Player Discussion Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (2017, 54th)
- Thread starter Chainshot
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Hopefully he continues to remain consistent. He had the winning streak last December that was sort of similar and then had an unwinding but this stretch feels different in how in control of himself he is around the crease. Maybe he's turned a corner?
TheMistyStranger
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- May 21, 2005
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I'm glad you brought that up. He seems more physically in control of his body lately. There would be glimpses in the past, but this is consistently the case 85-90% of the time now.
It's interesting that a goalie who is well founded in his positioning seems to also keep the defense from being as scrambled.
Also, whoever, however, whatever he did to dial in on the breakaways has been much needed. It went from expectation of a goal to expectation of a save for me as a viewer over this span. *shrug*
And yet he played well against Pittsburgh and Vancouver too - one team that seems to own them and another that is one of the top teams in the league this season.
For sure, holding VAN to one goal is a good outing for any netminder.
Deep Blue Metallic
Bo knows hockey.
- Mar 5, 2021
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I think our boy has got to be in the running for a 3-stars of the week selection.
The funniest part of this kid maybe finally figuring it out is we only have two more seasons of team control, and he's not signed. He probably has turned the corner because that's the most natural Sabres thing to happen. Yeah, I'm jaded.
I'd sign him 1 year 3.5 M and if he backs this year up next year, he becomes our long term starter, with Levi as our long term backup (yes, it is an advantage to have a good goalie as your backup)
I wouldn't offer him just a one year deal. Isn't that sort of what we did with Ullmark?
Short deals until it was too late and he wanted out.
Short deals until it was too late and he wanted out.
HaNotsri
Regstred User
- Dec 29, 2013
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Zman5778
Moderator
If he keeps up what he's doing, my brain said "4x4". We do that for UPL and get a real backup until Levi proves he's ready, and we can still keep costs low for a UPL/Levi tandem until the 4x4 expires.
I think a four-year deal makes a lot of sense. Buffalo gets two of his UFA years, and he gets a nice bump on his RFA years. We have time on him because it's two years of control, so I want to see a good 25 games of play like this. It will mean more money, but so be it.
Zman5778
Moderator
Or he'll do what Reinhart did and be like "I'm 1 year from UFA and you didn't commit to me when you could have. I'm not committing to you now."
With our chronic and endless search for even semi-reliable goaltending for the past several years, if Adams fooks around and ends up losing UPL I'll be... well even more pissed at him than I am now.
And I am plenty pissed at him.
And I am plenty pissed at him.
UPL was potentially off this team after last season I doubt he is spurned over not having a large contract.
Tijuana Donkey Show
Registered User
- Mar 14, 2023
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I can't believe I am saying this, by UPL is quickly starting to move himself into the must extend category. His 14th in S% among goaltenders with 25+ games and top 5 in shutouts. And this is on a team where just about everybody refuses to play effective defense, hanging their goalie out to dry often.
UPL should be on this roster next year.
UPL should be on this roster next year.
UPL has been good, but after a year of taking the position that many Sabre fans were misguided in wanting to move-on from him, I now find myself urging caution. While we should certainly be happy with his play and keeping and extending him is a no-brainer, there are only a handful of NHL goalies who perform at a high level nearly year after year. UPL hasn't even maintained goo play over the course of a season yet. I think he is the real deal, but whether he is a goalie who is going to give us this level of play consistently and prove that he is a legit starter or whether he will be more of a 1B or 2A guy, is yet to be seen. Also, we have played such low-event hockey during the period of his strong play, that I'm not sure we have close to enough data to fully judge yet.
Zman5778
Moderator
While keeping in mind that goalies are controlled by voodoo magic......I agree he should be signed to a reasonable extension.
Tijuana Donkey Show
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- Mar 14, 2023
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I agree here. I am not sure I would catapult him into the upper echelon of goaltenders. But I do think he is a legit starter to have in house right now. Not a 60+ game guy. But I am comfortable riding him as a 1a/1b for a few seasons.
Sabres are in the market for another goaltender, and they should be. But in addition to, not in replacement of UPL.
Yeah this is the tricky part. He has been a league average starting goaltender this season. With the team the way it is, his coming out party this year is really putting the pressure on guys like Cozens and Power to play to their value. Otherwise it could cost (and will) cost us other players.
