The Buffalo Sabres' signing of Alexandar Georgiev on September 11 raised some eyebrows. The move was clearly insurance as news of starting netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s injury broke on the airwaves.
But beyond the evident injury woes afflicting Luukkonen, who should apparently be just fine to start the season, what does the suddenly crowded crease signify for the Sabres?
A healthy Luukkonen means the Sabres would have four NHL goalies in the depth chart. Granted, two of them aren’t precisely elite in nature.
Luukkonen is the no-brainer starting goaltender. There’s little room for debate there. Then, there’s Alex Lyon. Lyon would be the backup. Again, there’s little room to debate there. But beyond Luukkonen and Lyon, things could get interesting.
There’s Devon Levi. The Sabres have been patient with the 23-year-old. He’s still considered a prospect and should get another shot at becoming a solid NHL netminder.
So, where does that put Georgiev?
His atrocious season last year, split between the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks, doesn’t offer much encouragement. Georgiev looks like an insurance piece at this point. He’ll likely head down to Rochester to start the season.
But then again, could having Georgiev in the fold be more about hedging bets? Do the Sabres believe that Luukkonen may be out for longer than anticipated? Could there be serious injury concerns for the Sabres’ starting goalie?
These are questions that likely prompted Kevyn Adams to secure at least one other NHL-level goalie before he needs to scramble to acquire one.
Sabres may have to roll with Lyon-Georgiev tandem
If Luukkonen faces significant injury concerns, the Sabres may have no choice but to roll with a Lyon-Georgiev tandem.
Just the thought of that possibility is enough to send Sabres fans looking for their stresstabs. While Lyon is a solid netminder, he hasn’t really established himself as a starter. Having Georgiev as a 1B could also be enough to induce panic attacks.
This scenario, of course, is somewhat of a nightmare situation. But it could materialize unless Levi finally takes over a more meaningful role.
That could happen this season, but then again, it might not. The Sabres have a solid all-around lineup. But if goaltending is going to be their biggest weakness, the club may find it hard to gain traction in the Atlantic Division.
It’s worth pointing out that the Sabres no longer consider themselves a rebuilding club. They’re ready to compete for a playoff spot. But without a bona fide starting goalie, trying to leapfrog the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, and Ottawa Senators may be too much to ask for.
As long as Luukkonen is healthy and in the crease, the Sabres have a solid shot at ending their playoff drought.