Seems okay for him, certainly still some risk for the team if he regresses. Goaltending is volatile after all.
Confirmed Signing with Link: [BUF] G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen re-signs with the Sabres (5 years, $4.75M AAV)
- Thread starter MMC
- Start date
toddkaz
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- Nov 25, 2022
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It's probably a million too much in my opinion but it's not that much if he flops and Buffalo has to retain a percentage to dump the contract and if he continues to improve it's a good contract
Teemu
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Agreed.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. 6K is trending up right now. He may trend down next year….then back up the following year. Who knows?
I’m good with that deal.
Didn’t Cal Peterson sign his contract after going 9-18-5? Starting 50 games in three years with 19 wins is a bit different than UPL starting 96 games with 47 wins. Comparing them just because it’s the same money doesn’t mean it’s the same situation or even close to it. This is a fine contract for UPL
SlimCharles
Kings & Sabres
UPL is so much better than Cal ever was IMO.
Yatzhee
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- Aug 5, 2010
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Kid is legit, this deal is a steal.
The takes that this is too much are hilarious - how much did the leafs just pay Woll who is older and proven less with significant injury issues - they paid him 3.67 - no way UPL was getting that for the folks claiming upl is paid a mil too much
EichHart
Registered User
Bjornar Moxnes
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Zman5778
Moderator
Or maybe it turns into the Demko deal.
Anyone who watched UPL/Sabres the 2nd half of last year knows that UPL was amazing. Among goalies that started 20 or more games after January 1....UPL was 4th in GAA and 5th in Sv%. And if it wasn't for one stupidly outlier game against Ottawa in April, he's most likely top 3 in each.
He's trending up.
Tob
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I know he had a great second half of the season. It’s a better bet than Korpi or J.Campbell but it is still in that bracket of bet on this guy kinda signing.
Go Wings
Registered User
Buffalo is the best place to play hockey in the world for a young player looking to cash in. If you have 1 good year you're getting a long term contract. They did it with Cozens and Power as well.
MOGlLNY
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Sabres get bagged for letting their good players go and get bagged for signing their good young players. ok lol
Most goalie deals come with risk. Merzlikins was young, big and athletic and thought of extremely highly as an ascending goalie when he started to cash in and things went south. But Ullmark is also an informative example of needing patience at times as well and would be pretty painful to let the next Ullmark slip through again because you don’t have the guts to pay UPL fairly for what was a pretty rockin breakout season.
It’s fine to let Levi try to unseat UPL the way Swayman had to unseat Ullmark. Theres a good chance despite the hype that Levi simply doesn’t win that battle and if that’s the case, the Sabres already have their guy locked up. My money is on UPL. Levi is extremely athletic and fun to watch tend net but he will never be the physical presence UPL is. For now, it’s a good problem to have if Levi also breaks out.
It’s fine to let Levi try to unseat UPL the way Swayman had to unseat Ullmark. Theres a good chance despite the hype that Levi simply doesn’t win that battle and if that’s the case, the Sabres already have their guy locked up. My money is on UPL. Levi is extremely athletic and fun to watch tend net but he will never be the physical presence UPL is. For now, it’s a good problem to have if Levi also breaks out.
MOGlLNY
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Always appreciate your thoughtful posts in Sabres threads!
Yeah, there is always risk with the volatile nature of the position. Having it in under $5M seems to make it at least more portable if he falls back from his current level.
Sabreality
Registered User
Eye tests still matter, yes goalies are volatile, but UPL's game has improved every season. Locking in his prime years is the smart move, not some weak ass 2-3yr deal. Add in Levi's cheap bridge, Sabres shouldn't have to worry abut the net for a good minute.
