Rumors! Five goaltenders the Buffalo Sabres can trade for
The Buffalo Sabres may be in the market for a goaltender if they cannot re-sign any of their impending UFAs. Let’s discuss five goalies they can trade for.
The Buffalo Sabres had some serious goaltending issues last season that they would hope to avoid in 2022-23. The situation got so bad that, if you were following the team during their darkest hour, they had to play a man named Michael Houser. The 29-year-old goaltender started two games last season, donning a Rochester Americans helmet.
While injuries are always unavoidable, the Sabres never saw a single one of their goaltenders prove that they were long-term solutions. Houser is an obvious AHL-ECHL talent, though he looked good in his cameo. Dustin Tokarski and Malcolm Subban also fit better in the AHL as insurance policy goaltenders.
Anderson is 41 and may not even come back while Aaron Dell shouldn’t play in the NHL again after a string of abysmal performances. The Sabres would love to give Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen a chance, but he is inconsistent and has a tough time staying healthy.
While the Sabres could sign some goaltenders in free agency, it is also realistic that they make some trade proposals. Let’s explore five goaltenders the Buffalo Sabres can trade for.
The top goaltender the Buffalo Sabres can trade for: Jonathan Quick
The downside is that Quick is 36. But the Buffalo Sabres do have two young goaltenders in the system in Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi. Three if Erik Portillo starts to show more interest.
Quick, in the final season of his contract, is due to earn $2.5 million in base salary this year. That said, he is not an obvious long-term fix. However, he can be an outstanding bridge for either Luukkonen or Levi.
We’ve seen Luukkonen struggle with injuries and inconsistency, so perhaps a season behind Quick would be a huge help. Or, if Luukkonen still can’t get it together, there may be Levi or even Erik Portillo. Worst-case scenario, Quick holds the fort down as the Sabres pursue a younger goaltender via free agency or trade in 2023.
John Gibson
Let’s get the downside out of the way first: Gibson’s last three seasons in the net have been miserable, posting just a 0.904 save percentage. However, he’s also been part of an Anaheim Ducks team that hasn’t sniffed the playoffs in five seasons.
And while he’d be coming to a Buffalo Sabres team that has missed the postseason for 11 straight seasons, Gibson would also be entering a more stable situation. He will also be 29 when the season begins, with five years remaining on his contract.
Gibson would come at a steeper price than Quick. However, given his struggles over the past three seasons, his value is at an all-time low from the trade front. Despite this, he is still slated to earn $6.4 million per season. So the question for the Sabres is this: Are they willing to pay that much for a goaltender whose production was no better than Craig Anderson’s?
Semyon Varlamov
Another aging goaltender who provides more of a bridge than a long-term solution, Varlamov has one year remaining on his deal with the New York Islanders. While his 10-17-2 record last season is nothing to brag about, Varlamov still posted a 0.912 save percentage and allowed 2.88 goals per game. Not the worst numbers.
Further, his GAA has sat at 2.88 or lower over the past five seasons. So Varlamov would make a more serviceable goaltender in Buffalo than what we had seen with Anderson and Tokarski. He also won’t come with a high asking price because of his age.
But he is a two-time finalist for the Vezina Trophy, the most recent of which having occurred in 2020-21. That said, the Islanders will still see a lot of value in him. So even at 34, the Buffalo Sabres may need to give up a little more to acquire his services, but he may be worth it.
James Reimer
Another 34-year-old who will make a good stopgap, Reimer, like Varlamov, has allowed fewer than three goals per game over multiple seasons. He also comes at a cheaper price than Varlamov, as he is set to earn just $2.75 million over the next season before his contract expires.
Unlike Quick and Varlamov, Reimer could re-sign with the Buffalo Sabres and revert into a backup role should a trade occur and he plays well in 2022-23. This would give the team a solid backup for either Luukkonen, Levi, or another younger goaltender for another two or three seasons.
Also like Varlamov, Reimer’s numbers have not been great. But they also were not terrible. He allowed 2.90 goals per game in 2021-22, securing a 0.911 save percentage.
Adin Hill
Hill is the youngest of the five goaltenders featured in today’s article. And he can become a franchise goaltender if the Buffalo Sabres trade for him and he performs well. Hill, set to earn $2.675 million in 2022-23, would have a season to prove that he can be the guy moving forward.
He only has 74 games of NHL experience, and a career record of 29-32-5. Therefore, the San Jose Sharks should not expect a high asking price for Hill, so he would be a low-risk, potentially high reward trade for the Sabres.
And since he is in the last year of his contract, the odds of a goaltender controversy erupting are between slim and none. If Hill comes in and performs, he will get a long-term contract. If head coach Don Granato can’t figure out whether he wants Hill or another goaltender in the net all season, then Hill won’t stick around.
More. Goaltenders the Sabres can realistically sign. light
While none of the above potential trades are the flashiest, they are realistic for the Sabres to pull off. If they really think Luukkonen can be the guy, or even Devon Levi, look for a potential trade for Quick, Varlamov, or Reimer. But if they are looking for a potential long-term solution with little risk, then they may go after Gibson or Hill.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)