Top 5 goaltender prospects Sabres fans must know about in the 2024 NHL Draft

While the Buffalo Sabres may not need to worry about their goaltenders with the big club for now, they must rebuild organizational depth at the position, with Topias Leinonen and Scott Ratzlaff serving as the only two notable names. Neither are anywhere near finished products, and they won’t even see AHL ice this season, so any sort of competition would be a welcome addition. 

Unfortunately, the 2024 NHL Draft’s goaltending class isn’t great, but regardless of how weak a group is, they all contain a few hidden gems. This is something general manager Kevyn Adams must unearth, as the names listed in the following slides would become eventual trade bait should Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi lock down the position with the big club. 

Still, there is no stability at the AHL level with it being just a matter of time before Levi takes a full-time role in the NHL. Even if none of the names listed make it to the NHL as a full-time goaltender, they would still hold value as an “insurance policy” and, as mentioned, part of an eventual trade package. 

Sabres should find value at goaltender in the 2024 NHL Draft

Thanks to stale play at the position before Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s breakout year and Devon Levi’s serviceable performances - his overall numbers really weren’t that bad - nobody realizes more than the Sabres the importance of drafting at least one goaltender per year, as the position is a luxury in the league. Netminders often take longer to fully hone their respective games, and even then, it’s a toss-up to whether they become high-value players. 

So, which netminders are worth looking at starting in the middle rounds in this season’s NHL Draft, and what does their current outlook entail? Keep reading and get to know five players Kevyn Adams must place onto his draft board for that final weekend in June.