The Buffalo Sabres' best player through five games isn't Rasmus Dahlin or Tage Thompson. It's Alex Lyon, the journeyman goaltender who didn't generate much fanfare when he signed a two-year contract with the organization early in free agency.
Lyon, thrust into the starting role because of an injury to incumbent starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, has been nothing short of terrific for the Blue and Gold. He pitched a 32-save shutout in Saturday's 3-0 win over the Florida Panthers, which raised his save percentage to .928.
The 32-year-old Yale product's track record (.903 career SV%) suggests he probably won't maintain this level for the entire 2025-26 season, but he should retain the top spot on the depth chart for as long as he's stopping pucks at an elite rate, regardless of UPL's status.