Unleashing Triple-Goalie Power: Sabres Launch Season with Three Dynamic Netminders

The Buffalo Sabres have recently signed Rasmus Dahlin to an eight-year extension and are now getting ready for the upcoming season. According to Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News, it seems that the Sabres are planning to begin the season with three goaltenders on their NHL roster.

Reportedly, the Sabres have concerns about Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s readiness to take on the backup role full-time. As a result, they are likely to keep Eric Comrie, the veteran goalie, on their NHL roster as insurance in case Devon Levi, the starter, needs some rest and Luukkonen isn’t up to the task.

Levi is expected to start most of the games in October for the Sabres. While having three goalies limits the team’s flexibility for calling up forwards and defensemen, the Sabres believe that Comrie provides more consistency at the moment compared to Luukkonen. However, Comrie lacks the long-term potential that Luukkonen brings to the team.

For Buffalo, this situation is quite delicate. They are eager to make significant progress this season and secure a playoff spot for the first time since 2011. The Sabres prioritize winning now, and Comrie gives them a better chance at achieving that goal. However, Luukkonen, at just 24 years old, has not yet reached the potential that made him a second-round draft pick in 2017. Statistically, both goalies have similar NHL numbers, with a career save percentage of .897 and a goals-against average above 3.30.

The three-goalie solution is not a long-term plan for the Sabres, as they will eventually need to add a forward or defenseman to the roster. This will require moving a goalie off the NHL roster, which presents an interesting challenge. They could explore a trade or potentially demote a goalie to the AHL through waivers. However, this would create another goaltending logjam, as the Sabres currently have Dustin Tokarski and Devin Cooley on two-way contracts for the Rochester Americans.