The Buffalo Sabres goaltending situation has been a headache to avoid for fantasy hockey managers throughout the first half of the 2025-26 NHL season, but that may be changing.
Buffalo is suddenly riding a nine-game winning streak on the strength of vastly improved defensive play and the team's problematic three-goalie logjam is evolving as Alex Lyon is evaluated for a lower-body injury and Colten Ellis finishes his recovery from a concussion.
So, at least for a moment, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen could regain a full-time starting role between the pipes for the Sabres.
Fittingly, Shayna Goldman of The Athletic named UPL as one of the best fantasy hockey waiver-wire options on Wednesday as the calendar flips to 2026.
"While the team isn't generating a ton of offense on its nine-game streak, the defense has been really solid. So that should give UPL the support he needs to extend this streak," Goldman wrote. "He is coming off two of his strongest games this season, saving a combined four goals above expected against the Devils and Bruins."
Luukkonen stopped 48 of the 50 shots he faced in the wins over New Jersey and Boston to boost his December save percentage to .906 across six starts.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen may be facing his final opportunity to prove himself as the Buffalo Sabres' long-term No. 1 goalie
A few weeks ago, it appeared trading UPL was the new front office's best option to clear out the Sabres' goaltending depth chart, not only for the current campaign but for future years, as well.
Now it's apparent general manager Jarmo Kekalainen was wise not to make any rash decisions in the immediate aftermath of replacing Kevyn Adams.
For as much as Luukkonen struggled last season and early in 2025-26, it's important to remember the Finnish netminder is still just 26 years old and two years removed from a breakout 2023-24 campaign were he compiled a strong .910 save percentage in 54 appearances.
Amid his recent resurgence, UPL explained after last week's win over the Devils that he doesn't spend much time looking at his stat line.
"It feels great, but I don't look at the numbers too much," Luukkonen told reporters. "I felt I had to be better. It didn't matter if it was home or away, and I think the biggest thing right now is just that we're able to keep the streak going. The guys have been playing unbelievable."
Much like the Sabres as a whole, however, UPL has enjoyed stretches of strong play over the past few years only to follow it up with an extended slump. That has to change.
Now would be a perfect time for him to start showcasing more consistency, particularly if he sees a lion's share of the starts for the foreseeable future given the Lyon and Ellis uncertainty.
In the big picture, it may be the veteran goalie's final chance to show he can put a firm grasp on the starting job to remain in Buffalo for the long haul. Doing so would make Lyon and Ellis expendable with Devon Levi waiting in the wings with the AHL's Rochester Americans.
There would be an element of hilarity if, after all the conversations since the summer about what the Sabres' best path forward in net is, the end result is UPL and Levi. That's been the expectation for years amid a rotating cast of other netminders in the organization.
That's putting the cart before the horse, though. Luukkonen would need a strong second half of the campaign to solidify himself as part of the Sabres' future, and it's far too soon to write off Lyon and Ellis as potential key contributors once they're back to full strength.
For now, Buffalo will hope the best version of UPL continues to show up as it attempts to remain in position to contend for its first playoff berth since 2011.
If that becomes reality, the goaltender could become a league-winning addition for fantasy hockey managers struggling to find stability at the key position.