Buffalo Sabres could end up with their best goaltender controversy in years

Controversies in sports are rarely fun, and they often end badly. For the Buffalo Sabres, a debate over who should be their No. 1 goaltender could develop this season. While it’s still early, netminders Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi each started, and lost, one game. 

Despite allowing three goals apiece, both netminders looked good, and I’d argue they may embark on a pair of career-best seasons. Now that James Reimer’s time with the club is history and he’s playing somewhere else - does it really matter where he went - it’s clear that Buffalo will roll with a young and exciting combo of Ukko and Levi. 

But the question could ultimately be, “Which of these two goaltenders should end up as the No. 1, or at least the 1A?” We just saw the Boston Bruins narrowly avoid catastrophe here, and it’s something the Blue and Gold don’t need, so if you’re the Sabres, how do you make the best of this controversy?

Or better yet, potential controversy, as the ‘what-if’ factor is constantly in place. Flashing back to last season, Devon Levi was the clear preferred choice before he struggled and spent time in the AHL. Luukkonen looked great and only got better as the season progressed, so it was easy to sort this one out. 

If I’m the Sabres, the first thing I’m doing is refraining from pushing the panic button if, for example, Luukkonen struggles through a slate of poor play. We all know what could happen here: Luukkonen plays poorly, Levi comes in and strings together a good game or two, but then Luukkonen needs to start in the second half of a back-to-back and maybe looks like the player he was in 2023-24, and the next thing you know, both netminders are looking over their shoulders. 

How would the Sabres best navigate a potential controversy?

It’s an unwinnable situation, but should a controversy erupt, and there will be talk about it this season, mark me. Why? Because even the best netminders in hockey can struggle through bad stretches and their backups or 1Bs may play like miracle workers. 

My proposal? I wouldn’t even roll with a 1A or a 1B, and definitely not a No. 1 or No. 2, the latter of which being one goaltender gets the bulk of starts while the other sits. Instead, I’d rather see the Sabres keep rotating netminders until they find specific patterns. 

If Levi played the Ottawa Senators well earlier in the year, make sure he gets the nod against them again. If he struggled through a bad game vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs, start Luukkonen against them the next time, and vice versa. 

Position controversies, or potential controversies, can scare a fanbase, especially with two high-potential players like Levi and Luukkonen. Instead of mismanaging it, seek out which goaltenders play their best against specific opponents, and insert them in there, except in the event of a back-to-back against the same team. 

This will give the Sabres the best chance to win this season, and it could even be a good way to go about things should Levi re-sign with Buffalo. Just a heads up - I’d call it a foregone conclusion.