3 burning questions for the Buffalo Sabres halfway through preseason

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.

2 – Are any of the prospects worth keeping around?

Zach Benson wasn’t great in the Buffalo Sabres loss to the Penguins, but he also wasn’t terrible. So far, he’s looked NHL-ready and he at least held his own against Pittsburgh’s NHL-worthy squad. But then again, is there any point to rush Benson along even if you deem him NHL-ready?

With the talent the Blue and Gold already have, perhaps they feel he’s ready for the big club, but may not believe it’s worth the risk of letting him play an 82-game schedule just yet. Ditto for Ryan Johnson, who has more than shown he can handle the grind for at least the short-term.

But do you trust a player who has never appeared in over 54 regular season games in his career to be ready for an 82-game stretch? If the Sabres are talking playoffs, then they need to think long and hard before allowing two of their most recent signees to play on the big club.

Someone like Brandon Biro, on the other hand, could be worth it since he’s had two years of pro hockey experience in the AHL. If I’m making an overreaction, then I’m saying Johnson and Benson should be in the NHL. But if I’m being logical, I’d only roll with Biro.

Update! The Buffalo Sabres released their first round of roster cuts earlier today, and Ryan Johnson, Brandon Biro, and Zach Benson remain with the team as of 5:30 p.m., Saturday September 29th. Jiri Kulich and Isak Rosen are also still in the Queen City.