Alex
Lyon
G · BUF · Very good
- PAL
- 71
- WAR
- 3.1
- Value
- 78
- SV%
- .907
2025-26№ 17 / 98
Alex Lyon (Buffalo Sabres) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Alex Lyon
#34G
Buffalo Sabres
HEIGHT : 185 cm · WEIGHT : 90 kg · CATCHES : L
Born : December 8, 1992 · Baudette, United States
Contract : $1,500,000 · 2025-26 → 2026-27 · Standard Contract · UFA · Signing bonus $250,000
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | W | L | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Buffalo Sabres | 36 | 20 | 10 | 2.77 | .907 | 3 |
| 2024-25 | Detroit Red Wings | 30 | 14 | 9 | 2.81 | .896 | 1 |
| 2023-24 | Detroit Red Wings | 44 | 21 | 18 | 3.05 | .904 | 2 |
| 2022-23 | Florida Panthers | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2.89 | .914 | 1 |
| 2021-22 | Carolina Hurricanes | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2.93 | .908 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | Philadelphia Flyers | 6 | 1 | 3 | 3.33 | .893 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | Philadelphia Flyers | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3.55 | .890 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | Philadelphia Flyers | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5.08 | .806 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | Philadelphia Flyers | 11 | 4 | 2 | 2.75 | .905 | 0 |
| NHL totals | 149 | 71 | 48 | 2.93 | .903 | 7 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | W | L | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Buffalo Sabres | 10 | 4 | 3 | 2.59 | .904 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | Florida Panthers | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3.63 | .888 | 0 |
| Playoff totals | 14 | 5 | 5 | 2.90 | .899 | 0 | |
Alex Lyon: our analysis
2025-26 season: 36 GP, 20 W, 10 L, .907 SV%, 2.77 GAA, 3 SO. WAR 3.1 (17th of 98) · PAL 71, very good.
In 2025-26, Alex Lyon, 33, posts a PAL Rating of 71 out of 100 (very good), and his WAR of 3.1 ranks 17th among 98 regulars, in the top quarter.
His strengths: efficiency (76, well above average), impact (72, above average) and high danger (71, above average). On the other hand, consistency (29, below average) holds him back.
GSAx: +9.7 (goals saved above expected).
A clear step forward: his PAL went from 54 in 2024-25 to 71; his WAR went from 0.9 to 3.1.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 78 (very good contract) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Alex Lyon's story
Growing up on an island in Lake of the Woods, Alex Lyon spent early childhood years rowing to a tiny schoolhouse before his family moved back to mainland Minnesota in 2000. It was after that move he took up hockey seriously, eventually becoming the lone goalkeeper for his high school team as a senior in 2009–10 and posting standout save numbers that drew attention.
Lyon continued his development in the USHL and then at Yale University from 2013 to 2016. His sophomore campaign was a breakout: he led the nation in key goaltending categories, earned the Ken Dryden Award as the ECAC’s top netminder and collected several first-team and All-America honours. Those collegiate achievements set the stage for an early departure to the professional ranks.
He signed an entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers in April 2016 and split time between the NHL and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the AHL, recording his first NHL starts and wins while gaining experience in long, high-pressure games in the minors. After five seasons in the Flyers organization, Lyon moved on to the Carolina Hurricanes on a one-year, two-way deal in 2021; he spent most of that season with the Chicago Wolves, where he won the Hap Holmes Award and helped the club capture the Calder Cup in 2022.
Lyon joined the Florida Panthers in 2022 and, amid absences in the club’s goaltending corps, stepped into an extended starting role that produced a significant winning stretch and the nickname "the Lyon King." He later signed with the Detroit Red Wings in 2023, experienced a lower-body injury in November 2024, and in 2025 agreed to a two-year deal with the Buffalo Sabres, where he established a franchise record for consecutive wins and took over netminding duties during the 2026 postseason run.
Internationally, Lyon was part of the United States squad that earned bronze at the 2015 World Championship, appearing in one game. His game is marked by disciplined positioning and the ability to sustain sharp play over long stretches, qualities that have allowed him to alternate between starter and backup roles throughout his professional career.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- Starts
- 34
- Shots against
- 979
- Saves
- 888
- %ARR / SV%
- 90.7 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
Trend
Trend
Slightly up
- Goals saved above expected per 100 shots: +0.93 in 22-23, +0.64 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 54 → 71
Outlook, age included
→ StableAge 33: the age when performance usually declines
The trend is a hint, not a verdict. It reads recent seasons and PAL Rating (age only shapes the outlook); it knows nothing about future injuries, trades, or the defense in front of the goalie.
Player ratings
All ratings →Fourteen ratings from 0 to 100 drawn from data, never by hand: 75 = established NHL player, 95+ = elite.
