Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

July 2024- Luukkonen took a significant step forward in 2023-2024, cementing his place as the Sabres’ favored starter in the NHL. He received 51 starts and posted a save percentage of .910 and a goals-against average of 2.57. His save percentage was twelfth, and his GAA was eighth among all goaltenders who played forty games or more last season in the league. With five shutouts, he was tied for fifth with Connor Hellebuyck and Thatcher Demko. Despite recording 27 victories, the Sabres missed the playoffs by a seven-point margin. He signed a five-year, $23.75-million contract on July 24, 2024, solidifying his role at the organization’s top level. Kevin Wong

May 2023 – After battling through injuries in his previous campaigns, UPL was finally able to remain healthy enough to play an extended number of games with the Buffalo Sabres. In his rookie campaign with the Sabres this past season, he effectively became the team’s starting goaltender for a period of time. He started in 33 games, whereas fellow Sabre Craig Anderson started in 24 games, Eric Comrie had 19 starts, and Devon Levi started the final seven matches. UPL posted a record of 17-11-4, finishing with the best winning percentage among the three full-time Sabres goalies this season with a save percentage of .892 and a goals-against average of 3.61. This was a very respectable rookie campaign for the 23-year-old goaltender. He played in nine games at the beginning of the season for the AHL’s Rochester Americans. As a full-time member of the Sabres next season, UPL will be expected to elevate his game to that of a high-quality NHL starter. Kevin Wong

August 2020 – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made his transition from the ECHL to the AHL in 2019-2020 but will play on loan next season with TPS Turku of Liiga. Luukkonen played 10 games with the Rochester Americans this season beginning in January 2020, posting a .874 save percentage and 3.15 GAA. In 23 games with the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones, he recorded a .912 save percentage and 2.24 GAA. He has a very low stance in net, which sometimes leaves room up high for the opposition. Just one year removed from the Ontario Hockey League, Luukkonen has a bright future and will continue his development in Finland. Kevin Wong

February 2020 – With Linus Ullmark injured and Jonas Johansson playing at the NHL level with the Sabres, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been manning the pipes alongside Andrew Hammond in Rochester. Luukkonen has been fairly inconsistent in Rochester and owns a 3.16 GAA and a .876 SV%. It likely will not be long before Luukkonen is back with the Cinncinati Cyclones in the ECHL as Ullmark has resumed skating and Johansson will likely be sent back down to Rochester. Josh Tessler

December 2019 – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been named the ECHL Goalie Of The Month for November. After 11 appearances in net, he has a 1.81 GAA and a .928. SV%. In order to keep the Andrew Hammond-Jonas Johansson tandem together in Rochester, the Sabres have Luukkonen to Cincinnati. If he continues to maintain his brick wall status in Cincinnati, it should not be look before he back up with the Rochester Americans. Josh Tessler

October 2019 – On October 20th, the Buffalo Sabres assigned Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to the Rochester Americans. Luukkonen had hip surgery during the off-season, so that delayed his season debut. At the moment, it appears that Luukkonen will make his regular-season debut in early November. Until then, Jonas Johansson and Andrew Hammond will be holding down the fort in the AHL. Josh Tessler

July 2019 – Luukkonen is coming off of a great season with the Sudbury Wolves. Even though they couldn’t beat the Ottawa 67’s in the OHL Playoffs, Luukkonen was still dominant. His positioning in net is great. When he pops out of the net to pick up the puck, he’ll make smart stretch passes to his teammates to help initiate a breakout. In addition, Luukkonen’s size allows him to avoid traffic. While his opposition will attempt to limit his vision, it’s tough to do when Luukkonen is a few inches taller. When Luukkonen is on his knees, he transitions from side to side very nicely. Eventually, you’ll want to see Luukkonen get a tad faster when he goes from right to left and vice versa, but for the moment, he’s looking really good. Next season, he’ll likely play with the Rochester Americans (he suited for them in one game last season). Luukkonen will be able to work with Americans head coach Chris Taylor on his transitional movements. Josh Tessler

March 2019 – The 2018-2019 season has been a monster one for Luukkonen who’s been dominant throughout the year, registering a league-wide best save percentage with .921, taking a team that finished dead last the previous year into the playoffs, now sitting as the fourth best team in the entire league. Luukkonen signed his entry level contract last year on June 2018, so he may be playing for Rochester in the AHL next year, but UPL has cemented himself as a top five goaltending prospect in the league right now. Marcus Griep