In an organization that has seen constant change over the last decade despite no significant improvement in results, the Buffalo Sabres remain searching for answers in various positions, and goaltending is no exception. After this organization enjoyed a near quarter-century of consistency and success in goal from netminders like Dominik Hasek and Ryan Miller, the Sabres have been searching in recent years for a consistent presence in net.
However, with Linus Ullmark currently starting for Buffalo and with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as the team’s top goalie prospect, there is existing potential at that position. While Ullmark has developed over his last three seasons in Buffalo and earned the starting job, he’s also missed time the last two years due to injuries. Carter Hutton, however, has not performed to expectations after signing with the Sabres in 2018 after his career-best season in St. Louis.
Even before Ullmark joined the team on a full-time basis in 2018, Cal Petersen, a 5th round draft pick of the Sabres in 2013, won 55 games in his collegiate career at the University of Notre Dame. As he entered the professional ranks, he had the ability to be a long-term starter in Buffalo.
However, after entering free agency in 2017 and signing with the L.A. Kings, Petersen left a hole in the organizational pipeline at the most crucial position. Luukkonen was selected by the Sabres in the 2nd round of the 2017 draft and is viewed as a solution for Buffalo in goal.
A scouting report from LastWordonSports.com on UPL covered a variety of topics regarding his game. They evaluate that “at 6’4”, Luukkonen has the ideal size that NHL teams are currently looking for…Luukkonen is also very athletic, which helps him to make highlight reel saves on those rare occasions that he finds himself out of position,” and “Luukkonen has performed well in high pressure situations.”
In the end, their analysis projected that UPL “has the skills necessary to be a franchise NHL goalie” but stressed there will be a learning curve. “He will need time to develop, and improve his endurance…In terms of stylistic comparisons, he is reminiscent of Pekka Rinne.”
While he first came to play in North America at age 20 and was superb in goal for the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves, he has been inconsistent at times on the professional level. Although he spent a majority of last season with the Cincinnati Cyclones, Buffalo’s ECHL affiliate, he played 23 games and compiled a 12-7-3 record with a save percentage of .912%, but struggled with limited action in Rochester. In ten games played, he finished 3-4-3 with a save percentage of .874% and needed to improve significantly as he prepared for this season.
While he slightly improved so far this year, UPL has a 5-2-1 record with a 3.19 goals against average and a save percentage of .904% in eight games played. Although he remains only 22 years of age, his trajectory to the NHL, which has seen a recent call-up to the team’s taxi squad, will be fascinating, and if he can be next in a strong lineage of goaltenders to wear the blue & gold.