OPINION: The Buffalo Sabres Have a Serious Goaltending Problem

The Buffalo Sabres have a goalending problem. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen left last night's preseason 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins after just one period because he had reaggravated an injury. That leaves the Sabres with two goalies, Alex Lyon and Alexandar Georgiev. Lyon has shown flashes throughout his career that he might be a starting-caliber goalie. Georgiev has struggled for the most part and is a project with a lot of upside. The Sabres sent Devon Levi down to the Rochester Americans earlier this training camp.

More Keep Scrolling ⬇️⬇️⬇️

*** Also coming up in the organization are goaltenders Scott Ratzlaff and Topias Leinonen.

But the main concern is for Luukkonen. A lot of people forget this is a man who had double hip surgery at a very young age and valiantly fought back to play again in the National Hockey League, even putting up a stellar season. But since that stellar season two years ago, Luukkonen has struggled to find his game.

OPINION: The Buffalo Sabres Have a Serious Goaltending Problem

Now, this is a matter of opinion on my part, so take this with a gigantic grain of salt. And also understand, I am not rooting against Luukkonen or the Sabres. But I often wonder if the Sabres can continue this project with UPL. Having played the position myself, your hips are important. Your hips in any sport are very important, but especially as a goaltender. The butterfly position, the up, the down, the side-to-side movements that you have to make... It's not an area you can be weak in. Now, we don't know if it's a hip injury for Luukkonen or what's going on, to be perfectly honest with you. We just know it's a lower-body injury. Thanks, NHL injury protocols, he said with an eye roll.

However, whatever is going on has lingered through last season. And I wonder how many more seasons the Sabres are going to give UPL. In my opinion, they should have traded him this offseason. Again, it is not because I don't like the person or the player. It's because if he had any value, it would have been this offseason when teams would have been optimistic about his future and health. Now you have a $5 million-a-year injured goalie that you're saddled with.

Being Positive About the Buffalo Sabres

Though, looking at it glass half-full, injuries are not necessarily permanent.  It's not all negative. Luukkonen could come back from this. He did come back from double hip surgery, and he is a good goaltender when he's healthy. By all accounts, he's a heck of a person, too. I want to see him come back from this. I want to see him win. I want the Sabres to be right about him. I just am a bit cutthroat when it comes to these things because it's pro sports, and that's what it is.

It's also my opinion that the reason the Sabres have not broken their 14-year playoff drought is directly linked to goalending. Last year, if they had average goalending, they'd probably make the playoffs, or at least come a heck of a lot closer. They did not get that all year, and Luukkonen was the prime problem.

If I were the Sabres, I would be looking harder at the trade market for a starting-caliber goaltender to pair with Lyon because I don't think Georgiev is the answer, but I would love to be wrong about that. Truth be told, I really like what Kevin Adams has done. I know that's not a popular opinion. I like Josh Norris. I like Michael Kesserling. I think Josh Doan is a steal. Connor Timmons fits the system better. And I really like Goalender Alex Lyon, from his personality to his actual play. I just don't know if Lyon can do it for 60 games, let alone 50 or 40 games. There's plenty to truly like about this Sabres team, but if they don't have consistent, at least average goalending, they're not going to break any streaks.

UPL is the key to it all. Here's hoping his injury heals quickly and that Lyon and Georgiev play well.