Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who was already one of the Buffalo Sabres' biggest question marks entering the 2025-26 NHL season, is now dealing with an injury that leaves his status unsettled ahead of an Oct. 9 Opening Night matchup with the New York Rangers.
UPL struggled mightily behind a porous defense last season. He posted a 3.20 goals against average and .887 save percentage in 55 games, a precipitous drop from his 2023-24 numbers (2.57 GAA and .910 SV%). Yet, he was still projected to open training camp as the Sabres' unquestioned starter between the pipes before suffering the injury.
If he's not able to recover before the Rangers game to open the campaign, Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff will have three choices to fill the void: Alex Lyon, Alexandar Georgiev and prized prospect Devon Levi, who's currently in camp with the AHL's Rochester Americans.
It's not an easy decision as we tackle the latest crucial Sabres debate as part of our season-long series about tough questions facing the organization.
Who should be the Buffalo Sabres' starting goalie if Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen remains sidelined by injury?
The case for Alex Lyon
Buffalo signed Lyon on the opening day of NHL free agency to replace James Reimer as the team's chief reserve in net. That suggests general manager Kevyn Adams viewed him as a priority addition, and likely gives him an inside track on the starting assignment if UPL is out.
The 32-year-old journeyman has enjoyed some success across stops in five organizations. That includes two seasons ago with the Detroit Red Wings when he posted a .904 SV% in 44 games, though that number did drop to .896 in 30 outings last year.
His .902 career SV% is actually a few ticks higher than Luukkonen (.898), and there was thought he could push for a larger share of playing time than a typical backup, even before the starter's injury. It's possible he could see around 35 starts regardless of UPL's initial status.
The case for Alexandar Georgiev
Georgiev, who didn't sign with the Sabres until UPL's injury popped up in mid-September, is the team's boom-or-bust option. He's been awful for the past two seasons (.887 SV%) but had previously started to establish himself as an upper echelon netminder.
He compiled a .912 SV% across his first six NHL seasons with the New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche. His best campaign came in 2022-23 with the Avs when he went 40-16-6 with a 2.53 GAA and .918 SV% across 62 appearances.
Although it's no guarantee Georgiev will ever rediscover that form, he represents a potential high-risk, high-reward play for Buffalo, which needs to catch a few breaks to end its 14-year playoff drought. His chance of truly carrying the team are higher than Lyon's.
The case for Devon Levi
Buffalo would seriously prefer to give Levi another full season with the Amerks to focus on his development. That was clear when the front office signed Lyon early in free agency and was solidified when it brought in Georgiev amid the Luukkonen injury.
Yet, the 23-year-old prized prospect is also the Sabres' best chance to catch lightning in a bottle. He's been terrific at the AHL level (.922 SV% in 68 games) but hasn't been able to replicate that success in the NHL so far (.894 SV% in 39 contests).
Levi's outstanding track record at every stop of his journey suggests he's eventually going to figure it out at hockey's top level, though. Giving him the crease to open the campaign is a long shot, but he could enter the conversation if UPL is out for awhile and the veteran reserves struggle early.
Verdict: Alex Lyon
The Sabres, who should be hyper aggressive amid the longest postseason absence in NHL history, are actually quite conservative. They don't make many roster moves, and when they do complete a blockbuster trade, it's usually a high-profile player like JJ Peterka on the way out.
So, while Georgiev and Levi are the upside plays in this situation, fans should fully expect to see Lyon between the pipes against the Rangers if UPL is unavailable. He's the safe choice and has looked solid throughout his preseason appearances.
Whether it'll be the right choice is unclear, but one thing's for sure: Goaltending will likely make or break Buffalo's playoff chances during the 2025-26 campaign.