Buffalo Sabres 2023-24 Player Outlook: Eric Comrie
Following a strong 2021-22 season, the Buffalo Sabres brought in Eric Comrie to potentially compete as a 1A, but that never went according to plan.
The Buffalo Sabres were hoping goaltender Eric Comrie could enjoy at least a somewhat decent campaign in 2022-23 after he put together a remarkable year with the Winnipeg Jets in 2021-22 as a backup goaltender. That season, he recorded a save percentage of 0.920, a GAA of 2.58, and a 0.625 quality starts percentage.
Clearly, it was easy to see why many following the Sabres, myself included, were excited about Comrie coming in and potentially becoming the team’s top goaltender. In hindsight, it didn’t work, as Comrie finished the year with an 0.886 save percentage, a 3.67 GAA, and a meager 0.421 quality starts percentage. Sure, you can blame bad defense, but Comrie rarely held up his end of the deal.
He did enjoy a few remarkable outings, including one against the Jets, but they were too few and far between for fans to realistically think he will play a pivotal role with the Sabres this season. That said, Comrie will most likely end up in Rochester, and that’s assuming he passes through waivers.
Will we see Eric Comrie at all with the Buffalo Sabres in 2023-24?
Let’s hope not, because if we do, it means either Devon Levi or Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen are either injured or struggling. And while Comrie makes for a solid insurance policy, he proved last season that he doesn’t fare well when he’s pegged in as ‘the guy,’ despite playing in only 19 contests thanks to injury and poor performance.
While the 28-year-old could become the starting goaltender in Rochester, there is a chance he won’t pass through waivers and will therefore be out of the Buffalo Sabres hands. Ideally, I’d rather see him stay and become the guy with the Amerks, as he can star in the AHL.
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But that will depend on what occurs with netminders on other teams. Once the Sabres place Comrie onto waivers, someone will pick him up if an injury occurs to a goaltender in camp or the preseason. There is also a chance a team places one of their projected top two goalies on waivers because of performance-related issues, which could necessitate them to scan the waiver wire.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)