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

[Sabresfansince1980]

I really hope UPL can be a legit starter, always have. That said, I can't say he somehow played better than in Toronto. I only watched the 1st period in Toronto, but he was facing open looks from the slot and breakaways. It was exactly what Comrie and Anderson have seen the first 20 games. Last night looked like someone kidnapped the Sabres, did weird mind control tricks on them, and brought them back out on the ice to play as a competent defensive minded club. There was only one five minute stretch in the 2nd period where StL got the kind of shots off that UPL saw in Toronto.

 

[UnleashRasmus]

Last night he was poised, saw the puck well and was in the zone, once he gets his head in the game he's easily the best goalie we have in the AHL or NHL available right now. I like Comrie the person, but he gets rattled. UPL just goes into his groove and it's hard to get him out. I'm for UPL/Anderson the rest of the way.

 

[BUCKSHOT]

Last night he was poised, saw the puck well and was in the zone, once he gets his head in the game he's easily the best goalie we have in the AHL or NHL available right now. I like Comrie the person, but he gets rattled. UPL just goes into his groove and it's hard to get him out. I'm for UPL/Anderson the rest of the way.

Not saying this is true or false, but 6K had alot better defense last night than Comrie has played with most nights

 

[UnleashRasmus]

Not saying this is true or false, but 6K had alot better defense last night than Comrie has played with most nights

Fair judgement to call, and Comrie has looked good in some games, but on his off nights, he looks like Aaron Dell.

 

[Chainshot]

Not saying this is true or false, but 6K had alot better defense last night than Comrie has played with most nights

When the Sabres have more odd-man rushes for than against, it's a good indication that the team defense is much better than it has been. Comrie hasn't had many games where the team in front of him has given him that.

 

[old kummelweck]

Let's see what UPL does over 5 or 10 games. I personally don't think Comrie is going to develop into a #1 from what I've seen.

 

[ilpadre98]

Luukonen is the upcoming No.1, not comrie, subban or portillo. With Levi you have to see how the guy deals with the fact that Buffalo has the rights to him

 

[SabresFan26]

Let's see what UPL does over 5 or 10 games. I personally don't think Comrie is going to develop into a #1 from what I've seen.

Luuuuk is bigger and more athletic than comrie and has a much higher ceiling.

 

[Reddawg]

Not saying this is true or false, but 6K had alot better defense last night than Comrie has played with most nights

It really can't be overstated just how much Samuelsson means to our defense. Comrie looked like a budding superstar as well when he was in the lineup.

 

[Sabresruletheschool]

When the Sabres have more odd-man rushes for than against, it's a good indication that the team defense is much better than it has been. Comrie hasn't had many games where the team in front of him has given him that.

I agree. Comrie has looked decent given what he's had to face. Our bottom pairing has been bad. Our PK has been horrendous. And this team bleeds odd man rushes and breakaways. There hasn't been a lot of goals against that I've thought Comrie let an easy save by him.

 

[HaNotsri]

While the fluky goals against still happen UPL simply covers enough ice to reduce the "puck deflects on skate" goals by 75%

 

[Chainshot]

While the fluky goals against still happen UPL simply covers enough ice to reduce the "puck deflects on skate" goals by 75%

When the team is playing better defense in front of whoever is in net, those sort of goals are less frequent. It isn't a size thing or a quickness thing, it's that the puck isn't heading toward their net as much.

 

[HaNotsri]

When the team is playing better defense in front of whoever is in net, those sort of goals are less frequent. It isn't a size thing or a quickness thing, it's that the puck isn't heading toward their net as much.

Is there a stat for saved deflections? Not arguing against your point but it feels like the above average goalies are able to react and have better positioning compared to the goalie standard we've had since Miller left.

 

[toddkaz]

I thought he should have gotten the start last night. Don't like the way Donnie handles the goalies.

 

[Chainshot]

I thought he should have gotten the start last night. Don't like the way Donnie handles the goalies.

Who is to say that Luukkonen makes the great saves Anderson made last night or lets in the leaky one like Anderson did on GA3.

 

[HaNotsri]

I thought he should have gotten the start last night. Don't like the way Donnie handles the goalies.

I think Granato sees Anderson as our best goalie and when he's ready to go he'll play.

 

[toddkaz]

I think Granato sees Anderson as our best goalie and when he's ready to go he'll play.

Except he had Comrie starting like 4 games in a row during the losing streak

 

[Zman5778]

I thought he should have gotten the start last night. Don't like the way Donnie handles the goalies.

I did too.......until I learned that Anderson's family had joined him in Buffalo. If his family is in town, you play him. He's earned that.

Except he had Comrie starting like 4 games in a row during the losing streak

Anderson can't play 40 games in a season. Hell, 30 is probably pushing it. Comrie/UPL/whoever will have to play 3 or 4 in a row at times.

 

[toddkaz]

I did too.......until I learned that Anderson's family had joined him in Buffalo. If his family is in town, you play him. He's earned that.



Anderson can't play 40 games in a season. Hell, 30 is probably pushing it. Comrie/UPL/whoever will have to play 3 or 4 in a row at times.

Do you have information that Anderson was incapable of playing during that time frame? if not then you are just guessing. You are looking at 10-12 days between starts.

 

[Chainshot]

The team has expressed that they want to limit Anderson. Adams and Granato both have mentioned it in off-season interviews, with 20-25 games being mentioned in previous off-season commentary.

 

[Zman5778]

The team has expressed that they want to limit Anderson. Adams and Granato both have mentioned it in off-season interviews, with 20-25 games being mentioned in previous off-season commentary.

Pretty sure Anderson has said it himself as well that he knows he's limited in the number of effective starts he can make over the course of this season and that he has to be managed well in order to be at peak effectiveness for those limited starts.

 

[Chainshot]

Pretty sure Anderson has said it himself as well that he knows he's limited in the number of effective starts he can make over the course of this season and that he has to be managed well in order to be at peak effectiveness for those limited starts.

Granato has mentioned that Anderson's readiness is a limiting factor. It isn't a surprise that Comrie was getting starts in higher volume. It isn't a surprise that UPL will get a lot of starts either - same reasoning. Luukkonen has a tough test tonight with the Lightening start, let's see if he can build off the back half of his last game.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

A matching mask for the Goathead

 

[Chainshot]

Who knew? Luu knew.

 

[toddkaz]

For all the bashing this guy takes he still has a .903 save percentage in the NHL. He has only played 22 games and people are ready to cut him lose.

Lets hope last night was a turning point.