Though they didn't tender a qualifying offer to goaltender Connor Knapp this summer, with the likes of young puck stoppers Linus Ullmark, Nathan Lieuwen and Andrei Makarov in the fold, the Buffalo Sabres have a tonne of organizational depth between the pipes.
Even with Ullmark likely headed back to Sweden this fall, there's really only so many nets for a young goaltender to occupy between the ECHL, AHL and NHL levels.
The competition for playing time should be intense for Buffalo's minor league goaltenders, though it may be relaxed a bit due to Matt Hackett's continued convalescence. The 24-year-old goaltender injured his knee during a Sabres game in mid-April and isn't particularly close to returning to action according to Rochester Americans head coach Chadd Cassidy.
Amerks coach Chadd Cassidy just said Matt Hackett's knee injury will keep him out until at least December or January. #Sabres
— Mike Harrington (@BNHarrington) July 16, 2014
Despite his continued injury issues the Sabres tendered Hackett a two-way qualifying offer this June, which the goaltender - the nephew of former Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Jeff Hackett - accepted.
In 21 career NHL appearances, Hackett has managed a backup quality .912 save percentage. Hackett's career numbers in the AHL, over 168 games, are similarly underwhelming (.911). With lots of competition from any number of young netminders, there's enormous internal pressure on Hackett to both get healthy and play well this upcoming season.
