BUFFALO – The Sabres have traded goalie Michal Neuvirth to the New York Islanders for goalie Chad Johnson and a 2016 third-round pick.
The Sabres dealt Neuvirth, an unrestricted free agent following the season, despite some impressive starts in recent weeks. The 26-year-old is 6-17-1 with a 2.99 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage in 27 games this season. He posted a .942 save percentage in eight straight starts since taking over as the No. 1 goalie last month.
Meanwhile, Johnson is 8-8-1 with a 3.08 goals-against average and a .889 save percentage in 19 games. The 28-year-old has one year and $1.6 million left on his contract.
Johnson and newcomer Anders Lindback, who hasn’t played with the Sabres yet, are now the team’s netminders. Statistically, they are two of the NHL’s worst.
Lindback’s numbers with Dallas – 2-8, 3.71 and .875 – were terrible.
Johnson, a career backup, has also played for the New York Rangers, Arizona and Boston. He played a career-high 27 games with the Bruins last season, posting the best numbers – 17-4-3, 2.10 and .925 – of his five-year career.
The Calgary native has decent numbers – 28-14-7, 2.41, and .914 – in 56 NHL games.
