough. NSH may not have a youth issue, but they have a skill issue. I think there is a trade to be made here. I understand patience. I'm a Sabres fan. NSH fans need to have patience because they are past t heir SC hopeful years.

The Sabres have players. They are 2-5 years away. Which ones would you want?

I don't blame NSH fans for riding their hopes on Saros. It's a decent bet.

NSH very well could trade Saros, but I don't see it happening at least for another two years. Run Saros - Ingram next season, then potentially run a year of Saros - Askarov, and then make a decision the following season depending on how Askarov does.

If NSH were looking to trade him right now to BUF, I think they'd be looking for a guy like Quinn, Krebs, JJP, or Cozens to be part of the return as opposed to a guys like Levi or Mittlestadt.

Levi is a very promising goalie prospect, but with NSH already having a better one plus other solid young ones (Ingram who's ready for at least a backup role now, and Haider looking very promising in the NCAA) he's not a player of interest to NSH. Neither would UPL be, as you mentioned him in your next post. The 1st is a later one, in what's expected to be a weaker draft, and Mittlestadt isn't of any interest to NSH either. I disagree about him still having #1C potential, and even #2C feels like a stretch. NSH already has their drafted too high reclamation project in Glass, and a logjam of vets with term ahead of him in the lineup. There isn't really anywhere to squeeze Mittlestadt into NSH's lineup.

In a scenario where Saros was available, I'd imagine a package from BUF would need to contain two of Krebs/Quinn/BUF's 2022 1st/BUF's 2023 1st as the centerpiece, plus some other stuff. Obviously Tage Thompson would be sought after by NSH too, but I imagine BUF doesn't part with him if they're trying to build a contender.

Am I crazy? Goalies dont have that kind of value, right? Krebs/quinn/buffalo 9th overall pick- I don't think any of these would be on the table. You probably could swap Levi for Johnson or poltapov, but the value is fine. A late first, a young player, and a good prospect is a fair package. I get not accepting it, but goalies dont return two top 10 picks worth of value.

I'm sorry to say, but I think you might be crazy, or at least mistaken. Goalies are the QBs of the NHL. How many are out there? Not many from my viewpoint. Try winning a cup without one. I'd give up a lot for a top goalie, as evidenced by my post.

How many Centers are there?
How many Wingers are there?

Tons.

D-men...fewer
Goalies....even fewer

This is a very reasonable response. I'd offer Quinn + Oloffson + Mittelstadt <> Saros

How often do Vezina caliber goalies just entering their prime on bargain contracts get traded though? There aren't a lot of comparable trades I can think of. NSH has no reason to trade Saros. If BUF wants to try and pry him away, it would take what feels like an overpay. A late 1st, struggling young player, and a prospect your trade partner doesn't need doesn't get the conversation started.

When was the last time anybody traded anything like this for a goalie?

I don't like Oloffson or Mittelstadt enough to consider it. If Saros were available, I think NSH will get better offers than this.

Besides the point. Gotta break the rules to be good. Sabres have drafted 2 goalies in the past 7 years. Time to pay the piper.

It's pretty clear that goalies are THE difference makers. The Sabres should be the ones to make the difference in the goalie market.

Fair enough. I don't blame you. I will say, as a Sabres fan, Olofsson is a PP specialist and a proven 20 goal scorer, capable of 30-40. Mitts is the big question mark. I think he has #1C potential. Quinn looks like a 30 goal scorer, but has injury/size issues. I'm fine with the Sabres keeping all of them. They are young, and on a line could put up 60-80 goals. Hard to turn that down...and they are young...

I just don't see how NSH is going to win a Cup as currently constructed against teams like COL,EDM, and CAL...they need a shake up.

Ok, I agree that Nashville doesn't need to trade him, and that is something that gives you leverage. I'm just saying, these trades don't happen, I think people look for competent goaltending and then spend assets making the skaters in front of the goalies better. I see Anaheim fans asking for Connor mcdavid packages for Gibson, its nuts. I don't see saros returning the equivalent of two top ten picks (quinn/krebs/buffalo's first), I don't think you'd even get one. A late first, a young roster player mittelstadt/jokiharju, and a good prospect like levi/poltapov/johnson is the most I would do, and that's for a goalie at 5m for 3 years.

Do Vezina caliber goalies come cheaper? The Sabres need a goalie to align with their talent. UPL...might. Levi/Portillo do not.

No this is wrong. See the Sabres have been historically bad in net, the guys that have been bad goalies for us are just that, bad goalies. Take a look back at the last 10-15 cup winners. The makeup is similar- stud center (which we don't have by the way), stud d, good but not necessarily great goalie. I think you are overcorrecting, we have been awful in net, which was a combination of awful goalies, bad d, and now a young center core. We have to get better in net, nobody would deny that. You have 3 goalie prospects, hopefully one of them is ready by the time we are gonna compete.

What? Are you kidding? Upl is coming off a very uneven season, one of the local sports guys said the organization sees our goalie situation as Levi, then portillo, then upl.

Edit- or are you saying the timing doesn't add up? Levi might be ready. Our window doesn't start this year. Our division is crazy good, and we have Ottawa and Detroit that are right on our tail

Yea, all about the timing...Hasek was bad timing...missed LaFontaine and Mogilny and Hawerchuk. Miller missed Briere/Drury...

You need your scoring to match your goaltending. It all needs to come together.

Levi is promising, but way behind the prospects and talent the Sabres have accumulated...unless Kevin Adams is playing the 6-8 year game...

Levi is 20 years old...

He won't be ready to win a Cup until he is 25 at the earliest...28 if he is like most (great) goalies.

Are you willing to wait 8 years to win a Cup? I mean we waited this long already, right? What's 8 more years?

Fluery...5 years after drafted he won a Cup
Quick...6
Vasilevsky..7
Holtby...8
Crawford...9

Good luck waiting for Levi. He's 20.

No this is wrong. The Sabres have had the best goalie ever. They had a Vezina winner in Miller. They had Barasso. Check yourself. Have they been historically bad since MIller? Okay. Yes.