Top 3 concerns facing the Buffalo Sabres goaltenders in 2022
With the aging Craig Anderson and the unproven Eric Comrie in the net for 2022-23, fans have the right to be concerned about the Buffalo Sabres goalies.
The Buffalo Sabres are without a doubt better than they were this time last season. However, goaltender remains a major concern for those in and outside of Sabres circles. Many fans have asked questions regarding the unit, which includes Eric Comrie, Craig Anderson, Malcolm Subban, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
The first question is the most common, so therefore I did not list it in the following sections. That question involves who will see the most playing time at goaltender in 2022. The answer is Eric Comrie, who is just 27 and coming off of a stellar, albeit limited performance in 2021-22.
But with Comrie as the frontrunner to receive the most ice time, there is another major concern surrounding him. Let’s talk about it and two others.
Will Eric Comrie capitalize on extended playing time with the Buffalo Sabres?
Last season in Winnipeg, Comrie played in 19 games, tallying a 2.58 GAA and a 0.920 save percentage. It was a good season for the goaltender who never received a real chance to shine, especially since he played behind one of the league’s greatest goalies in Connor Hellebuyck.
Now that Comrie will likely set a new career high with the Buffalo Sabres in terms of games played, how will he fare? The real answer is that he should be okay if he gets a break every few contests. For every two or three games (on average) he starts, Craig Anderson (or potentially another) would come in as relief for a game or two.
There is also a possibility we even see Luukkonen step up in early 2023 if he proves he can remain healthy and consistent in Rochester. This is assuming the Sabres don’t keep him around as the third goaltender on the active roster early in the season. And though the possibility of such a scenario is slim, but not farfetched.
If Comrie plays in three straight outings and takes every fourth and at times, fifth game off, he should see ice time in no more than 45 contests. Ideally, closer to 40, which will double his ice time from last season but it shouldn’t be so overwhelming that he hits a wall.
Can Luukkonen avoid injury and enjoy a consistent 2022-23 campaign?
The Buffalo Sabres clearly showed faith in Luukkonen after they re-signed him to a two-year deal. As we know, Luukkonen has not been consistent in the net down in Rochester, with a save percentage of just 0.900 and a 3.28 GAA.
Further, for a guy who the Sabres and the fan base once envisioned as a franchise goaltender, Luukkonen has not shown the type of improvement or durability of evolving into such a player. However, his saving grace has been the ability to play well in short NHL stints, as he showed last season with a 0.917 save percentage and 2.74 GAA.
Though it was a nine-game stint before the injury bug hit, Luukkonen showed he can at least play well at the NHL level. And this season, he could show more consistency since he knows Devon Levi and perhaps Erik Portillo will be entering the system for 2023-24.
While durability is always a toss-up for most hockey players, expect to see more urgency from Luukkonen this season as he looks to prove capable of holding off potential newcomers like Levi. Now that it’s crunch time, look for Luukkonen to enjoy a better statistical campaign.
How many games can Craig Anderson realistically play this season?
In 2021-22, Craig Anderson was yet another goaltender in the Buffalo Sabres system that struggled with inconsistency and injuries. Though he had his moments, the then-40-year-old showed his age on multiple occasions.
Ideally, Anderson plays in no more than 15 games this season at age 41. But with Comrie projected to see extended ice time for the first time in his career, it is likely Anderson mans the net in at least two-dozen contests.
The only way I couldn’t see this happening would be if the Sabres kept Luukkonen on the active roster as a third goaltender. Something I would love to see happen, but logistically, this would only occur if he enjoys an outstanding camp and the Sabres feel he is ready for extended NHL action himself.
Realistically, I will grudgingly cap Anderson at 25 games, though everything in me is screaming this is too much for the aging goaltender. Especially since he missed time with injuries twice in 2021-22 after playing in just 31 games.
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Overall, Comrie will take advantage of seeing extended playing time, but ideally, he isn’t asked to start too many games in a row. Luukkonen should see a sense of urgency this year with Devon Levi and perhaps Erik Portillo on the cusp of signing following the 2022-23 NCAA Season. Finally, Anderson will likely see over 20 games of action, but he is better suited for less.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference and Hockey DB)