
Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) – Before announcing their 23-man roster, the Buffalo Sabres on Monday claimed goalie Colten Ellis off waivers from the St. Louis Blues.
The 25-year-old was one of the best goaltenders in the American Hockey League last season for the Springfield Thunderbirds.
In 42 games he was 22-14-3 with a 2.63 goals against and sparkling .922 save percentage. Compare that to Devon Levi with the Rochester Americans who was 25-13-4 with a 2.20 goals against and .919 save percentage.
Ellis was drafted by the Blues in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft and has never played an NHL game. After four seasons in the QMJHL, the last with the Charlottetown Islanders, Ellis played three seasons in the ECHL and two with Springfield in the AHL.
He is on the Sabres 23-man roster along with Alex Lyon and Alexandar Georgiev. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen starts on injured reserve along with Michael Kesselring, Owen Power, Jordan Greenway and Carson Meyer.
With three goalies, Kevyn Adams has decided to carry just six defensemen in Rasmus Dahlin, Bo Byram, Conor Timmins, Mattias Samuelsson, Ryan Johnson and Jacob Bryson.
The centers are Josh Norris, Jiri Kulich, Ryan McLeod, Peyton Krebs and Tyson Kozak.
The right wings are Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, Josh Doan and Justin Danforth. The left wings are Zach Benson, Jason Zucker, Jack Quinn, Beck Malenstyn and Mason Geertsen.
Benson and Samuelsson practiced with the team on Monday while Power and Greenway did rehab skates on their own.
Buffalo opens the season at home Thursday against the New York Rangers. The Rangers open on Tuesday at home vs the Pittsburgh Penguins.