Thanks! Fascinated by their attempt to grow into that next phase. Hopefully their productive summer pays dividends.
Confirmed Signing with Link: [BUF] G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen re-signs with the Sabres (5 years, $4.75M AAV)
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Thanks! Fascinated by their attempt to grow into that next phase. Hopefully their productive summer pays dividends.
- Jun 13, 2010
- 42,004
- 20,653
I hope he plays up to this deal, and I'm sure he's a great guy but man alive, would I love it if GMs stopped giving out long-term, high-dollar contracts to the middle-of-the-road goalies. It messes the entire market up and the position it soooo volatile lately that it can go soooo wrong.
Not if he has a bad year, no one will want that contract. Wish him well but that is a risky contract at that price.
TheKrebsCycle
Throwing Confetti for Perfetti
I'm not concerned. If there is anything to him that I was bothered by, it was over-use toward the end of the season. He seemed fatigued and then mental mistakes crept in. If they have competent backup tending - which we hope is what Reimer can provide - he should be fine.
Adams discovered that even his hopes and wishes can't circumvent goaltender development timelines.
TheKrebsCycle
Throwing Confetti for Perfetti
So does he backup next year or carry the load on the farm most likely ? You’d think the latter would be better for development if UPL is going to be deployed as a workhorse
Skinnyjimmy08
WorldTraveler
- Mar 30, 2012
- 22,744
- 12,415
I'm not a huge fan of him but even in a couple years if he's just an average goalie, 4.75 per year isn't bad for a backup or 1a/1b type thing with the cap rising now
Seems like a GREAT deal for UPL and a decent deal for Sabres regardless what happens with him down the road. I don't see him ever becoming a higher level goalie in the league but he should do decent forsure
Seems like a GREAT deal for UPL and a decent deal for Sabres regardless what happens with him down the road. I don't see him ever becoming a higher level goalie in the league but he should do decent forsure
Old Navy Goat
Registered User
He'll be in Rochester getting big minutes, Reimer is backing up UPL
TheKrebsCycle
Throwing Confetti for Perfetti
Seems like he'll be carrying the load in the AHL from where I sit.
This is a very nice deal for the Sabres. I get that the body of work isn't enormous, but he's really good. He'll easily earn this kind of money, with the potential for being much better than this sort of tier. That's before factoring the coming salary inflation.
I get prioritizing security, but he's potentially leaving a lot of money on the table in his prime years.
I get prioritizing security, but he's potentially leaving a lot of money on the table in his prime years.
If he plays 2 great years, then the value is still there even if he falls off, and backs up Levi for the last 3. The only risk would be he immediately flops. Under $5M is no big deal, and buried it's only like $3M hit. Very low risk with high reward regardless of what posters are saying.
SherVaughn30
Registered User
Wasn't Sabers GM Kevin Adams the Assistant GM for the Pens when Jarry got that 5 year deal? Jarry contract was a mistake and so is this one. For people saying this contract can be traded a couple years down the road if it doesn't work out, the answer to that is no! UPL looks like he's an up and coming goalie, but to give him a 5 year contract to be the #1 goalie based off of 1 good season is just dumb. Levi is the Sabers long term #1 goalie plan and UPL shouldn't have received no more than a 3 year deal.
Definite over payment and 2 years too long on the contract.
I'd say you shoulda stopped when you were ahead, but I didn't even see that.
WhereAreTheCookies
Registered User
What did the Wings give Husso after a single good year in St Louis?
Aladyyn
they praying for the death of a rockstar
I know most people didn't pay any attention to the Sabres last year (can't blame you) and missed how good this guy has gotten but this really is a good deal. A year ago I was fine with risking him on waivers to get him in the AHL but the step he took was real. He used to flop around a lot, you never knew what you were getting from him on any given night, that all changed. Now he's just a wall, every game you know he's gonna give you a good chance to win (went like 4 months without giving up more than 3 goals in a game). It's high praise but he really reminds me of Hellebuyck.
Go Wings
Registered User
Yah the Sabres should definitely be praised for signing a goalie that has played 100 games for them in 4 seasons to a 5 year 4.75 million per year deal.
It's still a mystery why the Sabres have missed the playoffs 13 straight seasons when they make all the right moves.
A bad deal
admiralcadillac
Registered User
- Oct 22, 2017
- 7,603
- 6,904
Only like 10 goalies these days at any given time are starting 50-60 games. You gotta pay someone to win the other 30 games.
You'll always have the Yzerplan
The Hockey Tonk Man
Registered User
Sabres have a lot of young guys locked up for a while on some pretty nice deals
Can’t really complain about any of that
Can’t really complain about any of that
That's right. Now quiet down so we can continue bagging on your team.
Bouboumaster
Registered User
- Jul 4, 2014
- 10,306
- 8,510
Old Navy Goat
Registered User
Explain why signing a 25yo goalie to a 5yr deal is a bad length. They bought 3 UFA years which should be in his prime
