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Sabres news: Where should UPL start the season?

By Jacob LeBlanc

Apr 27, 2021; New York, NY, USA; Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen #1 of the Buffalo Sabres takes a break while tending net against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 27, 2021 in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2021; New York, NY, USA; Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen #1 of the Buffalo Sabres takes a break while tending net against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 27, 2021 in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports /
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It was a bummer to see the Buffalo Sabres lose yet another good goalkeeper this offseason. This time it was Linus Ullmark, who ended up signing with division rival Boston. We also saw Carter Hutton leave Buffalo and end up in Arizona. To try and counter these losses, the Sabres signed Craig Anderson and Aaron Dell. With the Sabres signing both of these veteran goalies, what does that mean for goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen?

Obviously, UPL is part of the Sabres’ future plans. He is a highly-touted prospect within the Sabres organization, so they certainly aren’t going to kick him to the curb and expect continued success from Anderson and Dell. UPL made his NHL debut last season after every other Sabres goalie seemed to get hurt. And then Luukkonen got hurt and his season ended prematurely.

Luukkonen started in four games for the Sabres towards the end of last season. In those four starts, he had a save percentage of .906 and a goals allowed average of 3.88. So nothing incredible, but the team as a whole was not good, and it is hard for a goalie to have good stats on a bad team in the NHL. And he is only 22, so he has plenty of years ahead of him to develop into a starter in the league.

UPL will be ready for the start of this upcoming season, and there is no reason why he should not be on the opening night roster for Buffalo. Craig Anderson could be an incredible mentor for someone like UPL. Anderson is going into his 19th NHL season, so he knows about as much as anyone when it comes to the goalie position.

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If Buffalo is planning on having both Anderson and Dell get significant playing time in Buffalo this year, then Luukkonen will likely start the season in Rochester, which I personally think is a mistake. If Luukkonen looks good for the Americans if he starts there, then he needs to be brought up to Buffalo early in the season to get him as much exposure to NHL talent as possible so when the Sabres can put a good team around him, he is ready to rise to the occasion.

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