How can you explain Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s 2024-25 season? He underperformed, he didn’t step up when the Sabres needed him to and, overall, he just wasn’t that good this past season. Luukkonen’s play, at best, was suspect, and at worst, he looked like an AHL netminder.
That’s Luukkonen’s season summed up if you’re looking for the short answer. But we also know Luukkonen struggled two seasons ago, then returned the following year and enjoyed a monster campaign. Therefore, I’m not counting him out just yet and labeling 2023-24 as an outlier.
Grade: C-plus - Luukkonen entered the 2024-25 season with momentum, thanks to his 2023-24 output. It earned him a new contract, organically raising expectations. But then, yeah, he fell back to reality. Still, Luukkonen’s not out of the conversation yet, so expect him to return ready and raring to go in 2205-26, looking to reclaim what he did in 2023-24.
Just how bad did things get for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen?
Let’s start with the basic numbers: an 0.887 save percentage, a 3.20 goals allowed average, and two shutouts. Yeah, quite the sharp decline from his 2.57 GAA and 0.910 save percentage season, which also came with five shutouts.
When the Sabres needed him the most starting in January, his performance fell even further. Starting in January, he recorded an abysmal 3.51 GAA and an 0.875 save percentage. Numbers that won’t win you the starting goaltender job anywhere unless you happen to be playing in Chicago or San Jose.
Luukkonen could also have Devon Levi breathing down his neck in 2025-26, as Levi put together more than a rock-solid campaign with the Rochester Americans that ended days ago. If Levi finally improves on his own poor numbers and shows signs of progression in camp and into the season, Luukkonen probably won’t be the Sabres starting goaltender much longer.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen controls his own destiny in 2025-26
For Luukkonen, one of three things can happen. Ideally, he’ll step into the crease and show us his vintage, 2023-24 style. But right now, in terms of being at least something close to the full-time starter, he’s just one for three.
Luukkonen could end up as a solid, but not spectacular, meaning he’ll perform somewhere in between what he showed us in 2023-24 and this past season. For that, I’d be looking for an 0.895 save percentage and something around a 3.10 goals allowed average. This means Levi will likely cut into his crease time, and maybe even secure the 1A job should he play well.
The worst-case scenario is that Luukkonen confirms he’s closer to what he was in 2024-25 than in 2023-24. Should that occur, the Sabres could either trade for another netminder, claim one off waivers, or see what they have in Levi.
While Levi could end up with more upside, the ideal situation is that Luukkonen proves he was the player he was back in 2023-24 and puts this debate to rest.