NAHL alum Lekkas signs with NHL's Buffalo Sabres
Springfield Jr. Blues alum Steffanos Lekkas played in the 2014 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament.
The Buffalo Sabres have signed goaltender and NAHL alum Stefanos Lekkas (Springfield Jr. Blues, 2012-14) to a one-year contract, the team announced today.
Lekkas, 25, served as Buffalo's backup goaltender on Monday night after signing a professional tryout contract with the club earlier in the day. He was also the back-up on Tuesday night if Buffalo’s 4-3 shootout win over the New York Islanders.
This season, Lekkas has posted a 7-2-2 record with a .914 save percentage and 2.15 goals-against average for the Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL. He then joined the Rochester Americans (AHL) where he has appeared in seven games.
The Elburn, Illinois native played four seasons of collegiate hockey (2016-17 to 2019-20) at the University of Vermont, where he went 45-69-20 with a .918 save percentage and a 2.61 goals-against average. He left Vermont holding the program's record for career save percentage (.918) and ranks in the top five in goals-against average (2.61, 3rd), wins (45, T-4th) and saves (3,913, 2nd).
Lekkas played in the NAHL during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons for the Springfield Jr. Blues. He made his NAHL debut on February 15, 2013. He went 2-0 during the 2012-13 season and then the next year posted a 19-21- 3 record in 46 appearances during the 2013-14 season.
Overall in his NAHL career, Lekkas played in 48 games and posted a 21-21-3 record with a 2.31 goals against average and .933 save percentage. He was also selected to and played in the 2014 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament for the North Division team
During the 2013-14 season, he was named to All-NAHL North Division Team in addition to being named to the NAHL All-Rookie 2nd Team.
