The Buffalo Sabres might have had a chance at clearing their crowded crease in a potential deal with the Edmonton Oilers. At least, that’s what insider Elliotte Friedman revealed.
In his latest 32 Thoughts blog, Friedman discussed the Oilers’ search for a solution in goal. Edmonton closed on Friday a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins to acquire Tristan Jarry. But before finalizing that deal, the Oilers looked into a Sabres goalie.
The goalie in question was Alex Lyon.
Friedman wrote the following on the matter:
“I believe the Oilers poked around Alex Lyon. Not as seriously as Jarry, but it was there.”
Judging from the comments, it doesn’t seem like the Oilers were all-in on Lyon. Potentially, the Sabres’ netminder was on their radar in case other deals worked out. If anything, Lyon might have been a fallback option in case they couldn’t land Jarry.
But the Oilers got Jarry, and the rest is history. Still, the rumor seems like a missed opportunity for the Sabres. As my colleague Brandon Croce pointed out, the Sabres blew a chance to fix their goalie mess.
While Lyon might have been on the Oilers’ radar, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen could have also been an option. Some chatter has posited in recent weeks that Luukkonen might be available. If that’s the case, a team like the Oilers could have kicked the tires on him.
While it seems the person of interest was Lyon, the Sabres missed a chance to clear the logjam. Furthermore, the deal could have allowed the Sabres to recoup other assets.
Price Oilers paid for Jarry could have been a solid haul for Sabres
The Oilers paid a relatively steep price for Jarry. Edmonton gave up goalie Stuart Skinner and defenseman Brett Kulak. While neither Skinner nor Kulak is a superstar, they’re reliable players. Skinner, unfortunately, fell on hard times due to inconsistency. One theory is that the pressure of performing at the level the Oilers expected got to him.
Perhaps moving away from the spotlight on the Oilers and getting a fresh start in Buffalo would have done wonders for Skinner. That’s something NHL fans will find out when Skinner eventually plays for the Penguins.
Meanwhile, the Sabres could have used a blueliner like Brett Kulak. Solid, most reliable, not flashy. Kulak could have been a decent addition to the Sabres’ blueline.
Lastly, the Penguins got a second-round pick from the Oilers. That’s another interesting asset the Sabres could have kept or used as a chip to acquire other pieces.
All told, this entire conversation about Lyon, or Luukkonen, going to the Oilers belongs in the realm of “what-if.” But it could be that Kevyn Adams has something up his sleeve. Sabres fans might get a jolt some time, when they least expect it.