Many questions are right in front of general manager Kevyn Adams and company as they are starting another offseason. The biggest question may be what to do between the pipes as they attempt to finally break their playoff drought.
Currently backup goalies James Reimer and Devon Levi are both free agents. Ukko Pekka Luukkonen is still under contract; however, he underperformed a year ago and there may be questions as to if he is the long-term answer.
As the Sabres look to turn a page, one player that may want to look at is Jet Greaves from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Last season, as a backup goalie, he won seven games in 11 starts. He had a save percentage of .938 on the year.
He may be the goalie of the future for the Bluejackets, but the Sabres may want to make an attempt to nab a future goalie that could be star. They have not had a superstar goalie since the likes of Ryan Miller. They had goalies in Linus Ullmark and Robin Lehner who both have played better when they left Buffalo.
Now the Sabres need to take a major chance and grab a goalie that has incredible potential. In his final win of the season of April 17, he had a save percentage of .973 in a 6-1 win over the Islanders. He made 36 saves.
Greaves has one year remaining on his contract. Like Reimer, he is a restricted free agent. It means that the Bluejackets can match any offer that Greaves receives after next year. The Sabres could make a play for him after next season.
However, making a trade for a premiere goalie could signal to the Sabres fanbase they are serious about making a move that could set up the franchise. They need to take a big swing this offseason.
Luukkonen, last season, had his save percentage dip from .910 the previous year to .873 last season. He may not the long-term answer and the Sabres will be looking to either bring a backup or a goalie of a future.
In my opinion, Greaves will be a premiere goalie and has potential to be a long-term solution for a team in the future.
The Sabres need the future to build upon. The past had Ryan Miller, who was the last goalie to start for the Sabres in the postseason. Now they need the future goalie to get them into the postseason once again.