Confirmed Signing with Link: [BUF] G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen re-signs with the Sabres (5 years, $4.75M AAV)

[MMC]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1816228736167010309

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[Empoleon8771]

I know he was great last year, but giving him a 5 year, ~$5 million AAV deal based on one year seems bananas to me.

 

[JKG33]

This one could be a steal if he keeps up his play from the 2nd half of last season

 

[Satan]

6 K-god

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

Good.

 

[Satanphonehome]

In keeping with Kevyn Adams pattern of giving term early for guys he considers core.

Very much a lesser version of the Demko deal, which you knew UPL would be looking at all.

Hope for the sake of Sabres fans that it works out nearly as well.

 

[SlimCharles]

Yay we actually did a good thing.

 

[McDoused]

Buffalo doing Edmonton another solid.

Distraction contract.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I know he was great last year, but giving him a 5 year, ~$5 million AAV deal based on one year seems bananas to me.

Certainly Buffalo’s strategy of locking up young players early. It’s a gamble, we’ll see how it turns out

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

Not saying this as a criticism toward any GM. I can understand why it happens. But it’s amazing how in the goaltending world, you can go from worth very little to worth multiple millions over multiple years with just a short stretch of solid NHL play.

 

[Mattilaus]

It's a fine deal that should be easy to move in the last couple years if Levi works out the way he is projecting. If Levi doesn't work out, well then we have our starter signed for 5 more years.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

Yay we actually did a good thing.

Yep. I never thought this would happen. Happy to be wrong.

 

[Iwishihadaspacebar]

Decent move. Even if Levi becomes better in time, UPL as the number 2 at that hit is not bad at all. Likely he stays number 1 for most of the contract though.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Nice deal

 

[Bounces R Way]

Could be good
Could be bad

such is goaltending

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

Decent move. Even if Levi becomes better in time, UPL as the number 2 at that hit is not bad at all. Likely he stays number 1 for most of the contract though.

They are nicely set up to have Levi spend another year in Rochester with Reimer a backup. This is the way a professional does business.

 

[centipede2233]

I think it’s a good contract. But when you sign a goalie to starting goalie money with not a big track record, you have to expect it’s not always going to be great. Their will be turbulenc.

 

[tsujimoto74]

f*** yes!

 

[Cypher]

They are nicely set up to have Levi spend another year in Rochester with Reimer a backup. This is the way a professional does business.

inb4 Levi traded for a top6 winger

 

[tsujimoto74]

I know he was great last year, but giving him a 5 year, ~$5 million AAV deal based on one year seems bananas to me.

It’s not really just 1 year. UPL has a similar trajectory to another goalie the Sabres recently developed and lost in Ullmark. Both top prospects at a young age who played well internationally, then had hip surgery and everyone wrote them off in the 1-2 years it took after that to get back on track, and then they got back on track. I’m thrilled Adams isn’t repeating the mistake they made with Ullmark walking him to UFA.

Even if UPL regresses, we’ve got Levi still on his ELC, so we’re hardly sinking stupid money into goaltending.

 

[NyQuil]

Not bad. Goaltenders are tough though.

 

[seafoam]

Could be Petersen 2.0 or could be a good value signing.

Time will tell.

 

[Breakers]

You can trade that if Levi becomes the guy.

 

[innitfam]

Decent contract. Now to see if he is closer to Demko or closer to Cal Petersen over the life of the contract

 

[Rydgar]

I don't think he's proven enough in the AHL or NHL to be deserving of such a long term contract at that price.