The NHL playoffs have shown that two goaltending philosophies bring success. Some teams have won with a star netminder, while others have used depth to advance.
The Sabres have neither option available.
Buffalo entered its offseason with the shakiest goaltending situation in the league. Chad Johnson is the only goalie under contract with measurable NHL experience, and the 28-year-old is a career backup with 56 appearances. Andrey Makarov, 22, played his one and only game with a week to go in the season.
Obviously, the Sabres are going to need help in the crease. They could try their luck with a thin free-agent class, or they could seek trade options with organizations that boast up-and-coming goalies.