Buffalo Sabres: Will any goaltenders return next season?

Malcolm Subban

Subban stepped in last season and posted some awful numbers. But he gets a free pass given the hopelessness of the situation he was thrust into. It was so meager, even Ryan Miller and Domenik Hasek would not have fared much better.

So Subban’s 4.85 goals allowed average and 0.871 save percentage shouldn’t count against him. Especially since he suffered a season-ending injury after his fourth game. However, Subban has never been outstanding aside from a 13-4-2 record he posted in 2017-18 with the expansion Vegas Golden Knights.

However, he has also played well enough in all his stops to at least warrant consideration as a backup goaltender, or even as a high-end prospect. Subban is likeable and he has that fan-favorite vibe surrounding him. The fan base at least, would want him back.

Prediction: Returns, rotates time with Dell in Rochester: The Sabres bring back Subban and allocate him to the Rochester Americans, where he co-stars in the net with Aaron Dell before the Amerks bring in younger talent.