>As it happened during his hockey career, Mika Noronen just disappeared.
>He was a blue-chipper, rated by NHL Central Scouting the best European goaltender in the 1997 draft. The Buffalo Sabres took him in the first round. He won his debut in relief of Dominik Hasek. The Hockey News named Noronen its top pro prospect an unprecedented two years in a row.
>But the Sabres couldn’t figure out what to do with him. Then he couldn’t figure out what to do with himself.
>Buffalo flubbed its asset. With veteran Martin Biron’s experience and Ryan Miller’s quick ascension, Noronen was squeezed aside in a three-way goalie logjam. The Sabres kept all of them on the 2005-06 roster, refusing to trade Noronen for less than peak value.
>So, for months, he rotted.
>“I suffered from it,” Noronen said. “That’s why I’m hoping they don’t do the same thing in Buffalo this year. This situation is not good for anyone, as a player or the organization.
>“I hope they make decisions for these guys so they don’t need to go through the same s— I did.”
the_missing_worker
Wanna know how many NHL games Ryan Miller had played in before he was 25? Just 18. At age 21, Devon Levi has already played in 15, and Ukko (24) is now at 55. Each were regarded as top goalie prospects.
They’re not just rushing Levi’s development, they’re mashing the warp speed button and hoping for the best. They’re doing this at the exact time UPL ought to be starting to get his pro legs under him with regular, predictable starts.
The Sabres need to conduct an unflinching and fearless inventory of what their priorities are, immediately.
metalexca
Yes. But, who’s who in this compairson? In 05 we had a vet and 2 development goalies. They kept all 3 to see which of miller or noronen would actually pan out while biron provided vet stability. Noronens career suffered in the end but the franchise got it right by taking a minute to see if miller or noronen would be best. Selfish of me, but imo the sabres did this correctly in 05.
Now we seem to have 2 guys who are not quite vets but not quite dev goalies either. Imo we’re sort of waiting to see if UPL or Comrie can be a better backup to the development guy in levi who is the clear future long term option.
So on one hand if i was OK in squandering a development guys career in noronen I’m not gonna lose sleep ovet keeping 2 backup guys. BUT then i think wtf are we keeping 2 backup guys for? They’re both replacement level why do we have them both? In 05 I understood keeping the 2 dev guys to see who was going to bloom and Miller did it first so he stayed. But today I dont think UPL or comrie is about to bloom, they are what they are so just pick one and move on.
ShmoopToThrill89
Sabres need to send Levi down. He’s not ready and we aren’t making the playoffs again so ride with two. If UPL can’t step up move on from both him and Comrie and come back next year with a real plan. Also time to stop the 11/7 lineups. 7 defenders and Dahlin still plays 27’ and Power 24’ Ridiculous balance by DG.
JMR027
You either send Levi down, or trade comrie if adams doesn’t want to send Levi down
tootnine
If Adams understood a normal development trajectory for a goalie we wouldn’t be in this mess. Adams inherited the reigning Vezina winner and let him walk for nothing. To a division rival no less
7 Comments
>As it happened during his hockey career, Mika Noronen just disappeared.
>He was a blue-chipper, rated by NHL Central Scouting the best European goaltender in the 1997 draft. The Buffalo Sabres took him in the first round. He won his debut in relief of Dominik Hasek. The Hockey News named Noronen its top pro prospect an unprecedented two years in a row.
>But the Sabres couldn’t figure out what to do with him. Then he couldn’t figure out what to do with himself.
>Buffalo flubbed its asset. With veteran Martin Biron’s experience and Ryan Miller’s quick ascension, Noronen was squeezed aside in a three-way goalie logjam. The Sabres kept all of them on the 2005-06 roster, refusing to trade Noronen for less than peak value.
>So, for months, he rotted.
>“I suffered from it,” Noronen said. “That’s why I’m hoping they don’t do the same thing in Buffalo this year. This situation is not good for anyone, as a player or the organization.
>“I hope they make decisions for these guys so they don’t need to go through the same s— I did.”
Wanna know how many NHL games Ryan Miller had played in before he was 25? Just 18. At age 21, Devon Levi has already played in 15, and Ukko (24) is now at 55. Each were regarded as top goalie prospects.
They’re not just rushing Levi’s development, they’re mashing the warp speed button and hoping for the best. They’re doing this at the exact time UPL ought to be starting to get his pro legs under him with regular, predictable starts.
The Sabres need to conduct an unflinching and fearless inventory of what their priorities are, immediately.
Yes. But, who’s who in this compairson? In 05 we had a vet and 2 development goalies. They kept all 3 to see which of miller or noronen would actually pan out while biron provided vet stability. Noronens career suffered in the end but the franchise got it right by taking a minute to see if miller or noronen would be best. Selfish of me, but imo the sabres did this correctly in 05.
Now we seem to have 2 guys who are not quite vets but not quite dev goalies either. Imo we’re sort of waiting to see if UPL or Comrie can be a better backup to the development guy in levi who is the clear future long term option.
So on one hand if i was OK in squandering a development guys career in noronen I’m not gonna lose sleep ovet keeping 2 backup guys. BUT then i think wtf are we keeping 2 backup guys for? They’re both replacement level why do we have them both? In 05 I understood keeping the 2 dev guys to see who was going to bloom and Miller did it first so he stayed. But today I dont think UPL or comrie is about to bloom, they are what they are so just pick one and move on.
Sabres need to send Levi down. He’s not ready and we aren’t making the playoffs again so ride with two. If UPL can’t step up move on from both him and Comrie and come back next year with a real plan.
Also time to stop the 11/7 lineups. 7 defenders and Dahlin still plays 27’ and Power 24’
Ridiculous balance by DG.
You either send Levi down, or trade comrie if adams doesn’t want to send Levi down
If Adams understood a normal development trajectory for a goalie we wouldn’t be in this mess. Adams inherited the reigning Vezina winner and let him walk for nothing. To a division rival no less
Fantastic read