Colten Ellis resumed skating with the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday as the goaltender finishes going through the NHL's concussion protocol. As he does, the organization will once again be faced with issues created by having three goalies on the active roster.
Jarmo Kekalainen, who replaced Kevyn Adams as the Sabres' general manager on Monday, admitted the far-from-ideal situation will require a solution in the near future.
Buffalo's three netminders have combined to post an .897 save percentage across 32 games this season, which ranks 17th in the NHL. Head coach Lindy Ruff has attempted to ride the hot hand, but it's simply led to inconsistency from all three goaltenders.
As a result, Kekalainen will be under pressure to remove either Ellis, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen or Alex Lyon from the active roster in the near future, and there isn't necessarily an easy answer available since there are so many variables in play.
So, let's analyze and rank each of the available options for the new leader of Buffalo's front office as he attempts to push the team back toward playoff contention in the crowded Eastern Conference.
It's the latest installment of our Sabres debates series, which previously looked at the untenable conundrum between the pipes all the way back in early October.
1. Trade Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Trading UPL represents the best of both worlds for the Sabres. It eliminates the three-goalie problem for the current campaign and creates much more flexibility at the position moving forward.
Luukkonen is signed through the 2028-29 season with a $4.75 million salary, a contract signed after a breakout 2023-24 campaign he's been unable to match. Getting that deal off the books would generate some much-needed salary-cap space as Buffalo attempts to re-sign winger Alex Tuch.
Taking UPL out of the equation also creates a potential roster spot for prized prospect Devon Levi next season.
2. Waive Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
The 26-year-old Finnish netminder posted a .910 SV% in his breakthrough 2023-24 season. Here are his numbers in that category in the other three seasons since joining the Sabres on a full-time basis: .891, .887 and .884.
Quite simply, that's not good enough, especially for a player making nearly $5 million. If a trade partner can't be found, placing him on waivers and hoping another team is willing to take on the remainder of his contract is the next-best option.
3. Trade Alex Lyon
There should be at least some interest in Lyon around the NHL. The 33-year-old veteran has proven himself as a reliable backup over the years, and he's been Buffalo's best goalie this season at the times when he's received consistent starts (.905 SV% overall).
It's hard to imagine he's part of the Sabres' long-term vision, however, which is why trading him makes a little more sense than Ellis at this stage.
4. Trade Colten Ellis
There were rumors earlier in the season that the St. Louis Blues, who placed Ellis on waivers before the start of the regular season only to see the Sabres claim him, were interested in getting him back. At the time, they were hoping Buffalo would send him back to the waiver wire.
Kekalainen should at least check in with St. Louis, which ranks 29th with an .882 team SV%, to see if it would give up an asset to require the 25-year-old netminder. It's unclear whether there would be any other interest around the league given his up-and-down first eight NHL starts.
Ultimately, Ellis has shown enough positive signs to at least remain in Buffalo as a backup.
5. Waive Colten Ellis
These last two outcomes aren't ideal but they represent the path of least resistance, which has been the Sabres' modus operandi for the past decade.
Ellis would probably be claimed on waivers, likely by the Blues, which means Buffalo would lose a young goaltender with a track record of AHL success for nothing.
6. Waive Alex Lyon
As mentioned, Lyon has been the Sabres' most effective netminder this season. Putting him on the waiver wire makes the team worse right now and it doesn't help solve any future problems as the Blue and Gold would still have UPL, Ellis and Levi to juggle heading toward next season.
This decision would represent Kekalainen simply kicking the can down the road, and he'd be hurting Buffalo's already faint postseason hopes in the process.