Sabre Noise
Fansided

Buffalo Sabres: Jack Campbell would make a huge upgrade

By Sion Fawkes

TORONTO, ON - MAY 14: Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs watches for a shot against the Tampa Bay Lightning during Game Seven of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 14, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ( Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 14: Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs watches for a shot against the Tampa Bay Lightning during Game Seven of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 14, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ( Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Buffalo Sabres desperately need a goaltender and they may look to free agency to fill the void. Jack Campbell may be hot on their radar. 

Per NHL Rumors, goaltender Jack Campbell will be asking for at least $5 million per year and it is a price the Buffalo Sabres can afford. Earlier last week, we talked about the possibility of the Sabres bringing in Marc-Andre Fleury as a mentor to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. This week, it is all about the possibility of bringing in a long-term solution in the net. And Campbell can be that player.

While the Toronto Maple Leafs will do everything in their power to re-sign Campbell, Chris Johnston told TSN that the Leafs may not be able to afford the star goaltender’s asking price. For the Sabres, this is a golden opportunity. Not just to snag one of the NHL’s best netminders from a season ago, but to also weaken a division rival.

Jack Campbell would provide long-term stability for the Buffalo Sabres at goaltender

Johnston further said the Maple Leafs may seek quantity over quality and go after two goaltenders to fill Campbell’s potential void. Right now, the price seems to be three years at $5 million per year, which is well within the Sabres range should they go in such a direction.

And Campbell is coming off of a fantastic season. His 47 starts marked a career-high. And his 31-9-6 record showed he’s more than capable of becoming a long-term solution either in Buffalo or another city.

He allowed just 2.64 goals per game and compiled a 0.914 save percentage. A far cry above what Craig Anderson and Dustin Tokarski brought.

While general manager Kevyn Adams has gone on record to say he wants either Luukkonen or prospect Devon Levi to be the long-term solution, Campbell may be too good to pass up. Plus, the offseason is full of smokescreens, so what’s not to say Adams is simply spewing one?

Related Story. Sabres are a dark-horse to sign Marc Andre-Fleury. light

For the Sabres, Campbell is affordable. And while he is 30 years old, 65 career starts and 76 games shows he may have another eight to ten seasons left. Especially if he performs in 2022-23 the way he did last season.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)

Home/Free Agency