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Buffalo Sabres: Malcolm Subban may be a worthy stopgap

By Sion Fawkes

Dec 17, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Sabres goaltender Malcolm Subban (47) guards the net against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Sabres goaltender Malcolm Subban (47) guards the net against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Buffalo Sabres season has finished and they could seriously use a goaltender this offseason since everyone’s contract is expiring. 

The Buffalo Sabres know what it’s like to have serious issues at goaltender. This past season, we saw Craig Anderson, Dustin Tokarski, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Malcolm Subban, Aaron Dell, and Michael Houser in the net. Let me know if I’m missing anyone in the comments.

Anyway, now the Sabres face another issue at goaltender. An issue they saw coming given the expiring contracts for the upcoming offseason. Of the six goalies listed above, Malcolm Subban may be in the best position to provide a sound insurance policy as the top man in Rochester.

Malcolm Subban makes sense to be a stopgap goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres

Subban’s career has not been stellar. In 58 games started, he has a career record of 30-21-7, with a .901 career save percentage and a 2.97 goals allowed average. Not good numbers, but no so bad that the Sabres should just let him go.

Instead, Subban makes for a great insurance policy not necessarily with the Sabres organization, but as the team’s #3 goalie, which puts him at the top of the depth chart in Rochester. Ideally, this is how things would play out for at least 2022-23:

  • Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen re-signs and gets first dibs at the starting goaltender job.
  • Craig Anderson returns for one last season at age 41 and serves as the backup.
  • Malcolm Subban re-signs and goes to Rochester, on-call in case of injury.

Obviously, this is a very patchwork lineup. We don’t know how good Luukkonen is going to be. But we need at least see if he can hold down the fort long-term. We really don’t know what we have in Subban, considering his career-long inconsistencies. But we know alternatives like Aaron Dell are finished.

More. Scare stresses need to focus on goaltending. light

We also know Erik Portillo and Devon Levi will spend another season in the college ranks. So right now, despite his struggles and injuries, Subban makes the most sense to keep around for at least one more season.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)

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