Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen went from being the Buffalo Sabres’ third-string goalie at the start of final season to their potential long-term reply in web 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 decided in arbitration within the subsequent two weeks. For the 25-year-old from Finland, the contract gives long-term safety for a participant whose future was unsure in Buffalo over the previous two years.
For the Sabres, the signing has the potential of filling what has been an unsettled place since buying and selling Ryan Miller to St. Louis throughout the 2013-14 season.
Luukkonen, higher generally known as “UPL,” started final season because the Sabres’ third goalie to start out a sport and steadily labored his manner up the depth chart forward of rookie Devon Levi and backup Eric Comrie. In taking up the beginning job Dec. 30, he loved a stretch of going 17-9-1 through which he allowed 52 targets and posted 4 shutouts.
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Luukkonen completed the season with a 27-22-4 report, changing into Buffalo’s first goalie to win 27 video games and register 5 shutouts since Miller’s 31 wins and 6 shutouts in 2011-12.
General, he completed tied for eighth within the NHL with a 2.57 goals-against common and tied for second in shutouts. Luukkonen’s efficiency was thought of one of many few vibrant spots for a Sabres crew that prolonged its NHL-record playoff drought to a thirteenth season and led to educate Don Granato’s firing.
Granato has since been changed by Lindy Ruff, who’s again for a second stint with the Sabres.
Luukkonen spent the three earlier seasons bouncing between the Sabres and the minors in combining for a 20-19-6 report for Buffalo. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 217 kilos, he was chosen by Buffalo within the second spherical 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.
