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

[Svedu]

How the hell is Devon Levi seen as much better than Luukkonen? Feels like pure bs, but time will tell I guess.

I'm a flyers fan and would personally love to see Hart get trade for UPL. He's still a future starter with elite potential in my world but I guess both Sabres and Flyers franchises haven't been the best for future goalies with horrible defending at times.

 

[Ness]

How the hell is Devon Levi seen as much better than Luukkonen? Feels like pure bs, but time will tell I guess.

I'm a flyers fan and would personally love to see Hart get trade for UPL. He's still a future starter with elite potential in my world but I guess both Sabres and Flyers franchises haven't been the best for future goalies with horrible defending at times.

Hart for UPL sounds great to me

 

[Ace]

How the hell is Devon Levi seen as much better than Luukkonen? Feels like pure bs, but time will tell I guess.

I'm a flyers fan and would personally love to see Hart get trade for UPL. He's still a future starter with elite potential in my world but I guess both Sabres and Flyers franchises haven't been the best for future goalies with horrible defending at times.

I’ll drive him to the airport so he doesn’t let 5 goals in on the way

 

[RecycledEichel]

Most of us thought UPL might end up being the player who ends up costing the Sabres from going to the playoffs this year.

So far, he's the one who's saving our season. Taking the #1 goalie job for this season right out of the hands of Levi/Comrie. Dude is on fire

 

[RoyalOverNavy]

He's a late developer, I believe.
A big fella, so that plays into it.
He's slowly developing the consistency that I believe will take him to the level of being an above-average NHL netminder.
I don't know if he'll be a star, but his steady ascent shouldn't be taken for granted.
IMO, the Sabres would be beyond foolish to trade him for anything that doesn't involve a right-now above average NHL goalie.
Give him this season as the starter -- or goalie 1A -- to see what you really have.

 

[Dingo44]

Most of us thought UPL might end up being the player who ends up costing the Sabres from going to the playoffs this year.

So far, he's the one who's saving our season. Taking the #1 goalie job for this season right out of the hands of Levi/Comrie. Dude is on fire

He's at the point that I expect him to make all the saves he should make and a few a game he shouldn't. He's not losing us games for sure and he's won a couple. I'm most confident in UPL of the three right now.

 

[debaser66]

his rebound control looks good

 

[Svedu]

Who guessed UPL would and should be the starter from the get go? I just had to. Besides a couple of flukes he's been a good starter, notice good, not decent.

He's a late developer, I believe.
A big fella, so that plays into it.
He's slowly developing the consistency that I believe will take him to the level of being an above-average NHL netminder.
I don't know if he'll be a star, but his steady ascent shouldn't be taken for granted.
IMO, the Sabres would be beyond foolish to trade him for anything that doesn't involve a right-now above average NHL goalie.
Give him this season as the starter -- or goalie 1A -- to see what you really have.

And don't forget that the defense or defensive system has looked like complete trash in some games. I mean like really horrible.
I mean when they for once played well in the defense he immediately got the SO.

 

[dortt]

wonder if we come back with UPL tonight

 

[TheMistyStranger]

wonder if we come back with UPL tonight

Should. Let him run with the ball. There's a reason I had him pegged to be the Sabres starter by mid-November in my preseason predictions.

 

[Bendium]

Should. Let him run with the ball. There's a reason I had him pegged to be the Sabres starter by mid-November in my preseason predictions.

Goaltender preparation is a real thing. Il bet you Comrie was told he was starting this game a week ago and has been preparing for it. There is no good that will come of playing UPL more than needed. I am in favor of sending Levi to the AHL and rotating UPL/Comrie, with UPL gettting the extra game when we get the 3 in 4 nights.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

Goaltender preparation is a real thing. Il bet you Comrie was told he was starting this game a week ago and has been preparing for it. There is no good that will come of playing UPL more than needed. I am in favor of sending Levi to the AHL and rotating UPL/Comrie, with UPL gettting the extra game when we get the 3 in 4 nights.

