The Hockey Writers have made their case for the Buffalo Sabres to target Braden Holtby as the franchise’s next goaltender when free agency rolls around.
It’s understanding that, if you are a fan of the Buffalo Sabres, to push for the team to sign a big name goaltender. But it also makes sense for general manager Kevyn Adams to build within the organization, which will help negate controversies at all positions and create more chemistry at both the AHL and NHL levels.
This is why it makes the most sense to target a decent bridge player like Braden Holtby. While I had written once about Holtby last week, The Hockey Writers wrote a tremendous article on why he would be a great fit for the Sabres. So it is only appropriate to write a follow-up piece on the subject.
What makes Braden Holtby such a great fit for the Buffalo Sabres?
The Hockey Writers cited two primary reasons for Holtby to sign with the Sabres: He will provide mentorship and crease stability. While they stated Adams could easily go after the likes of Marc-Andre Fleury, Jack Campbell, and Darcy Kuemper, they went with Holtby as the front runner because of his past track record in a mentorship role. Plus, he too is a former Stanley Cup champion.
He also operated in a timeshare with younger goaltenders over the past two years. This shows that he will know his role on the team and would be comfortable sharing the net with someone like Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. It would also take pressure off of Luukkonen, who struggled with injuries and inconsistencies.
Holtby also boasts solid performances in the net, with a career save percentage of 0.915 with a GAA of 2.59. While some fans may point to his sub-0.900 percentage and three-plus GAA between 2019 and 2021, he redeemed himself last season with a 0.913 percentage and GAA of just 2.78.
The Hockey Writers also stated signing Holtby would make it more possible for Craig Anderson to re-sign for another season. Anderson would play a very limited role as an insurance policy. But given the injury issues both Holtby and Luukkonen faced last season, Anderson would be there for spot duty.
And while Anderson struggled with his own injuries in 2021-22, bringing him back goes beyond just providing insurance. Anderson also brings leadership to the room and his presence wouldn’t just positively affect Luukkonen and Holtby; it would extend to the entire team.
At worst, Anderson doesn’t play at all and simply serves in a leader/mentorship/player-coach role. And there is no other goaltender in the NHL better suited for that kind of job. So expect the Sabres to sign either Holtby or a player like him who can provide a bridge. They will re-sign Luukkonen and it’s not far-fetched to see Anderson return.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)
Article Source: Sabres Should Sign Braden Holtby for Mentorship and Crease Stability by Zach Rohde