Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has made his fair share of mistakes across six seasons leading the franchise's front office, but claiming goalie Colten Ellis off waivers from the St. Louis Blues just before the start of the 2025-26 campaign looks like a hit.
Ellis, 25, compiled a .914 save percentage across his first four NHL starts, three of which resulted in Buffalo wins, before a dreadful team-wide performance in a 6-2 loss to the Calgary Flames caused his overall numbers to dip considerably (.896 SV%).
ESPN called the 2019 third-round draft pick a "bright spot amid an otherwise difficult season" in its latest NHL power rankings, which rated the Sabres 27th out of the league's 32 teams.