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Buffalo Sabres Free Agent Frenzy: Five Goaltenders To Target

By Melissa Kania

Mar 16, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Montreal Canadiens goalie Ben Scrivens (40) makes a pad save against the Buffalo Sabres during the overtime period at First Niagara Center. The Canadiens beat the Sabres 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Montreal Canadiens goalie Ben Scrivens (40) makes a pad save against the Buffalo Sabres during the overtime period at First Niagara Center. The Canadiens beat the Sabres 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Buffalo Sabres goaltender Chad Johnson (31) makes a save during the pre game warm up against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Buffalo Sabres goaltender Chad Johnson (31) makes a save during the pre game warm up against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

What should the Buffalo Sabres do in free agency?

To date, we’ve talked about a few positions and what the Buffalo Sabres can do in free agency in terms of filling up some of the open spots on the team for the upcoming season.

We talked about defensemen, both ones that the Buffalo Sabres should target and those they should avoid; we also did the same for the centers.

Today, we move onto the goaltenders.

Here’s the current situation for the Buffalo Sabres heading into free agency:

Currently Locked Up

  1. Robin Lehner
  2. Linus Ullmark

Pending UFAs

  1. Chad Johnson

Pending RFAs

  1. Jason Kasdorf
  2. Nathan Lieuwen
  3. Andrey Makarov

At this point, it seems pretty clear that Makarov is gone. He’s expressed some harsh feelings against the Buffalo Sabres organization and city of Buffalo as a whole, and his intentions may be to head back to his native Russia and find playing time there.

Although the Buffalo Sabres could easily get their NHL goaltenders set in a matter of minutes by choosing to put Ullmark up in the big league next season, I can’t see it happening.

Yes, he had his first taste of NHL action last season, and he wasn’t bad.

But if I were Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray, I’d give Ullmark the starting spot in Rochester, where he can develop in just his second season in North America, and be ready for a call-up if needed.

So – where do the Buffalo Sabres go to fill that second goaltending spot, assuming Lehner becomes your full-time starter next season?

Here are some ideas. In all, the goaltending free agent pool this year has about 60 men on it – more than half of whom will be RFAs, and several of whom have already signed overseas in Europe.

Next: Trying for Scrivens

Home/Free Agency