Sabres waive goalie Eric Comrie to create roster spot

The Buffalo Sabres on Sunday placed struggling goalie Eric Comrie on waivers to create a roster spot for winger Zemgus Girgensons, who was activated from injured reserve.

Girgensons, 29, has missed the last 17 games with a lower-body injury. He could return for Sunday’s road game against the Ottawa Senators.

The move leaves the Sabres with goalies Devon Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

Comrie, who signed a two-year, $3.8 million contract as a free agent in 2022, played so well during the preseason the Sabres kept three goalies on their roster again. They began carrying an extra netminder almost a year ago, when Comrie returned from an injury.

“I’ve said all along it’s not ideal to have three goalies on your roster,” Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said prior to Saturday’s 3-2 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets in KeyBank Center. “… We’ve said all along we may get to a spot where if our roster, if we got healthy, that we were going to be forced to make a decision.”

Comrie, 28, has endured a rough season, compiling a 1-5-0 record with a 4.01 goals-against average and an .863 save percentage in seven games. He earned his only win Oct. 21, his season debut.

He has been in a rut since returning from a lower-body injury Nov. 17, registering a 0-4-0 mark with an NHL-high 5.17 goals-against average and a league-low .827 save percentage during that stretch.

Comrie hasn’t played since Dec. 5. He last dressed for a contest Dec. 16.

If Comrie clears waivers, he could be assigned to the Rochester Americans. He has played 210 career games in the AHL, including three last season during a conditioning stint with the Amerks.