The Buffalo Sabres have made a strategic move, activating goaltender Alex Lyon from injured reserve and placing forward Joshua Norris on the IR. This decision comes as no surprise, given Norris' recent upper-body injury, which has been downgraded to a week-to-week recovery timeline. However, head coach Lindy Ruff remains optimistic, suggesting a swift return to the lineup before the Olympic Break. Lyon, on the other hand, returns after a lower-body injury sidelined him for several weeks. Before his injury, Lyon was a standout performer, boasting an impressive 10-6-3 record in 21 games with a .906 save percentage and a 2.82 goals-against average. Despite his strong performance, the Sabres' general manager, Jarmo Kekäläinen, has expressed a preference for a single netminder for the remainder of the season. With an affordable contract extending to the 2026-27 season, Lyon is the likely candidate to be traded if the Sabres opt for a change. Additionally, the team's young goaltender, Devon Levi, is knocking on the door in the AHL, indicating potential further changes to the Sabres' goaltending lineup by the end of the season.
