Player Discussion Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (2017, 54th)

[Jim Bob]

Daccord has been notably terrible in his NHL games. He's never posted above an .897 save % in those limited starts.

Last season he had an .850 in 5 games with the Kraken, and while the Kraken weren't great they weren't as bad defensively as it looked. They allowed the 4th fewest shots against last season, while having the worst save % in the NHL. Craig Andersons save % was closer to Shesterkins than it was to Daccords, that's how bad an .850 is. The worst Sabres goalie was Subban last season with an .871 and Daccord was .021 worse, Even Jonas Johansson had a better save %.

At 26 years old I'd say his chances of actually becoming something more than an AHL goalie are pretty slim at this point.

Daccord had no support in the 4 starts and 5 appearances he had for Seattle last year.

His one non-start, he had to come into the game in relief 5 minutes in.

And the Kraken scored 2 goals or less in all 5 of his appearances.

He had a tough year last year with a ton of up and down between Seattle and Charlotte. And he put up solid regular season numbers for the Checkers before a less than stellar playoff series.

Daccord would be another goalie lottery ticket if any team had claimed him. But, I have no real idea why Marek would have felt like the Sabres should have claimed him outside of not knowing the team that played in front of Comrie in the pre-season and writing him off already.

 

[UnleashRasmus]

Not shocking to see him demoted to Rochester. At the same time, we'll see him start NHL games this year. If any of the two go down to injury or is struggling, UPL can steal the net.

 

[Fjordy]

Honestly, I would ask the question, "What does that say to Comrie?" more than what does it say to UPL.

I would read a claim of a guy like Daccord as not having a lot of faith in Comrie being able to be a solid NHL goalie more than it saying anything to UPL.

It says nothing to Comrie. He knows that the organization has such a promising goalie as UPL and there are other goalies prospects. Comrie will have a chance to become number one, in Winnipeg he simply could not get it. Adams is just being polite and goes out of his way to support any Buffalo player and prospects in organization.

 

[Jim Bob]

It says nothing to Comrie. He knows that the organization has such a promising goalie as UPL and there are other goalies prospects. Comrie will have a chance to become number one, in Winnipeg he simply could not get it. Adams is just being polite and goes out of his way to support any Buffalo player or organization prospects.

I was referring to what a claim of Daccord would say.

Some worried that it would say that UPL doesn't have a future here. Given that Daccord would have to stay on the Sabres roster, I would say the message would have been more towards Comrie than UPL.

For this year, the message to UPL would still be that they want him to get all the starts in Rochester.

 

[Fjordy]

I was referring to what a claim of Daccord would say.

Some worried that it would say that UPL doesn't have a future here. Given that Daccord would have to stay on the Sabres roster, I would say the message would have been more towards Comrie than UPL.

For this year, the message to UPL would still be that they want him to get all the starts in Rochester.

Gotcha, I misunderstood. I don’t know why we need Daccord and where to put it, we already have four goalies plus Houser and Warm in the ECHL.

 

[Jim Bob]

Gotcha, I misunderstood. I don’t know why we need Daccord and where to put it, we already have four goalies plus Houser and Warm in the ECHL.

Even with Subban going down, I don't see why the Sabres would have been a team to look at claiming Daccord.

Now if two of their top 4 goalies were on the shelf for the start of the season...

 

[Jacob582]

Marek misses the point.

It's not about Anderson. It's about not wanting to alienate UPL, so soon after Adams personally expressed his ongoing confidence in him when Comrie was acquired.

My question is: where does Buffalo have the roster space to claim a goalie?

 

[Chainshot]

Honestly, I would ask the question, "What does that say to Comrie?" more than what does it say to UPL.

I would read a claim of a guy like Daccord as not having a lot of faith in Comrie being able to be a solid NHL goalie more than it saying anything to UPL.

There is that, though the contract and money for Comrie indicate at least he's the guy for now. Then again, I don't always think Marek is paying much attention to Buffalo.

 

[Jim Bob]

There is that, though the contract and money for Comrie indicate at least he's the guy for now. Then again, I don't always think Marek is paying much attention to Buffalo.

They definitely weren't paying attention to what is going on since they referred to Anderson as the starter.

 

[Fjordy]

They definitely weren't paying attention to what is going on since they referred to Anderson as the starter.

They actually thought it was Josh Anderson.

 

[Zman5778]

My question is: where does Buffalo have the roster space to claim a goalie?

That's it exactly. Our goalie distribution is as clear as crystal right now:

NHL: Comrie, Anderson
AHL: Subban, UPL
ECHL: Houser, Warm

There is zero need nor desire to add a waiver claim into the mix. Even a guy like Connor Ingram who has actually shown something at the NHL level.

