Confirmed with Link: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen Signed for 5 years 4.75 AAV

[zenthusiast]

This is what I mean. And why I’d have gone five years all day long. If Levi emerges as a star…it almost certainly won’t get him paid big money in the next couple of years just based on opportunity. Which means for the next few years you have two legit chances at good to great goalies on a reasonable total dollar. And as long as UPL doesn’t have three terrible years in a row…you’ll be able to move him easy when Levi has to get paid. They have a very good medium term goalie situation and can worry about what to do about it later if they both play well. This doesnt put Levi in an Askarov spot with a proven stud locked in forever. It puts the organization in position to have two legit shots at having a strong 1 for a long time. I believe Levi will be the better goalie in the end. But now I can get him plenty of starts in Rochester for another year and then start moving towards that Boston model if I’m right. Maybe not 50/50 after this year…but it could definitely happen after two. And then you make financial choices if you have to. And you’re covered as much as possible if you don’t. And after three years If Levi is the man and can’t be denied? He’ll only be UPLs age NOW. He’s stupid young and now there is no more misguided need to throw him in deep water.

Pegula only reading the first part and screaming in joy

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Very happy this didn't turn into Ullmark part II. It's an easily tradable contract, and there is of course the potential that he's worth keeping as the #1, and Levi ends up trade bait. Either way, when your guys deserve a long-term deal, you give it to them and let the rest take care of itself.

 

[DJN21]

perfect deal. When Levi is ready to take the keys this is a fine price for a backup when the cap is 100 mill.

 

[SabresFan26]

Great deal on paper.

 

[Jeremy2020]

 

[TehDoak]

 

[MOGlLNY]

I'm imagining Luukkonen making a big stop on a breakaway in the playoffs this year and the new roof nearly comes off with the "LUUUUUUUUK" pop

 

[old kummelweck]

That buffalo accent is a trip.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I think everyone was hoping he comes in at under 5, I never thought it would be more than a year or two tho. Pretty solid deal, I wonder what the hold up was.

Usually it’s about bonuses and moment clauses?

 

[elchud]

Trust the plan

 

[sabresfan129103]

I feel like the few times he got lit up last year the team played god awful in front of him. At this point I think if he sees the puck he'll stop it, outside of deflections of course.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

It’s Funny how everyone has been saying $4.75m for 3 months and it turns out to be $4.75m

 

[SundherDome]

I feel like the few times he got lit up last year the team played god awful in front of him. At this point I think if he sees the puck he'll stop it, outside of deflections of course.

He stopped wildly going across the crease last year, there was a time or two but really cleaned that up.

 

[Zman5778]

I feel like the few times he got lit up last year the team played god awful in front of him. At this point I think if he sees the puck he'll stop it, outside of deflections of course.

His first handful of starts (Colorado SO notwithstanding) were a bit rough, and some of it was on him.

But after that CBJ debacle which SHOULD have gotten Granato fired, he was an absolute stud.

 

[KiwiGriff]

He stopped wildly going across the crease last year, there was a time or two but really cleaned that up.

That was the moment that Ullmark got good too. Both of them would fly past the post going east-west. Then one day they didn't anymore and the results followed.

I'm glad we didn't just let another goalie go as they are hitting their stride like we did with Linus.

Everything to like about this deal based on how things look right now.

 

[Daz28]

It's nice to have that small of a concession on so many deals.

The league could use a lot more of these. Keeps players out of purgatory, but also doesn't bind the teams hands. I hate full NM clauses.

 

[Fjordy]

Good deal

 

[debaser66]

Great deal I love it, nothing to complain about except the posters who want to conjure the few negative spirits even if the fail to show up

 

[Vilis20]

team friendly contract, nice, but does it matters, if we don't spend? more money for Terrie's yacht, i guess?

 

[Sabre the Win]

I feel like the few times he got lit up last year the team played god awful in front of him. At this point I think if he sees the puck he'll stop it, outside of deflections of course.

He was bad the entire first half of the season, it wasn't a few times. He shined bright the second half when we were pretty much already eliminated. I wouldn't blame the team for the entire season.

 

[munkyhead8]

This really needs to be his theme.

 

[Jim Bob]

Luukkonen’s Pay Raise Built on Technical Improvements

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is armed with a fresh five-year contract after a breakout performance in 2023-24. He’s locked in as the Sabres starting goaltender for the foreseeable future after taking a fir…

twointhebox.com

This is one reason why this deal has a good chance to move from a completely fair deal to a very team friendly one by the end of it.

 

[MOGlLNY]

He was bad the entire first half of the season, it wasn't a few times. He shined bright the second half when we were pretty much already eliminated. I wouldn't blame the team for the entire season.

His November was fine, his December was bad like the entire teams. He caught fire as soon as January 1 rolled around

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

He barely played until the end of November. He caught fire as soon as January 1 rolled around

He was sitting around collecting dust while the organization tried to force Levi as the starter. The only reason he started to play was because Comrie got injured. Then it took until sometime in December for KA to realize Levi wasn't ready, or that UPL was clearly better. The team basically had to be slapped in the face to see that UPL should be starting.

 

[tsujimoto74]

I'm imagining Luukkonen making a big stop on a breakaway in the playoffs this year and the new roof nearly comes off with the "LUUUUUUUUK" pop

I was saying Luuuu-urns.