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Sabres: Goalie depth chart projections for 2021 NHL season

By Jacob LeBlanc

BUFFALO, NY - JANUARY 11: Carter Hutton #40 of the Buffalo Sabres defends his net during the third period of play in the NHL hockey game between the Vancouver Canucks and Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on January 11, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Nicholas T. LoVerde/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - JANUARY 11: Carter Hutton #40 of the Buffalo Sabres defends his net during the third period of play in the NHL hockey game between the Vancouver Canucks and Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on January 11, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Nicholas T. LoVerde/Getty Images) /
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BUFFALO, NY – FEBRUARY 23: Jonas Johansson #34 of the Buffalo Sabres looks for the puck behind the net during the third period against the Winnipeg Jets at KeyBank Center on February 23, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. Buffalo beats Winnipeg 2 to 1. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY – FEBRUARY 23: Jonas Johansson #34 of the Buffalo Sabres looks for the puck behind the net during the third period against the Winnipeg Jets at KeyBank Center on February 23, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. Buffalo beats Winnipeg 2 to 1. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) /

4. Dustin Tokarski

Dustin Tokarski has been bouncing between the NHL and AHL since back in 2009. He has not been able to sustain any sort of role in the NHL as most of the games he has played in since then have been in the AHL. I see him has being a good veteran member of the Rochester Americans to help mentor the younger goalies that may play there this season.

I see Tokarski starting the season as the backup goalie in Rochester. He was very productive in his most recent season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In the 2019-2020 season, he posted a goals against average (GAA) of 1.97 and a .924 save percentage (SV%).

Those are quality stats, and he could play a big role in helping develop the younger goalies within the Sabres organization such as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Jonas Johansson.

Even with his limited NHL experience, some experience at the top level is better than none. I believe that Tokarski will play a big role on and off the ice this season for Buffalo and Rochester.

3. Jonas Johansson

Jonas Johansson made some appearances with the Sabres last year, so this makes me feel like the Sabres are pretty high on him and may make him the starter for the Rochester Americans this season. Johansson played in six games (started five) for Buffalo last season. In those six appearances, he posted a SV% of .894 and a GAA of 2.94.

These numbers are nothing special, but these were his first starts in the NHL of his career. In his time with the Rochester Americans in the AHL in the 2019-2020 season, Johansson played in 22 games and posted a SV% of .921 and a 2.28 GAA.

Noticeably better than his short stint in the NHL. But Johansson is only 25 years old, so there is no reason to be rushing him into the NHL, especially when the Sabres have two goalies with plenty of NHL experience.

I think we will see Johansson playing more for the Sabres in the near future, especially if they want to get Luukkonen more time at a higher level in the AHL. He is young enough to still develop more and also shown promise in the AHL.

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