Where in the draft should they take one?
That's a little tricky.
The Sabres' goalie pipeline is set up nicely right now. Although they don't have the luxury of a young prospect like St. Louis' Jake Allen (2008, #34 overall) that could step in and be a #1 in the very near future, Buffalo does have quality amidst the quantity while the ages and contact status' of the pipeline stretch to seven years. (Of note, Allen, the 2014 AHL Outstanding Goaltender and his Chicago Wolves travel to Rochester on Friday to face off against the Amerks in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs.)
The elder statesmen of the Sabres' goaltending group are Jhonas Enroth and Michal Neuvirth. Both will be 26 yrs. old by the 2014 NHL Draft and both were drafted in the 2nd round in 2006--Neuvirth No. 34 overall (WAS,) Enroth by Buffalo at No. 46.
The rest line up like this (by age):
- Matt Hackett, 24 yrs old, 2009 3rd round (No. 77) MIN
- Connor Knapp, 23, 2009 6th round (No. 164) BUF
- Nathan Lieuwen, 22, 2011 6th round (No. 167) BUF
- Andrey Makarov, 21, 2012 FA, BUF
- Linus Ullmark, 20, 2012 6th round (No. 163) BUF
- Cal Peterson, 19, 2013 5th round (No. 129) BUF
While drafting at least one goalie goalie every year since the Enroth pick, save for 2008 and 2010, none of them were selected higher than the fifth round.
This year looks to be no different, as the organization will be looking to sort out their depth chart below Enroth and/or Neuvirth and there will be some shuffling amongst the goalies in the organization.
Up top, the status of Enroth was affected by the acquisition of Neuvirth. In addition, how Makarov performs in the playoffs could also have an adverse affect on Enroth's status.
Neuvirth was brought in by new GM Tim Murray. He likes the kid and thinks that he got caught in a goalie roulette wheel with the Capitals. "For whatever reason, he’s a backup [in Washington] and he’s just not as important as he wants to be,” Murray said, per the Buffalo News. “I think when he gets to feel some love again or whatever you want to call it and has an opportunity, then he can get his game back.”
Regardless of Neuvirth's rather average career stat-line, Murray makes it sound as if he's "his guy."
Also working against Enroth in the "debate" is his size. Murray likes bigger goalies.
Enroth comes in at 5'10" 166 lbs and his lack of net coverage has exposed some pretty substantial holes for a butterfly goalie, namely top-shelf.
Both Enroth and Neuvirth will be unrestricted free agents at the end of next season.
Complicating matters is the play of Makarov.
It's not so much that Makarov will be a part of the NHL mix next season, but his play for the Rochester Americans has raised some eyebrows.
Makarov has been outstanding for the Amerks and most would say he's the main reason Rochester is headed to the post season.
With Rochester goalies Lieuwen, Hackett and Knapp in Buffalo and the Amerks in a slump, Makarov made his AHL debut against Toronto March 25. Although he would lose his first three games, Makarov would be a big reason Rochester pulled out of their nine-game winless streak.
He was brilliant in his next five starts and the team climbed on board as they went on a five-game winning streak that pulled them back into the playoffs.
An emergency call-up with the Sabres would have Makarov miss the next Amerks game (a 2-1 SO loss at Lake Erie) but he would put on a 2nd star performance in a playoff clinching 4-1 victory over Utica.
Expectations are high, and a solid playoff run will give Amerks GM Kevin Devine a strong candidate to be in the mix for the #1 goalie spot next season.
The other two potential #1 goalies for Rochester are Lieuwen and Hackett who were the tandem this season.
It was Hackett's job to lose at the beginning of the season. And he lost it to Lieuwen. Not only that, Hackett's inconsistencies lead to some overt displays of on-ice aggression. He was known to have a temper to begin with, and that he snapped a couple of times during the Amerks regular season wasn't surprising.
Hackett did settle down a bit and his stint in Buffalo was pretty solid, all things considered. Next season he'll be at the point where the organization will need to see what he's got at the NHL level. With his age and RFA status this season, the 24 yr. old may have the opportunity to land a back-up job with the Sabres, maybe even compete for the #1 slot.
Which is how Enroth might be the odd man out as the team unlikely would go with three goalies on the Sabres' roster.
Lieuwen will be back in the AHL next season manning the crease possibly with Makarov should the latter prove his worth. Both will continue their development at the AHL-level while Knapp could be headed to Elmira with the Sabres ECHL affiliate.
Two prospects who won't see North American for at least a year or three are Ullmark and Peterson.
Peterson is in the USHL right now and is the only prospect still playing playoff hockey.
Kris Baker of sabresprospects.com really likes what the 6'2" 183 lb. Peterson brings to the table, "Petersen," wrote Baker, "is an aggressive goaltender with good quickness, technique, and reflexes that allow him to put together crisp move-to-move sequences."
Baker continues, "Perhaps his best quality, though, is his competitiveness. Whether it's in practice or a game, the Notre Dame commit hates to get scored on."
Ullmark is ranked as the #10 Sabres prospect by Baker and has been playing in Sweden, most recently for MODO in the Swedish Elite League. He had an excellent first season going 17-16-0. His 2.08 gaa and .931 sv% were both near the top of the league.
Ullmark re-upped with MODO for another season and according to Baker, he will need to be signed by Buffalo this summer or the Sabres will lose his rights. It will be at least another season before he hits North America.
The 6'3" 198 lb. Ullmark is a product of the scouting work done by Fredrik Andersson. Andersson was hired by the Sabres to scout Europe in search of goalies (among other players) like Nashville's stellar goalie Pekka Rinne, a gem found in the eighth round of the 2004 draft.
Because of the Miller trade and the rash of injuries, the rebuilding Buffalo Sabres got a real good look at all their professional goalies, and the conclusion is that the team has some pretty good depth there.
Even if Enroth moves on they have Neuvirth and Hackett at the NHL level, Lieuwen and Makarov in the AHL.
Ullmark is highly touted and is a year or two from coming to North America while Peterson is looking at three years before the Sabres need to extend a contract to him or lose his rights.
Those two prospects are key to what the Sabres will probably do at the draft.
There's a contingency that think Buffalo could use one of their multiple first and second round picks on a goalie like Thatcher Demko. The 2014 draft-eligible 18 yr. old is the top ranked goalie in the draft and looks to be a late first round, early second round draft pick.
Barring a trade, the Sabres will have the 31st selection, right at the top of the second round.
A ton of factors are involved with this year's draft as the finalization of two trades--Thomas Vanek to the NY Islanders and Miller to the St. Louis Blues--will help define where Buffalo picks and what they might be looking for.
Having a full pipeline with plenty of depth and potential, as well as having a scout overseas in Andersson who seems to have a good eye for talent, puts the Sabres in a win-win situation this season.
If Murray feels like he wants to add a top-notch prospect to the goalie ranks this year, he can. Or if he finds skaters to his liking early in the draft he can add a goalie prospect later.
In looking at where the organization is right now depth-wise and based upon what they have in their hands draft pick-wise, I'd say they'll eschew an early-round goalie selection and rely on Andersson to land a low-round prospect.
Whatever the case, look for the Sabres to keep the pipeline filled by plucking another goalie prospect at the 2014 NHL Draft.
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