Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has a new contract with the Buffalo Sabres. The goaltender is locked in for the next five and will have an AAV of $4.75 M. The foundational core for the Sabres is locked up for the foreseeable future and have a new bench boss at the helm. Positive vibes for the Sabres and this is a good step.
LUUUUUUK ⚔️
We have agreed to terms with goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on a five-year contract with an AAV of $4.75 million.
→ https://t.co/DBkLSgSFF6 pic.twitter.com/iOskHtgepE
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) July 24, 2024
Luukkonen Signs Contract with Sabres
Having stability in the crease is key for any team. For the Sabres, they’ll have a young Devon Levi and now Luukkonen to hold down the fort. Goaltending in general has been tougher to come by for the Sabres, but last year was not entirely bad.
The Sabres finished 16th in team save percentage with .899. As for Luukkonen, he was the best goalie the club had to offer. He finished the year with a positive record and had a 2.57 goals against average and a .910 save percentage. Furthermore, he finished second on the Sabres with 9.4 goals saved above expected. He was a stable presence between the pipes.
The Sabres are looking to make the playoffs and they’ll need Luukkonen to maintain that level of dominance in the crease to do so. There is a lot of excitement surrounding this team, so this Luukkonen contract is great for both sides.
The Optimism Surrounding the Sabres
Things should be looking up for the Sabres. They have majority of their young core locked up for the foreseeable future. Things are bright both on offence and defense and there is plenty to be excited for. Newly brought on head coach Lindy Ruff will look to work the same magic he did with the New Jersey Devils during the 2022-23 season.
As for Luukkonen, he gets to be part of this wave of Sabres hockey and continue to backstop the team. He is coming off his best season and his strongest workload. The sky is the limit for him, as the Sabres look to take the next steps.
Main Photo: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
