Buffalo Sabres failing to learn from a dark history lesson

The Buffalo Sabres have used the three-goaltender mentality in the past and it cost them, showing us they are not learning from history.

Remember Mika Noronen? If not, Tim Graham of The Athletic has you covered, and it’s an article Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams would do well to read. In the piece, Graham rehashes how the once-highly-sought prospect fell victim to the infamous three-goaltender rotation that left him with a forgettable professional hockey career.

Here in 2023-24, history is repeating itself, with an experienced veteran (even if he hasn’t played in a ton of NHL games) in Eric Comrie, plus a fast-rising Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Then you have Devon Levi, the third man who has been forced into the undesirable role of starting one game per week since returning from injury.

And it doesn’t foreshadow a happy ending for the 21-year-old, who could be developing his game in Rochester, much like Luukkonen spent a few years doing. No, it wasn’t the preferred method earlier in the year, as Levi looked like the guy, but in hindsight, Luukkonen is this team’s top goaltender until he proves otherwise, and Comrie has also shown his worth.

Buffalo Sabres are failing to learn from an important history lesson

The last thing the Sabres need is for Levi to become another Mika Noronen, who ended up playing in 71 career NHL games with half of his appearances coming in 2003-24. It’s clear the former high-upside product became a victim of a three-goaltender rotation when the Sabres used him improperly, as Noronen himself stated:

"“I suffered from it. That’s why I’m hoping they don’t do the same thing in Buffalo this year. This situation is not good for anyone, as a player or the organization.“I hope they make decisions for these guys so they don’t need to go through the same s— I did.”"

Source: Mika Noronen’s derailed career a cautionary tale about the Buffalo Sabres and three goalies

This isn’t to say the same thing will happen to Levi, who is currently a distant third from a productivity standpoint. Thanks to the performances from Luukkonen and Comrie, it’s clear that bad defense isn’t the issue like it was last season, and that Levi should be doing a better job in the net.

Luukkonen is currently posting a 0.911 save percentage, a 2.80 GAA, plus a 0.571 quality starts percentage. Comrie’s save percentage of 0.898 is nothing to celebrate, but his 2.62 GAA and 0.500 quality starts percentage shows us he’s at least serviceable.

Meanwhile, Levi’s numbers have paled, sitting at an 0.879 save percentage, a quality starts percentage of 0.250, and a 3.66 GAA. It’s clear he’s been struggling, and playing him once or at most, twice a week, will hinder his development. You can’t say the same for Luukkonen and Comrie, as both spent plenty of time in the AHL, and it has given them a more well-rounded game.

Overall, the Buffalo Sabres need to take the history lesson involving Mika Noronen with more than a grain of salt and compare it to their current situation at goaltender. The last thing they need is to waste another promising talent Devon Levi is, but in the early going, they are clearly mishandling the 21-year-old.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)