Report: New GM Botterill finally comments on Sabres goaltending situation

Since being officially announced as the new general manager of the Buffalo Sabres, Jason Botterill has been fairly reserved in detailing his plans for the organization. There’s lot of work to be done in Buffalo, no doubt, and it appears that the new boss won’t attempt to fix what’s not broken: goaltending.

Botterill explained earlier today that he has “no problem” with 25 year-old Robin Lehner as the team’s uncontested starting goaltender for 2017-18 and beyond. “There are more pressing needs,” Botterill stated. Presumably Botterill means the team’s defensive corps and, of course, its head coaching position. 

For all of the derision Lehner gets outside of Buffalo, he was actually a remarkably effective goaltender in 2016-17. His .920 Sv% was the 12th best in the NHL and he finally took a step forward in terms of games played (59). The young Swede has been lauded for years as “The Next Big Thing” due to some incredible AHL performances, but up until this year had yet to replicate his success at the NHL level. With a solid season in the rear-view mirror and the backing of his general manager, might Lehner finally ascend to the past heights projected of him in 2017-18?