Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen went from being the Buffalo Sabres‘ third-string goalie at the beginning of last season to their potential long-term answer in net after agreeing to a five-year, $23.75 million contract Wednesday.
The deal comes as Luukkonen, a restricted free agent, was scheduled to have his contract determined in arbitration in the next two weeks. For the 25-year-old from Finland, the contract provides long-term security for a player whose future was uncertain in Buffalo over the past two years.
For the Sabres, the signing has the potential of filling what has been an unsettled position since trading Ryan Miller to St. Louis during the 2013-14 season.
Luukkonen, better known as “UPL,” began last season as the Sabres’ third goalie to start a game and gradually worked his way up the depth chart ahead of rookie Devon Levi and backup Eric Comrie. In taking over the starting job Dec. 30, he enjoyed a stretch of going 17-9-1 in which he allowed 52 goals and posted four shutouts.
Luukkonen finished the season with a 27-22-4 record, becoming Buffalo’s first goalie to win 27 games and register five shutouts since Miller’s 31 wins and six shutouts in 2011-12.
Overall, he finished tied for eighth in the NHL with a 2.57 goals-against average and tied for second in shutouts. Luukkonen’s performance was considered one of the few bright spots for a Sabres team that extended its NHL-record playoff drought to a 13th season and led to coach Don Granato’s firing.
Granato has since been replaced by Lindy Ruff, who is back for a second stint with the Sabres.
Luukkonen spent the three previous seasons bouncing between the Sabres and the minors in combining for a 20-19-6 record for Buffalo. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 217 pounds, he was selected by Buffalo in the second round of the 2017 draft.
The Sabres anticipated opening the season with Luukkonen securing one goalie spot, and Levi and veteran free agent addition James Reimer competing for the backup job.