Buffalo Sabres Claim Goaltender Colten Ellis Off Waivers

Monday, October 06, 2025 ,
St. Louis Blues goaltender Colten Ellis during 2022 game.

The Buffalo Sabres have claimed goaltender Colten Ellis off waivers from the St. Louis Blues, adding to an already crowded crease ahead of the 2025-26 season. 

The move comes as starting netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen continues to recover from a lower-body injury that will keep him out for Thursday’s season opener against the New York Rangers, according to head coach Lindy Ruff. 

Ellis, 25, now joins a goalie group that includes Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Alexandar Georgiev, while top prospects Devon Levi, Topias Leinonen, and Scott Ratzlaff remain in the minors.

Sabres Claim Goaltender Off Waivers from Blues

Ellis, a 2019 third-round pick by the Blues, has yet to make his NHL debut but impressed last season with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds, posting a 22-14-5 record with a .922 save percentage and a 2.63 goals-against average. 

Across his AHL career, he’s compiled a 30-26-5 record with a .919 save percentage. St. Louis had hoped to send Ellis back to Springfield, but his waiver status made that impossible once Buffalo stepped in with a claim. The Blues could reclaim him later in the season if the Sabres reassign him after Luukkonen returns.

Ruff confirmed both Lyon and Georgiev will compete for starts in Luukkonen’s absence, but Ellis could see his first NHL action if injuries persist or performance dips. 

With seven goaltenders now under NHL contracts, the Sabres’ goaltending depth is among the deepest in the league.

Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

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