Buffalo Sabres crowded crease could lead to major move

The Buffalo Sabres signed goaltending prospect Devon Levi a two-year deal earlier this week. News of the signing has been met with mixed reactions as questions still linger regarding Levi’s ceiling in the NHL.

Aside from skepticism surrounding Levi, there’s another potentially complex situation brewing. The Sabres now have three goalies in the mix. So, something’s got to give as it’s unlikely the Sabres carry all three for the entire season.

First, there’s no doubt that Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will be the starter. The only question surrounding Luukkonen is how many games he could play this upcoming season.

Second, there’s Alex Lyon. He was a good signing as he’s proven to be a capable NHL goalie everywhere he’s been. He’s not quite a starter, at least not yet, but he’s shown he can step in when needed.

Third, there’s Levi. He's waivers exempt so he can easily head down to Rochester to start the season. From there, the Sabres can call him up if need be.

But what if Levi finally hits his stride? What if Levi somehow delivers on his potential, showing that he’s ready to make the leap to a full-time NHL role?

That could lead to a crowded crease that could necessitate a major move. That major move may not necessarily mean trading Luukkonen.

But then again, the Sabres could be enticed to swing for the fences in a goalie-starved market. There are a handful of teams looking to upgrade in goal. The most notable is the Edmonton Oilers. Other clubs like the Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets and Utah Mammoth could all look to land a significant upgrade in the crease.

So, if push comes to shove, the Sabres could be compelled to make a major move, if the price is right.

Sabres banking on Levi reaching next level

Even if the Sabres aren’t keen on trading Luukkonen, the club still has high hopes for Levi. The 23-year-old looked good in Rochester last season, posting a 2.20 GAA and a .919 SV% in 42 games. However, he struggled significantly at the NHL level. In nine games, he sported a 4.42 GAA and an .872 SV%.

What that means is that the Sabres, like it or not, have little choice with Levi. He either makes it or he doesn’t. The club, of course, is hoping the former will be the case. That could mean that more patience will be needed for the 23-year-old.

Now, we might think there’s still time for Levi to find his game. But the fact is that time is running out. The Sabres are willing to wait a couple more seasons before making a final call on Levi. If he shows he can play in the AHL, but struggles at the NHL level, he could turn into a career AHL goalie.

But that’s not what the Sabres hope will be the case. Ideally, Levi turns out to be a solid tandem goalie. A Luukkonen-Levi duo could give the Sabres the stability between the pipes they haven’t had since the Ryan Miller days.

A solid tandem could mean the difference between prolonging the team’s playoff drought and finally breaking through a highly competitive Atlantic Division.