Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

25-Year-Old GoalieG
Buffalo Sabres
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Luukkonen's game took a big jump in 2023-24, so much so that it earned him a five-year extension with a $4.75 million AAV. Despite playing behind a weak defense, UPL put up a 27-22-4 record, 2.57 GAA and .910 save percentage - adding a whopping sixth-best GSAx (goals saved above expected) of 22.46. By comparison, Jeremy Swayman was fifth in GSAx, and that GAA tied him with Linus Ullmark for ninth in the league. Luukkonen is now ensconced as the Sabres' top guy for the next several seasons, while wunderkind Devon Levi gets much-needed development time in the AHL. UPL will once again thrive under a heavy workload like he did once Levi was sent to the minors, but this time for a full season, without the early-year chaos that came last year with the Levi show. Luukkonen is about to step into stardom. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a five-year, $23.75 million contract with the Sabres in July of 2024.
Ugly showing in loss
GBuffalo Sabres
February 8, 2025
Luukkonen stopped 17 of 22 shots in Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Predators. The sixth goal was an empty-netter.
ANALYSIS
Luukkonen was able to return from a one-game absence due to a lower-body injury, but perhaps he shouldn't have. The Predators scored twice in each frame, with Filip Forsberg and Brady Skjei each potting two goals. Luukkonen has allowed at least three goals in six of his last nine games, going 5-4-0 in that span. He's now 18-16-4 with a 3.02 GAA and an .895 save percentage over 39 appearances. He'll represent Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off, but it's unclear if Luukkonen will play much behind Juuse Saros.
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2024–25 Time On Ice Stats
  • Average Time On Ice:
    58:00
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen See More
4 Nations Face-Off: Goalie Report
9 days ago
Paul Bruno looks at the state of the goalie position for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in his latest Goalie Report.
2025 4 Nations Face-Off Odds and Picks
11 days ago
Betting odds for the 4 Nations Face-Off ahead of Wednesday’s opening contest, including a deep dive into all four roster courtesy of RotoWire’s Dan Dobish.
Fantasy Primer for 4 Nations Face-Off
11 days ago
Corey Abbott offers a fantasy primer for the 4 Nations Face-Off, which starts Feb. 12, with the current hottest player in the league, Matthew Tkachuk, playing for the United States.
Best NHL Bets Today: Expert Picks for Saturday, February 8
14 days ago
Steven Stamkos and the Predators take on the Sabres in puck action on Saturday. Daniel Dobish shares his expert NHL picks for this contest and the rest of his NHL best bets.
The Week Ahead: Bench Your Devils
34 days ago
Auston Matthews has 11 points in seven games since his return from an upper-body injury. Michael Finewax previews the week ahead in the NHL.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2018
The 2022-23 campaign was supposed to be one where Luukkonen got to develop in the minors, but injuries messed with that plan. Instead, the 24-year-old posted a 3.61 GAA and an .891 save percentage in 33 contests with Buffalo, along with a 3.07 GAA and an .898 save percentage in nine AHL games with Rochester. On top of not getting the opportunity to focus on working on his game in the minors, the Sabres' poor defense made them a goaltender's nightmare last season. However, it's still true that Luukkonen failed to take advantage of the opportunities he was given, and the campaign can be regarded as a disappointment. There's a decent chance Luukkonen will enter 2023-24 in the NHL as part of a goaltending duo with Devon Levi, but Luukkonen still has a lot to prove, and he'll need to overcome the Sabres' subpar defense.
Crushed by injuries, the Sabres were forced to give Luukkonen nine NHL games a season ago. He by no means embarrassed himself in the brief run (2-5-2 record, 2.74 GAA, .917 save percentage), but Luukkonen clearly would have been better off spending the entire year in the minors. Buffalo signed Eric Comrie in free agency and brought back 41-year-old Craig Anderson on a one-year deal. They also have Malcolm Subban around. That should ensure UPL heads back to AHL Rochester for most or all of the 2022-23 campaign, which isn't the worst thing in the world considering he won't be 24 years old until next March.
Luukkonen was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Sabres in the summer but will spend the 2018-19 season with the Sudbury Wolves in the OHL after a ban on European goalies was lifted. Despite a poor showing at the World Juniors, Luukkonen is considered one of the country's top young netminders and will likely be the starter for the Wolves. With four other goalies in the system already, the only way Luukkonen will see action with the Sabres or AHL Rochester is on an emergency call-up basis.
More Fantasy News
Set to play Saturday
GBuffalo Sabres
February 8, 2025
Luukkonen (undisclosed) is slated to start Saturday's road matchup against Nashville, per Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News.
ANALYSIS
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Game-time call Saturday
GBuffalo Sabres
Undisclosed
February 7, 2025
Luukkonen (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision ahead of Saturday's clash with Nashville, Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550 reports.
ANALYSIS
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Unavailable Tuesday
GBuffalo Sabres
Undisclosed
February 4, 2025
Luukkonen (undisclosed) won't be in the lineup for Tuesday's home game against Columbus, Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports.
ANALYSIS
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Victorious on home ice
GBuffalo Sabres
February 2, 2025
Luukkonen made 21 saves on 24 shots in Sunday's 4-3 win over New Jersey.
ANALYSIS
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Facing Devils
GBuffalo Sabres
February 2, 2025
Luukkonen will protect the home net against New Jersey on Sunday, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
In starter's crease Saturday
GBuffalo Sabres
February 8, 2025
Luukkonen occupied the starter's crease in the morning skate after missing Tuesday's home game against Columbus because of an undisclosed injury, Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports, indicating he will defend the visiting crease versus Nashville on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Luukkonen is 18-15-4 with a 2.97 GAA and an .897 save percentage over 38 appearances this season. He stopped 28 of 31 shots in a 4-3 victory over the Predators on Jan. 31. Nashville ranks 31st in the league with 2.58 goals per game this year.
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