3 burning questions for the Buffalo Sabres halfway through preseason
By Sion Fawkes
Technically, the Buffalo Sabres are just over the halfway point, and there are three big questions they must answer heading into next week.
Like the rest of the NHL, the Buffalo Sabres are facing quite a few burning questions heading into next week when the rosters tend to more closely resemble what we will see come opening night. Right now the Blue and Gold could be mired in controversy for the backup goaltender spot, and there is also the question of whether they will keep any big-name prospects aboard.
The Sabres also haven’t revealed their hand about who may ultimately fill in for Jack Quinn when the puck drops on the 12th, but there may be a few candidates. So, let’s dive deeper into what the Sabres may do with their goaltenders, which prospects could stick around, and who may end up on the second line.
3 burning questions the Buffalo Sabres must answer in the coming days
1 – Will they roll with a three-goalie rotation?
Perhaps the biggest question is if the Buffalo Sabres are once again willing to roll with three goaltenders. Devon Levi already showed us that he’s ready to be the top man in the net, but Eric Comrie snuck up with an outstanding performance last night against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
For months, Comrie looked like the odd man out, but Don Granato and his staff were wise enough to give him a chance. And right now, Comrie looks like the better option over Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who allowed a pair of breakaways to go through. Before that, Luukkonen allowed what should have been a routine stop.
So do the Sabres go with Luukkonen anyway and try to shop Comrie, or vice-versa? At that point, you need to keep them on the big club to avoid the risk of losing them on waivers. Or, do they take the risk and put them on waivers anyway if they roll with just two? As you can see, this one leads to a lot of subsequent questions.