Sabres sign Scott Ratzlaff to three-year, entry-level contract
The Buffalo Sabres announced Friday they and goaltender Scott Ratzlaff agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract.
The Buffalo Sabres have signed goaltender Scott Ratzlaff to a three-year, entry-level contract. pic.twitter.com/X5hGyp2Mli
— Sabres PR (@SabresPR) October 18, 2024
The 19-year-old netminder is currently playing for the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Seattle Thunderbirds, where in three games this season, he’s 3-0-0 with a .933 save percentage (SV%) and 2.67 goals against average (GAA).
Last season, Ratzlaff posted a 21-26-2 record with a .905 SV% and 3.33 GAA, including a shutout. He was named to the WHL’s Second All-Star Team.
Arguably his best chunk of hockey was in 2022-23, posting a 25-8-1 record with a .918 SV% and 2.15 GAA. He helped the Thunderbids win a WHL Championship.
Across five seasons in the WHL, Ratzlaff has a record of 67-36-4 in 114 appearances with the Thunderbids.
The Sabres are 1-4-1 to start the 2024-25 NHL regular season, most recently losing to the Ottawa Senators 3-1 on Thursday. Their next game is Saturday at home against the Washington Capitals.
Last season, the Sabres finished 39-37-6 with 84 points, sixth in the Atlantic Division and seven points behind the No. 2 Wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference.
Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had a strong 2023-24 campaign, going 27-22-4 with a .910 SV% and 2.57 GAA in 54 appearances. Devon Levi went 10-8-2 with a .899 SV% and 3.10 GAA in 23 games played.
Forward Alex Tuch and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin were tied for the team lead in points in 2023-24, while Tage Thompson led with 29 goals.
The Sabres have missed the playoffs in 13 consecutive seasons, which is not only the longest active drought, but the longest in NHL history, three worse than the Florida Panthers of the early 2000s and the post-2005 lockout Edmonton Oilers.