It’s safe to say Eric Comrie’s one-and-a-half year stint with the Buffalo Sabres didn’t go so well, as the journeyman goaltender compiled a 10-14-1 record, an 0.881 save percentage, and a 3.75 GAA across 26 appearances. Comrie was also injury-prone, having missed significant time in each season with Buffalo, and that could have further hindered things.
Given his age, Comrie was also destined to be the odd man out with youngsters Devon Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen figuring to be better long-term fits than the 28-year-old. When Levi saw a resurgence and Luukkonen also bounced back from a pedestrian stint, we knew it wouldn’t be long until the inevitable occurred and Comrie found himself in Rochester.
But Comrie has predominantly been an AHL goaltender for most of his career including a few games in Rochester last season, so he’s no stranger to the minor league. And he reminded everyone during his debut for the Amerks that he is also at least a fringe NHL-caliber talent.
Buffalo Sabres goaltender enjoys outstanding debut in Rochester
Comrie stepped in and made 33 saves in the Amerks win over the Cleveland Monsters last night. Having faced just 34 shots on goal, Comrie compiled a 0.970 save percentage in a performance that was eerily similar to what we saw the other night from Devon Levi in the Sabres win over the Montreal Canadiens.
The veteran goaltender also completes what should be a “stacked” Amerks team once Jiri Kulich returns from a dominant performance in the 2024 IIHF World Juniors. Kulich captained Team Czechia, who ended up winning the bronze, and he will join a group of veterans like Comrie, Jacob Bryson, and Tyson Jost, all of whom found themselves recently allocated to the Amerks.
Overall, this team should be stacked in the new year if the Buffalo Sabres avoid the injury bug between now and April. While things haven’t totally gone Rochester’s way this season, mainly thanks to roster turbulence, they should be more than fine if Comrie and Company remain in town.
Source: AMERKS TAKE DOWN MONSTERS TO RING IN NEW YEAR
(Statistics provided by Amerks.com and Hockey-Reference)