Injured reserve· Shoulder· expected back November 22
WAR and PAL ratings, 2025-26
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR
3.1
wins above replacement
17 of 98
PAL Rating
71/ 100
Performance · Very good
21 of 74 at the position
Value Rating
78/ 100
Very good contract
1.50 M$ · expected PAL 49
See full detailsHide details
- Efficiency
- 76
- Impact
- 72
- High danger
- 71
- Consistency
- 29
- Workload
- 50
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | BUF | 3.1 | 71 | 78 | 1.50 M$ |
| 2024-25 | DET | 0.9 | 54 | 55 | 0.90 M$ |
| 2023-24 | DET | 1.6 | 45 | 54 | 0.90 M$ |
| 2022-23 | FLA | 1.7 | 75 | 75 | 0.75 M$ |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
3.1
wins above replacement
0.1 to 5.1 — 90% interval
17 of 98 goalies
+16.1 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- Goals saved above expected
- +9.7
- Average → replacement
- +6.5
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | BUF | 36 | 3.1 | 0.1 to 5.1 | 17/98 |
| 2024-25 | DET | 29 | 0.9 | -1.4 to 3.2 | 37/99 |
| 2023-24 | DET | 44 | 1.6 | -1.6 to 5.3 | 31/98 |
| 2022-23 | FLA | 15 | 1.7 | -0.3 to 4.3 | 22/107 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →NHL EDGE tracks every shot with a chip in the puck: where it came from, how dangerous it was, and what the goalie did with it. The percentile places the goalie within the league.
- Save %
- .90778th percentileleague avg. .896
- High-danger save %
- .82264th percentileleague avg. .811
- Games above .900
- 55.9 %71st percentileleague avg. 49.0 %
See full detailsHide details
- Goal support per game
- 3.1366th percentileleague avg. 2.99
- Goal differential per 60
- 0.3669th percentileleague avg. 0.11
Save % by zone
2025-2026 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2025-26
WSH
DET
ANA
SJS
TOR
NSH
VGK
FLA
PIT
MTL
LAK
NYI
STL
OTT
PHI
SEA
VAN
EDM
CGY
NJD
COL
CAR
UTA
BOS
CBJ
NYRAlex Lyon: frequently asked questions
What is Alex Lyon's record in 2025-26?
Alex Lyon has 20 wins in 36 games in 2025-26, with a .907 save percentage and a 2.77 goals-against average.
How old is Alex Lyon?
Alex Lyon is 33 years old: he was born on December 9, 1992.
How tall is Alex Lyon, and how much does he weigh?
Alex Lyon is 6'1" (185 cm) and weighs 198 lb (90 kg).
Where is Alex Lyon from?
United States: Alex Lyon was born in Baudette, Minnesota, United States.
What team does Alex Lyon play for?
Alex Lyon plays for the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL, at G, wearing number 34.
Is Alex Lyon injured?
Yes: Alex Lyon is on injured reserve (shoulder). He is expected back around November 22.
How good is Alex Lyon?
Alex Lyon produced 3.1 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 17th of 98 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 71 out of 100: very good for his position.
How much does Alex Lyon make?
Alex Lyon earns $1.5M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 78 out of 100 (very good contract): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Alex Lyon's contract end?
Alex Lyon's contract runs through the 2026-27 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent.
Is Alex Lyon overpaid?
No, he gives more than he costs. His Value rating is 78 out of 100 (very good contract), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Alex Lyon a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 17th of 98 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is Alex Lyon getting better?
Yes: his PAL rating went from 54 in 2024-25 to 71 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
What are Alex Lyon's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Alex Lyon has 149 games, 71 wins and 7 shutouts. His best season: 2023-24, with 21 wins.
How does Alex Lyon perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Alex Lyon has 14 games and 5 wins in his career.
Which player is most similar to Alex Lyon?
Anton Forsberg: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Anton Forsberg's page →What is Alex Lyon's nationality?
Alex Lyon is American. Internationally: United States — bronze medal at the 2015 World Championship (appeared in one game).
What awards has Alex Lyon won?
Ivy League co‑Rookie of the Year (2014) ; Ken Dryden Award (ECAC best goaltender) — recipient in his sophomore season ; Ken Dryden Award — recipient for a second year following the 2015–16 season ; First‑Team AHCA/CCM All‑America (season he led the nation in save percentage, shutouts and goals‑against average) ; First‑Team All‑ECAC (honors in the season he led the nation, and repeated after 2015–16) ; First‑Team All‑New England (honors in the season he led the nation, and repeated after 2015–16) ; First‑Team All‑Ivy League (honors in the season he led the nation, and repeated after 2015–16) ; J. Murray Murdoch Award — Yale's Most Valuable Player (awarded in the season he led the nation); and more.
How many championships has Alex Lyon won?
1: Calder Cup 2022 with the Chicago Wolves (recorded a 28‑save shutout in the final game).
What is Alex Lyon's nickname?
He is nicknamed “the Lyon King”.
Where did Alex Lyon play before turning pro?
Yale University — Yale Bulldogs (collegiate hockey, ECAC).
See also: his Buffalo Sabres teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)