Sabres' surprising plan may hinge on former Avalanche netminder amid injury scare
Photo credit: Jenn G / flickr.com
The Buffalo Sabres' surprising plan for the upcoming season may rely heavily on former Colorado Avalanche netminder Alexandar Georgiev, as the team deals with an injury scare surrounding starting goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, raising questions about who will ultimately take the crease.
The Sabres' signing of Alexandar Georgiev on September 11 certainly raised some eyebrows.
Sabres' surprising plan may hinge on goaltender Alexandar Georgiev this season.
Nestor Quixtan from Sabres Noise writes that the move was clearly meant as insurance after news of Luukkonen's injury hit 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?" -Quixtan
If Luukkonen is healthy, the Sabres would have four NHL-caliber goalies on their depth chart, though it's worth noting that two of them aren't exactly elite.
"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?" -Quixtan
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?" -Quixtan
If Luukkonen struggles with the injury, the Sabres may have no choice but to rely on a Lyon-Georgiev tandem in net. The mere thought of that scenario is enough to send Sabres fans into a frenzy. While Lyon is a capable goaltender, he has yet to prove himself as a true starter, and pairing him with Georgiev as a 1B could easily spark panic among the fanbase.
"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." -Quixtan
With Luukkonen healthy and in net, the Sabres have a legitimate chance to finally end their playoff drought.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 27 | 19 ANSWERS Sabres' surprising plan may hinge on former Avalanche netminder amid injury scare Do you think Georgiev can steal the starting role in Buffalo this season? | ||
| yes | 6 | 31.6 % |
| no | 13 | 68.4 % |
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