REPORT | Buffalo Sabres making pushes for a blockbuster deal targetting two-star netminders

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Cooper Godin
September 15, 2023 (11:35)

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The Buffalo Sabres have high hopes for the 2023-24 season and are wanting to take the next step, which would be qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2011.

If the Sabres are to get to that point, they'll need seek out some help at one position - goaltending. Sure, the Sabres have prospect Devon Levi, who turned pro towards the end of the 2022-23 season, appeared in seven games, five of which he won.

There's no doubt that Devon Levi is the Sabres' goaltender of the future and he may need some time in the American Hockey League with the Rochester Americans and if the Buffalo Sabres want to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they may have to seek out a legit starting netminder.

Now, take this with a grain of salt, but according to Eklund of Hockey Buzz, the Sabres may be closing in on a trade to acquire some help between the pipes and the two names that are floating around at the moment are Logan Thompson of the Vegas Golden Knights and Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets.

"Sabres Closing in on a 'serious goalie' THIS Weekend. This is from a source... The names, I would imagine, are limited to likely Hellebuyck or Logan Thompson. Stay tuned" Eklund said.

Both Thompson and Hellebuyck would be intriguing options for the Buffalo Sabres. Thompson on one hand is younger, at only 26-years-old, has a Stanley Cup under his belt, although he didn't play in the playoffs due to injury, and has a very low cap hit of $766,667 for the next two seasons. Acquiring Thompson may cost the Sabres quite a bit as well.

As for Connor Hellebuyck, he's entering the final year of his current contract, which carries a cap hit of $6.16 million, but has a lot more experience than Thompson, including a trip to the Western Conference Final in 2018 and won the Vezina Trophy in 2020.

Which goaltender do you think would be a better option for the Buffalo Sabres - Logan Thompson or Connor Hellebuyck? Let us know your thoughts in the poll below!