Buffalo Sabres: Will any goaltenders return next season?
By Sion Fawkes
The Buffalo Sabres have no current goaltenders under contract. Will they bring anyone back or will we see new faces in the net in 2022-23?
The Buffalo Sabres have yet another conundrum at goaltender. Something they have become all too familiar with over the last year. But with no goalies under contract heading into 2022-23, they have several options.
The Sabres can go out and sign a stopgap goaltender or two, which was the case this past season. They can bring one of their five primary goalies from last season back into the fold. Or, they can pull off a blockbuster trade for a respectable name.
None of the goaltenders last season were overly impressive, with the then 40-year-old Craig Anderson being the best. But considering his meager save percentage among starting NHL goalies it’s not saying much.
So, what will happen to the five goaltenders from last season? Here is a prediction for each.
Goaltender #1: Craig Anderson
Despite his 0.897 save percentage, Anderson’s 3.12 goals allowed average was his best when starting at least 30 games per season since 2016-17. He also finished the year 17-12-2, not bad for a goaltender at age 40.
The highlight of Anderson‘s season came on March 10th, when he scored his 300th career win against Jack Eichel’s Vegas Golden Knights. But with Anderson having turned 41 last month, does he even want to return for a swan song?
Besides, he was injury prone, which held him to just 31 games. The bottom line is this: Anderson cannot possibly return as the starting goaltender. He’d be a great backup, but at this point, it’s all he can do in the NHL.
Anderson did lead the Sabres to some impressive wins, no doubt. That list includes victories over the Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, Golden Knights, Pittsburgh Penguins, Nashville Predators, Vancouver Canucks, and Minnesota Wild. He was an integral part of the Sabres successful March and April, and he would be great to have back for a final season.
Prediction: Retires, then unretires: Anderson hangs up the skates, but a preseason injury to the next goaltender on this list opens the door for his return.