Sabres agree to long term contract with goalie Luukkonen

*Photo from Buffalo Hockey Beat*

   Goalie number one is sticking around for a while. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and the Buffalo Sabres have agreed to a 5 year, $23.75 million contract, according to an announcement by the Sabres on Wednesday.

   Luukkonen entered the offseason as an RFA with arbitration rights and filed for arbitration early in July. With a hearing scheduled, the Sabres were able to avoid one with this contract coming off a breakout year for the Finnish goalie.

   The contract begins this season and pays Luukkonen $4.75 million annually through the end of the 2028-2029 season. Luukkonen also gets a modified no trade clause in the final 3 years of the contract in the form of a 5 team no trade list each year. Luukkonen is set to become a UFA when his contract expires.

   Chosen by the Sabres in the second round of the 2017 NHL Draft, Luukkonen was initially viewed as the Sabres goalie of the future before going through struggles in his first few seasons. After the team pivoted to Devon Levi as their future top goalie, Luukkonen emerged this season and grabbed the full time job as Levi struggled and Eric Comrie was waived.

   Luukkonen made the most of his first season in the NHL full time despite the Sabres extending their playoff drought. He posted a .910 save percentage and 2.57 GAA while recording 5 shutouts, going 27-22-4 in 51 starts and 54 total appearances.

   The start to last season was mediocre for Luukkonen, as he had an .892 save percentage through his first 18 games. When the calendar flipped to 2024, he posted a .919 save percentage from January 6 until his final game on April 13. His save percentage and GAA are new career highs in a full season, as are his games started, total games, and wins.

   The Sabres have made a few moves in net to add to their depth this offseason. Joining Luukkonen and Levi in town are Felix Sandstrom and veteran James Reimer, who both signed one year contracts when free agency began in early July.

   With Luukkonen under contract, the Sabres avoided arbitration hearings with him and new acquisition Beck Malenstyn. The team also agreed to a new contract with RFA Henri Jokiharju, with Peyton Krebs their one remaining RFA without a contract.