The Oilers have called the Sabres “a couple of times in recent weeks” about the availability of goaltender Alex Lyon, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet said on Friday’s “32 Thoughts” podcast.
Friedman implied that Edmonton had looked at Lyon for goaltending depth in the past. It’s unclear if they made a pass at signing him in free agency last summer before Buffalo inked him to a two-year, $3MM deal.
Lyon was named the Sabres’ opening night starter after a training camp injury made Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen unavailable. The journeyman vet started strong, rattling off a .923 SV% through his first seven starts, but has since regressed significantly. He only made four appearances in November as Luukkonen and waiver claim Colten Ellis took over the majority of the duties, and his numbers on the year now read as a .904 SV%, 2.99 GAA, and 3.9 GSAx, per MoneyPuck.
That’s still the best performance out of the Sabres’ three netminders, though, and great value for his $1.5MM price tag. Nonetheless, newly promoted general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen has indicated he wants to end Buffalo’s three-goalie rotation once Ellis clears concussion protocol and is activated from injured reserve, according to Friedman. With his voice being a significant factor in influencing Ellis’ waiver claim in the first place and Luukkonen inked through the 2028-29 campaign, Lyon will likely be moved to get Buffalo back to a more traditional starter/backup split between Ellis and Luukkonen.
Edmonton’s pursuit of Lyon will presumably only get more aggressive after they lost Tristan Jarry to a lower-body injury last night. He’s departed the Oilers’ road trip and is returning home for evaluation. Connor Ingram and his 102 games of NHL experience were recalled from the Bakersfield Condors to supplement struggling backup Calvin Pickard in Jarry’s absence.
But Ingram has been the worst starter/tandem netminder in the AHL by a significant margin this season with a .856 SV%. Pickard’s NHL numbers this season – a .857 SV% and 3.91 GAA – are barely any better.
Jarry had largely fared well since his arrival in Alberta last week, but with him out, they don’t have a clear-cut NHL-caliber option, let alone a starter. Bringing in Lyon would allow the Oilers to then trade or waive Pickard, although with seven goalies already under contract in the organization, they’d likely prefer the former.
Teams swapping out their opening-night tandem by the time New Year’s Day rolls around is a rare occurrence, but if Edmonton brings in Lyon to supplant Pickard as the new No. 2 behind Jarry, it’ll have happened two years in a row. The Oilers’ desired series of moves is strikingly similar to the set of trades the Avalanche pulled off in November and December last year, sending starter Alexandar Georgiev to the Sharks for Mackenzie Blackwood and swapping backup Justus Annunen for Scott Wedgewood with the Predators.
Image courtesy of Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images.
Someday Edmonton will acquire an actual good goaltender (instead of terminally splashing around in the bargain bin) and it will absolutely blow all of our minds.
Actually that’s not a bad idea for EDM.
Lyon has the talent to be a good backup tender and is used to seeing a lot of rubber…
if were not all dead by then
The Oilers don’t need a superstar goaltender, they just needed someone better than Skinner. I honestly thought he would be good enough but he was terrible in the first round and terrible in the finals last playoffs and that was their best shot at it because Florida was not 100%. Jarry might be better but will he be healthy? Lyon or Pickard? I think Pickard is the better goalie but he has been terrible this year and so has Ingram. If they pick up Lyon then they should still keep Pickard if they can manage it.
What’s in it for Jarmo & the Sabres?
Good karma! However, it is only valid in Edmonton, so take it for what it is worth.
Lyon has been better than UPL. Jarmo wanted Ellis. Seems like a no brainer who is going.
I read today that Edm couldn’t afford even Lyon’s cap hit so there’s no way they can afford UPL’s which means salary has to go back so unless it’s something useful to the Sabres why are they going to do it? The Sabres aren’t going to do it just to help out Edm and why on earth do they even trade Lyon in the first place, right? I know the 3 goalies is far from from ideal but they can wait a little longer to rectify it at this point plus they can keep Ellis on IR till they get it worked out
Edmonton is gonna have to go into pure business mode if they wanna have any chance of making this work. If jarry goes onto IR, grab anyone with a pulse you can get ahold of, then when the time comes, let the waiver wire do what it will. Being polite isn’t gonna bring this team a cup win. No other options left. Gotta put it all on the line ala VGK/FLA. Wager the future to win now, or get another try in 10+ years.
I guess the other alternative is to show some confidence in the decision to acquire jarry, send the message he’s the guy, and if the team isn’t winning, find a new coach. If that doesn’t work, find a new GM. ?
I’m surprised no-one has mentioned Brossoit. I guess the problem is he counts $3.3MM against the cap. He did score a goal while on his conditioning stint in Rockford. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Hawks are asking a lot for him. It’s really a sellers market right now.
But did they say pretty please, and I’ll be your friend?
not sure who handles the position worse : oilers .. toronto or the flyers
Demko with 25% cap retention is available for a 1st
He is our best goalie. Go away