Player Discussion Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (2017, 54th)
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Zman5778
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I'm sure every team in the NHL currently has a better defensive system than the Amerks do right now. So it wouldn't shock me if he's fair bit better in the NHL as he won't have to be bailing out his team as constantly.
Willgamesh
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- Jan 31, 2019
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Wouldn't judge any games with the current D core down there. S*** Rolls down hill.
TheMistyStranger
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Coincides nicely with the repeated blue line call-ups
Things should be looking up. Amerks just signed this guy to a PTO to fill in the gaps on D:
Zman5778
Moderator
Gee, there's a pretty solid correlation here between Buffalo healthy and Buffalo holycowwe'resonothealthy.
It's some of it, but in the Syracuse games and the Belleville game there was a goal against per game that need to be ironed out IMO. I didn't watch the pasting from Friday in its entirety, just the RDS highlight package, and it doesn't seem like it was all one or all the other.
Hope he does what he did last year, just without the getting hurt part.
I hope this defensive trash heap team doesn't ruin his morale, or cause fans to think he's a loser/bust. This is a terrible scenario for him to get called up into.
MarkusKetterer
Shoulda got one game in
- Sep 29, 2016
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Any chance for him to stick around if he does well? Or will they send him to Rochester for the playoffs regardless of what happens in the NHL?
- Sep 29, 2016
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Might actually make sense to keep him around and trade Anderson or Comrie instead to give Levi, maybe Portillo, a chance in Rochester?
With Levi expected to sign in early April he'll need a spot to play. I doubt the Sabres see him in the NHL for a little while so it will have to be Rochester. If Levi is in Rochester it may not make sense for the Sabres to have Luukkonen take starts away from him and vice versa.
With Levi expected to sign in early April he'll need a spot to play. I doubt the Sabres see him in the NHL for a little while so it will have to be Rochester. If Levi is in Rochester it may not make sense for the Sabres to have Luukkonen take starts away from him and vice versa.
Next season its Comrie and UPL in Buf regardless, they could give Levi or Portillo a start or two at the end of this year if they sign their ELCs when their seasons end just to give them a taste.
- Sep 29, 2016
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I get that. Luukkonen will be waiver exempt so it's an easy decision. I'm wondering what's best for this season though. If Luukkonen can stabilize the Sabres goalie position do you keep him around and let Levi, maybe Portillo start for Rochester? Or do you send Luukkonen down for the Rochester playoff run and give Levi some starts with the Sabres? I think much will depend on Luukkonen's play over the next weeks. I also think that one of Anderson and Comrie is probably gone by the trade deadline.
Since Levi and Portillo aren't signed and likely won't be until April, it really isn't a matter this year of who is getting games there. The NCAA tournament ends April 8th, it's possible both go deep base on Michigan's all-star team and Levi's singular ability to manufacture wins for NEU. Right now, UPL gets time while Comrie is out. If he does what he did last year, it will make things interesting at the NHL level, but right now, the Amerks don't have either Devon or Erik available and won't until around the last few games of the season - or not at all if the Sabres use the ELC burning option as part of enticement to get them signed.
i think i’ve seen enough of UPL at this point to say that he’s not going to pan out as a prospect. the injuries really hurt his development imo, and i don’t know if there is a realistic path to being a starter in the nhl anymore. disappointing cause at face value he offered a lot. but that’s just the way it goes sometimes
HaNotsri
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- Dec 29, 2013
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ValJamesDuex
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watch the highlights, he looked slow and didn't track the puck well. Leafs got a good scouting report from the farm and new were to go .783 save %
This organization does not know how to evaluate, find, analyze, develop goalies. They let an All star leave for 4M! Maybe they get lucky on Levi we will see.
Trying to evaluate goalies behind this team is a fools errand.
Love seeing Good UPL, was on his game tonight (altho the overturned offsides goal was a classic UPL hole).
Hope he can put a good run together
Hope he can put a good run together
Zman5778
Moderator
He's always had the eye test talent, anybody who points to AHL stats when evaluating a prospect should get the side eye, its rodeo hockey filled with some prospects, some tweeners and plugs chucking muffins against no structure. He wouldnt be the first nor last to look better in the show.
UPL should be up with these guys for a very long time. I don't care about any underlying numbers or anything. He looks like a legit NHL goalie and he did last year also.
