NHL insider reveals 2 teams may be placing goalies on trade block
Photo credit: Perry Nelson - USA TODAY Sports
As the young NHL season begins to take shape, teams are faced with various roster-decisions, in particular where Buffalo and Vegas are concerned, both of whom may need to deal away one of their goalies.
In a recent episode of 32 Thoughts Insider Elliotte Friedman commented on both teams' goalie situation:
Vegas will have a surprisingly interesting decision to make in goal. When Hill is healthy and Carter Hart is eligible, will they carry three, make a move, or risk losing Schmid on waivers?
Similar situation for Buffalo. The Sabres brought back Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen after he stopped 21 of 23 in a 4-2 win Wednesday night for AHL Rochester against Syracuse. He rejoins early-season saviour Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis.
- Elliotte Friedman
Similar situation for Buffalo. The Sabres brought back Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen after he stopped 21 of 23 in a 4-2 win Wednesday night for AHL Rochester against Syracuse. He rejoins early-season saviour Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis.
- Elliotte Friedman
Carter Hart creates logjam in Vegas goal
As a replacement for the team's injured starting goalie Adin Hill, Akira Schmid has played extremely well, perfect in fact, going 4-0 in his four games played, one of which was Carolina's first loss of the year.
In his two years with Vegas, Schmid's role has been that of an emergency call-up, and has seen limited action. He is showing, however, that he is quite capable of taking over a net and performing at a high level, as he's done as a replacement for the number-1 fixture Adin Hill.
With Cater Hart now in the picture for Vegas, the team risks losing one on waivers, likely Akira Schmid. Oilers will be watching Vegas closely as their goalie-dilemma continues to unfold.
The Buffalo Sabres find themselves in the exact situation as Vegas, with the return to the lineup of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from the AHL, perhaps making goalie Colton Ellis expendable.
There is the possibility, of course, that Buffalo will carry all three of its goaltenders, given its issues in that position. It seems that their main concern, however, is losing Ellis to the St. Louis Blues, should he be placed on waivers, according to various reports.
No doubt, Stan Bowman will be monitoring these, and other goalie scenarios as developments continue to unfold this season, with an eye on the best fit for the Oilers.
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