The Buffalo Sabres have locked down their goalie for the next five years by signing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to a $23.75M contract.
Luukkonen’s new deal means he’ll earn $4.75M per year and stay with the team until the 2028-29 NHL season. This contract is slightly less than Thatcher Demko’s five-year, $25M deal with the Vancouver Canucks from 2021. Considering Luukkonen’s recent performance, this could be a great bargain for the Sabres.
Last season, Luukkonen was one of the few bright spots for Buffalo. He started off slow with a 6-8-2 record and .893 save percentage in his first 17 games. But after New Year’s, he turned things around dramatically .
Luukkonen’s Impressive Turnaround:
From January onwards, Luukkonen had an impressive run, finishing with a 20-14-2 record in 36 games and a .919 save percentage. Over the entire season, he racked up a 27-22-4 record in 51 starts with a .910 SV% and allowed just 2.57 goals per game on average.
He also recorded career highs: five shutouts, saved over ten goals above average, and had an adjusted goals-against average of 2.65 according to Hockey Reference.
Fans might think this new deal shows how much faith the Sabres have in their young goalie.
However, there are still questions about whether Luukkonen can keep up this level of play since he’s only had one standout season so far.
Luckily for Buffalo, they have another option if things don’t go as planned: Devon Levi is ready to step up full-time in the NHL if needed. Levi split last season between Buffalo and their AHL affiliate team, putting up strong numbers with a 16-6-4 record in the AHL and .927 save percentage.
General Manager Kevyn Adams expressed confidence about having both young goalies on board: “We really like our position with UPL and Devon Levi as developing goaltenders,” Adams said. “They’re talented, hard-working guys who we believe will continue to grow.”
What do you think about this big move by Buffalo?