 

[joshjull]

Marek is surprised the Sabres didn't put in a claim, that Anderson is old and not great.

Friedman is saying it makes sense to not claim Daccord since it would ruffle UPL and the plan of having him as part of their tandem in the near future.

I was thinking of it more along the lines of ……

Marek’s take - we don‘t need a goalie, so why would we claim one.
Friedman’s take -Anderson is the vibes guy not UPL

More broadly their takes lack an understanding of what we’re doing in net. Anderson as mentor to Comrie in his first season as NHL starter and to UPL (when he gets called up). Claiming Daccord would bounce him from the NHL roster.

DAccord also isn’t an upgrade at the NHL level and can’t be a mentor. So I was baffled as to why they made that suggestion. why would we bother claiming him?

 

[Zman5778]

DAccord also isn’t an upgrade at the NHL level and can’t be a mentor. So I was baffled as to why they made that suggestion. why would we bother claiming him?

And Daccord of all goalies. I mean......if there was a goalie to TRY to make a case for, it would have been Connor Ingram. There's no case there either, but at least Ingram is probably an NHL backup.

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

Came to see what's up with UPL. Daccord highjacked thread.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

There is that, though the contract and money for Comrie indicate at least he's the guy for now. Then again, I don't always think Marek is paying much attention to Buffalo.

Merek was suggesting that he'd be a replacement for Anderson, which would actually be a good idea if Anderson wasnt' such a big part of the team, leadership-wise. I don't really like Merek but this is a good topic imo.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Zman5778]

If UPL keeps playing the way he's playing..........I wonder if his first NHL stint this year comes in mid-to-late November? Our November schedule is stupid (14 games in 30 days) and the Amerks is relatively light. Specifically, I wonder if our games on 11/15 or 11/16 are in play for UPL. He'd be in a week-long break from the Amerks and getting a game in would keep him in game shape while simultaneously giving old man Andy a break. Maybe have him start one and backup Comrie in the other.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

If UPL keeps playing the way he's playing..........I wonder if his first NHL stint this year comes in mid-to-late November? Our November schedule is stupid (14 games in 30 days) and the Amerks is relatively light. Specifically, I wonder if our games on 11/15 or 11/16 are in play for UPL. He'd be in a week-long break from the Amerks and getting a game in would keep him in game shape while simultaneously giving old man Andy a break. Maybe have him start one and backup Comrie in the other.

I don't think they'd sit Andy unless he was injured. But I can't imagine he stays healthy all season, so I think UPL will naturally get his chance this year based on need. I just hope Subban is healthy by that point.

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

I don't think they'd sit Andy unless he was injured. But I can't imagine he stays healthy all season, so I think UPL will naturally get his chance this year based on need. I just hope Subban is healthy by that point.

If not they could always bring Houser or Warm up for a stint in Rochester.

 

[Chainshot]

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen evolving with Amerks, handling load Sabres expect - Buffalo Hockey Beat

ROCHESTER – While the Buffalo Sabres list Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as the same size as last year, his 6-foot-5, 217-pound frame is noticeably leaner. On the ice, the goalie is more agile and composed, showcasing a mature style as the Americans’ workhorse. The genesis of Luukkonen’s transformation...

www.buffalohockeybeat.com

“He’s visibly changed his body,” he said. “This is the first summer he’s been healthy. Every summer in pro hockey he’s had some … injuries that prevented him from training the way he likes to train. And this summer, his nutrition, his fitness, his strength, he was a machine this summer, and you can see it paying off.”

Apps taking the dad approach too:

“He’s in such a good spot right now I don’t really talk to him very much,” Appert said. “I was fortunate I was a goalie, he and I have a very good relationship, we’ve spent a lot of time together over the last couple years. He knows I trust him. And he is in such a good space physically, mentally right now, I’m not going to try to mess it up.”

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen evolving with Amerks, handling load Sabres expect - Buffalo Hockey Beat

ROCHESTER – While the Buffalo Sabres list Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as the same size as last year, his 6-foot-5, 217-pound frame is noticeably leaner. On the ice, the goalie is more agile and composed, showcasing a mature style as the Americans’ workhorse. The genesis of Luukkonen’s transformation...

www.buffalohockeybeat.com

Apps taking the dad approach too:

That's awesome, I really like Appert and the feedback he's giving this season so far. I actually didn't know he used to be a goalie.

 

[Chainshot]

That's awesome, I really like Appert and the feedback he's giving this season so far. I actually didn't know he used to be a goalie.

It's weird because I like what the development staff are doing with the players and at the same time, the structure and way they play in Rochester often drives me batty.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Does Rochester have any d-men right now?

 

[Chainshot]

Does Rochester have any d-men right now?

If you are free and have skates, they might.