Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is still aiming to prove he's a No. 1 goalie in the NHL. He's enjoyed some strong stretches of play in recent years, but a lack of consistency has led the front office to consider alternatives ahead of the new season.
The Sabres have been heavily linked to a potential blockbuster trade for Winnipeg Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner, since before the 2026 NHL Draft in June, but so far the sides haven't been able to reach an agreement.
Hellebuyck recently went public with his trade request, which has sparked a new wave of trade rumors, and UPL's name is once again being mentioned as part of the speculation. It's one of the topics he covered in a recent interview with Tom Gulitti of NHL.com.
Luukkonen aware of Hellebuyck trade buzz
While the 27-year-old Finland native tries not to become too focused on the rumor mill, he admitted it's been tough to completely avoid the Hellebuyck situation this summer.
"My dad told me about it," Luukkonen told Gulitti. "I don't follow it too much. Of course, no hockey player is completely out of it, so I knew that it was going on, but in the end, I didn't hear anything from my agent or anybody else either. So, I don't know to what extent those (talks) went."
The fact UPL hadn't heard from his agent or the Sabres' front office suggests either the teams haven't been close to a deal since July 1, when his five-team no-trade clause went into effect, or his name wasn't directly involved in those discussions.
It's widely assumed Buffalo will send a goalie to Winnipeg if a trade is ultimately made, and the 6-foot-5 netminder is the most logical choice since he'd help offset Hellebuyck's $8.5 million salary, but Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis are potential options, too.
As it stands, Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen doesn't appear willing to overpay for a possible upgrade between the pipes. Each passing day leading up to training camp without a deal increases the odds UPL is in the crease for the Oct. 1 season opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
That outlook could change on a dime if the Jets' asking price comes down, though.
UPL learned a lot about playoff hockey in 2026
Luukkonen has spent his entire career in the Sabres organization since being selected in the second round of the 2017 NHL Draft. So, since the franchise was locked in a 14-year playoff drought, the netminder had never been able to skate in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
That changed in the spring as Buffalo made its long-awaited postseason return, but the Finn struggled, posting a lackluster .876 save percentage across six games (five starts). It was a learning experience for the 2019 OHL Goaltender of the Year.
"I just learned that during the (regular) season, you can get away with a B game or if this and that happen, but in the playoffs there really isn't any room for mistakes," Luukkonen told Gulitti. "I think everything kind of (multiplies) when it comes to playoffs. A lot of times it's kind of chess match between the teams and you just wait for the other guy to make a mistake."
Although the Sabres' three-goalie rotation worked well for most of the 2025-26 campaign, it faltered in the postseason as neither UPL nor Lyon could hold down the starting role for an extended stretch. It's a key reason the club has been linked to a trade for a more proven goaltender.
It's still unclear whether Luukkonen can be fully trusted in those pressure-packed moments.
Sabres goalie still uncertain about Game 7 goal
Buffalo was one goal away from reaching the Eastern Conference Final. Unfortunately for the Western New York faithful, Montreal Canadiens center Alex Newhook ended their team's Stanley Cup dreams with an overtime winner in Game 7 of the second-round series.
At first glance, it seemed like an extremely weak goal to allow by Luukkonen, particularly given the circumstances. Replays showed there was a possible screen and maybe even a slight deflection, though nothing was completely conclusive, even in slow motion.
UPL isn't totally sure how the Newhook shot got by him, either.
"There's a moving screen," Luukkonen told Gulitti. "You're kind of too high on your stance, and then you have to react down on the puck. And you think that it's coming up when it's not. So, it's really hard for a goalie to read a shot when the puck is not flat on the ice. I don't know if it hit something or not. In the end, it's just not the way you want the season to end."
Ultimately, how the puck went in doesn't really matter, nor does the fact Buffalo was probably the better team in Game 7, owning a 4.4-3.4 advantage in expected goals, per MoneyPuck.
The Sabres came up short in their bid to give a memorable turnaround season a storybook ending. They're still in a promising position with a young, talented NHL roster and a vastly improved prospect pool, but there are no guarantees. Any playoff run that doesn't end in a title is disappointing.
Buffalo will soon arrive for training camp to begin the championship chase anew and, at least for now, it appears UPL will remain an important piece of the puzzle for the Blue and Gold.
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