The Buffalo Sabres may soon have a difficult goaltending decision to make as incumbent starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen returns from a pair of preseason injuries to join Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis on the active roster, and apparently the St. Louis Blues are watching closely.
Buffalo claimed Ellis off waivers from the Blues before the start of the regular season, and Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Sabres are "worried" St. Louis will reclaim the 25-year-old goalie if he's placed back on the waiver wire in an attempt to get him into the AHL.
Friedman noted the Sabres "don't want to lose him" and, as a result, will probably carry three netminders for an indefinite period of time.
Ellis made his NHL debut in the Blue and Gold's 4-2 win over the Atlantic Division rival Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday night. He stopped 29 of 31 shots in the contest.
Keeping three goalies on the roster could create headaches for the Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres' decision to recall Luukkonen from his conditioning assignment after just one appearance with the AHL's Rochester Americans came as a surprise.
Buffalo could have kept UPL with the Amerks for up to 14 days, and multiple starts seemed like the best option available for a couple reasons.
First, Luukkonen missed most of the preseason after arriving to training camp with a minor injury. Then his first exhibition appearance lasted just one period because of a separate ailment, which led him to miss the start of the regular season.
Giving the 26-year-old Finland native at least two or three outings in Rochester seemed like the obvious way to make sure he was back up to full speed before facing NHL-level competition.
Second, Buffalo's decision makers, led by general manager Kevyn Adams and head coach Lindy Ruff, knew UPL's return would create the far-from-ideal three-goalie environment. It's virtually impossible to get a trio of goaltenders enough work to keep them all sharp.
The Sabres should also want to get another look at Ellis, who posted an impressive .919 save percentage in 64 games for the Springfield Thunderbirds, the Blues' AHL affiliate, over the past three years before making a final decision about his future.
So, Buffalo must now navigate a game-to-game situation where it has to decide between Lyon (who's delivered Vezina Trophy-level play in the early going), UPL (who needs game action after being out so long) and Ellis (who'd likely be grabbed by the Blues or another team if he's placed on waivers).
It's worth pointing out Luukkonen posted an unsightly .887 SV% last season, so the Blue and Gold want see whether he can bounce back closer to the .910 mark he compiled in 2023-24.
UPL and Lyon have also become the focus of trade speculation amid the uncertainty.
All told, the Sabres can't be disappointed that they now have three legitimate options in net, not to mention prized prospect Devon Levi in the minors. It gives them an opportunity to ride the hot hand as they attempt to finally end a 14-year playoff drought.
The situation is ripe to cause problems in the weeks ahead, however, and St. Louis is apparently eager to get Ellis back in its organization if possible.