Of the number of things that need to go right for the Sabres to break their playoff drought this season, goaltending is the most vital. 

So, when Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was held out of the start of camp and then left his lone preseason appearance with an injury, you wouldn’t blame anyone for expressing their concern with the positon. 

It’s been a game of musical chairs in the crease for the Sabres this preseason. Alexandar Georgiev was signed just ahead of training camp as an insurance policy for Luukkonen only to be waived on Tuesday after the Sabres claimed Colten Ellis off waivers from the Blues. Meanwhile, Devon Levi got two brief looks before being sent to Rochester and Alex Lyon is poised to inherit the starter’s job while Luukkonen recovers. 

Swapping Ellis and Georgiev is an interesting and telling decision by the Sabres. Their acquisition of each also speaks to their commitment to Levi’s ongoing development. 

Kevyn Adams was proactive in his initial pursuit of Georgiev. With Luukkonen on the shelf to start camp, and with Scott Ratzlaff and Topias Leinonen as the only organizational options beyond Levi, Georgiev represented a high floor option to insulate Buffalo’s goaltending stable as they waited for Luukkonen to heal up. While Georgiev’s recent track record wasn’t confidence inspiring, he was one of the few goalies remaining on the market with an NHL resume. His signing at least offered some form of short-term insurance, eliminating any potential risk of a first-year pro being the next recall. 

Continue reading →