Comrie should get a game before Levi, but I'm still going with UPL tonight, unless he is sore.

 

[Dingo44]

 

[HOOats]

View attachment 775615

Goalies are weird, also goalies who haven't turned 25 yet should not be judged as anything close to a finished product, especially those with a season as decorated as UPL's 2018-2019.

 

[dortt]

Goaltender preparation is a real thing. Il bet you Comrie was told he was starting this game a week ago and has been preparing for it. There is no good that will come of playing UPL more than needed. I am in favor of sending Levi to the AHL and rotating UPL/Comrie, with UPL gettting the extra game when we get the 3 in 4 nights.

no no no

NO!

Cue Michael Scott

Comrie is inferior to UPL. UPL is the starter. The starter plays the vast majority of the games.

I fail to understand the Comrie love some have. He was shit last year and has been shit this year. Is it him being the underdog or something?

Comrie can play against Nashville and Vegas when we have back to backs

 

[Bendium]

no no no

NO!

Cue Michael Scott

Comrie is inferior to UPL. UPL is the starter. The starter plays the vast majority of the games.

I fail to understand the Comrie love some have. He was shit last year and has been shit this year. Is it him being the underdog or something?

Comrie can play against Nashville and Vegas when we have back to backs

How you feeling now? Any better? Still want to start UPL all 82 games?

Nothing in my post said anything about loving Comrie, in fact my post was not even about Comrie. Maybe take a breath and read before you post. You just had a hammer in your hand and were seeing nails EVERYWHERE!

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

UPL finally had his turn to play behind a pathetic defensive performance. Brutal TOs all around the D-zone, followed up with brain-dead efforts to find and cover the open man. He could have been better on one or two GA, but we all see what the bigger problem is.

Proper D-zone play just can't be this hard to coach and implement. It's embarrassing.

 

[Bendium]

UPL finally had his turn to play behind a pathetic defensive performance. Brutal TOs all around the D-zone, followed up with brain-dead efforts to find and cover the open man. He could have been better on one or two GA, but we all see what the bigger problem is.

Proper D-zone play just can't be this hard to coach and implement. It's embarrassing.

Agreed. The number of people standing in front of him unimpeded was silly. I thought this was one of RJ's worst games defensively as well. Saw him standing well off to the side like he was waiting for someone else to win a battle and get him the puck, while a St Louis forward stood next to or in front of UPL uncovered. No clue why they play that way. Our whole team plays on the perimeter, even in the defensive zone. Ugg.

 

[dortt]

How you feeling now? Any better? Still want to start UPL all 82 games?

Nothing in my post said anything about loving Comrie, in fact my post was not even about Comrie. Maybe take a breath and read before you post. You just had a hammer in your hand and were seeing nails EVERYWHERE!

UPL sure sit the bed. No question about it

 

[Beerz]

Record scratch..*

 

[dortt]

Record scratch..*

what in the world was power doing? That may have been the absolute lamest attempt to block the shot in NHL history.

He looks like he was afraid to get hit with the puck

Then again, had we been able to hit wide open nets last night, even UPL's shitty game would not have cost us

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

what in the world was power doing? That may have been the absolute lamest attempt to block the shot in NHL history.

He looks like he was afraid to get hit with the puck

Then again, had we been able to hit wide open nets last night, even UPL's shitty game would not have cost us

Yeah, Power has sucked but UPL swam half way to Finland on that play. No idea what the real UPL looks like but I'm not buying yet.

 

[Chainshot]

Power and RJohnson played that poorly. So did Luukkonen. There wasn't a lot of trust by players to do what their own jobs on that play.

 

[debaser66]

the only important thing is how will he respond after having a not so good game

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

UPL has shown enough this season to be excused for a poor performance, as long as it proves to be an exception and not the start of a trend.