Braden Holtby To The Buffalo Sabres Rumor Gaining Momentum

The Sabres finished the 2021-2022 season on a high note.  But as they look ahead to next year, there is a name on the free-agent market that could make sense for the team.

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As the Colorado Avalanche skated off into the Rocky Mountain sunset with their 3rd Stanley Cup title in franchise history, the 2022 NHL offseason officially got underway.  And with that come the rumors of where the top free agent players in the league are going to sign. Buffalo Sabres General Manager Kevyn Adams said that the team is interested in Craig Anderson returning in net if that's something that Anderson is open to,  but there is no guarantee that will be the case.  Anderson turned in a decent season for the Sabres starting 31 games, posting a 17-12 won/loss record, with a 3.12 Goal Against Average,  and a .897% save percentage.

One free-agent option moving forward that is gaining momentum in NHL circles is former Canucks Goalie Brandon Holtby.  After moving on from the Washington Capitals after the 2019-20 season, he joined the Vancouver Canucks where he played a mentor role to Thatcher Demko.

This could be an ideal scenario if it were to play out here in Buffalo, as Holtby could be the caddy for young goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. 

Holtby isn't a top-name option for the club,  but he could act as the bridge goaltender to the future. He has had some solid career numbers in net, with a career save percentage of 0.915, and a career Goals Against Average of 2.59. In the 2021-2022 season, he posted a 0.913% save percentage and a Goals Against Average of 2.78.