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Buffalo Sabres: One big-name free agent to pursue, one to stay away from

By Sion Fawkes

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 21: Zemgus Girgensons #28 of the Buffalo Sabres looks on from the bench during the third period against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on April 21, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. The Buffalo Sabres defeated the New Jersey Devils 5-2. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 21: Zemgus Girgensons #28 of the Buffalo Sabres looks on from the bench during the third period against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on April 21, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. The Buffalo Sabres defeated the New Jersey Devils 5-2. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Buffalo Sabres
TORONTO, ON – MAY 4: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is stopped on a break by Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during Game Two of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 4, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Lightning defeated the Maple Leafs 5-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Jack Campbell

Many in the Buffalo Sabres faithful love Campbell, but I am iffy about him. While I will find a way to support Kevyn Adams in his every roster transaction because I believe in what he is doing, I would support a Campbell signing with cautious optimism.

However, the more information out there on Campbell, the less likely it is that Adams is going to make the mistake in signing him. As Matt Kopnak noted:

Once again, this could be a giant smokescreen, or it could be Adams sticking to his long-term plan. So why am I so low on Campbell?

I want to like Campbell, but he is injury-prone and inconsistent. He was one of the NHL’s best goaltenders during the first half of the 2021-22 season, only to see his performance dip following the All-Star break. Campbell allowed 3.11 goals and logged a 0.888 save percentage, often requiring a strong Toronto Maple Leafs attack to bail him out – an attack that scored 4.76 goals per game during that span.

Many will say his dip in performance came due to injury. Well, I rest my case. While Campbell isn’t quite in the same mold, or anywhere near the same mold, as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, they are also similar. Such as showing inconsistency following an injury.

More. 3 defensemen the Buffalo Sabres need to pursue. light

And the last thing the Sabres need is to fork out big money for a goaltender who, because he can’t stay healthy, winds up being a part-time starter. Campbell is one of the league’s best goaltenders when healthy. But he is also the type of player who has never proven to be durable. So hopefully, Kopnak’s Tweet is correct in saying the Buffalo Sabres will not go after Jack Campbell.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)

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