Buffalo obviously doesn't do that

Why not?

Because it's far too much.

Demko has a career .909 save percentage. Obviously this year he has struggled (the whole team has). His career high is a .915 over 64 games last season. Just so you know, a 0.915 is far from elite statistics for a goalie. That's just slightly above league average. I'm not saying Demko isn't a solid goalie, clearly he is. He's putting up slightly above average metrics on a team that doesn't play good defense in front of him. That said, it's not justifiable to ask for a goalie who is getting better for us game after game and still has much more ceiling to reach. He's also only 23. On top of that you want our top prospect in Savoie and a 2nd. If Demko was a 0.920 goalie consistently, then yes I'd offer that. He isn't, so I wouldn't. We can sign a UFA goalie if need be in the offseason. We've waited 11+ years for a playoff bound team, a couple more months to be patient and prudent isn't hard

If Demko was on a team that was actually competent (not even good but average) on the PK and just at playing defense, he’d be looked at much better than he is. Everyone is down on him because of 15 bad games this season, but last year he was top 3 in the league in 5v5 save % and 5v5 GSAx, and the previous two seasons combined he was second in 5v5 GSAx. The Canucks defense, and specifically the PK, has been completely incompetent which hurts his numbers, but his advanced stats show he is an elite goalie

No point in arguing if the only stat you use is save percentage which is basically a team stat. If doesn't account for quality of shots. You could have a goalie save every shot from the redline and have a perfect save percentage but that doesn't mean they are elite

Except Demko's advanced stats have fallen off a cliff as well. Fwiw, Id still be interested, and I bet the Sabres would be too, but this is steep for someone who is far from a sure thing.

I'm sure 15 games completely erases the 100+ games of being an elite goaltender. Makes sense....

Unless you're counting his first season as an elite year (which im not sure why you would if you're using analytics), he is on pace to have as many elite years (2) as "what the hell is going on around here" years (2).

Im not even suggesting the Sabres shouldn't pay a sizeable amount to try and get him. But this deal involves moving a goalie who, **for the moment**, appears to have some upside as a legit NHL starter and what I imagine to be the Sabres most valuable non roster trade piece? That's an awful lot to give up without knowing which version of Demko their getting.

Wrong. He has 100 games of being a starting goalie before this season, and 15 games of being bad.

2019-20 he played 27 games, and among goalies with 500 or more mins, ranked 56 out of 59 in goaltending GAR

HIs next two seasons were elite, followed by this season. so He's got 42 games (and counting unless he goes on a heater in the final few months) of not so great and 99 games of elite goaltending. He's on pace to finish with an even split of poor and elite seasons. As I've already intimated, I still think he's pretty good, but can't pretend like there's no risk involved.

Although based on your responses, I feel like the appropriate response here is "No point in arguing..."

Maybe this deal is done in the off-season after Demko comes back and proves his form for the rest of the regular season

Maybe? Like I said Id bet the Sabres would be interested and make a serious offer if he were available, I'd just be surprised to see them include both Luukkonen and Savoie.

That’s fair, I mean Luukkonen would have to be involved. A goalie would have to come back to Vancouver and I doubt Buffalo would move Levi. Maybe Kulich or Rosen is a more realistic piece, I’m not sure. Just feel that Demko is the kind of guy an organization has to move their top prospect for

I figure Luukkonen would have to be included. Pure speculation, but think the most likely to move among the fwd prospects is Rosen. Idk, goaltending trade value is a hard one to pin down year to year.

That's kind of the debacle with these UPL for Demko trades.. Sabres PK isn't good and they're still growing defensively. Demko is definitely interesting, but I don't know if he solves their problems without some changes to their D core.

Also, UPL has grown a lot already since getting regular NHL starts, so idk if that's the play for Buffalo right now

"UPL dosent look like he can really be that #1. "

Umm, what? UPL is 11-3-0 in his past 14 starts.

Just no. BUF has no need for Demko. Sorry.

Not saying VAN is competent, because they look to be the most incompetent team in the league (sorry, I have a soft spot for VAN, so that sucks to type). But the G has a lot to do with that. NOT INTERESTED.

If Levi is that good, why trade for Demko? And if Demko is that good, why wouldn't Van ask for Levi, instead of UPL, if Levi is better?

Wow, this is some circular logic. Not exactly sure what you are saying here.

Cue the Good Will Hunting meme.

If Levi
Then Demko

Or if Demko
Then Levi


Is everyone forgetting that UPL is 11-3-0 in his past 14 starts?

Screw Demko and Levi is like 3-6 years away.

Not arguing, simply stating my view. If you read what I said, you would see I value Demko as a good goalie regardless of what his save percentage is. As I also stated, I am not interested in trading that much for a goalie that imo is simply good, not great. Vancouver should not look to trade him. Instead they need to address their defense.