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Buffalo Sabres: Breaking down Eric Comrie’s strengths and weaknesses

By Sion Fawkes

Apr 21, 2022; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Winnipeg Jets goaltender Eric Comrie (1) comes off the ice against the Carolina Hurricanes before the game at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2022; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Winnipeg Jets goaltender Eric Comrie (1) comes off the ice against the Carolina Hurricanes before the game at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Buffalo Sabres desperately needed to add talent at goaltender for the 2022-23 NHL Season. And they did just that by signing Eric Comrie.

The Buffalo Sabres signed Eric Comrie on the first day of NHL Free Agency to a two-year, $3.6 million deal with an AAV of $1.8 million. And while Comrie had a great season in 2021-22, it is hard to look beyond the fact that he has a very small sample size, meaning he could be outstanding with more playing time or he could falter.

Today, we will touch on what Comrie does well, what he can improve upon, and whether he can become a decent stopgap in the net for the Buffalo Sabres. It is important to remember Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is still in the mix here, as is the 41-year-old Craig Anderson.

Buffalo Sabres
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 28: Eric Comrie #1 of the Winnipeg Jets reacts after a goal during a 3-2 Jets win over the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on October 28, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Who is new Buffalo Sabres goaltender Eric Comrie?

Comrie is a former second-round pick, having fallen to the Winnipeg Jets at 59th overall. He played sparingly at the NHL level between 2016-17 and 2020-21, and his early days with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose weren’t that good, posting a 0.9065 save percentage and a GAA of 3.04. Between the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons, Comrie finished just 32-51-9.

However, his statistics improved and over his next two seasons, Comrie posted a 0.9165 save percentage and a 43-33-5 record. He also had a GAA of just 2.62.

In 2019-20, his save percentage dipped with the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners to just 0.900, but he finished the season 4-0 and recorded a 2.75 GAA. Comrie returned to the Jets system and therefore, to the Moose, where he played in 16 games and finished 6-9.

However, his 0.918 save percentage and 2.51 GAA stood out. And he played another four games for the Moose in 2020-21, finishing 3-0-1 with a 0.947 save percentage and a 1.23 GAA.

Following his eventual successful stint in the AHL, Comrie moved into the NHL full-time in 2021-22. Here, he played in 19 games, finishing 10-5-1 with a 0.920 save percentage and a GAA of 2.58. But as mentioned, it is a small sample size. And the question remains whether Comrie can emulate last season’s successful run with the Buffalo Sabres.

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