On Wednesday, the Buffalo Sabres announced that they have reached a five-year agreement with goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, which will see him earn an average annual value of $4.75 million.

Last season, Luukkonen, aged 25, achieved personal bests in games played (54), wins (27), and shutouts (5). These remarkable accomplishments mark the highest number of wins and shutouts achieved by a Sabres goaltender since Ryan Miller.

Among qualified NHL goaltenders, Luukkonen was ranked ninth in terms of goals-against average, sporting a solid 2.57. Additionally, his save percentage of .910 put him in the ninth spot among goaltenders who had played at least 50 games.

Earlier this offseason, Kevyn Adams, the general manager of the Sabres, showed his belief in the young goalie duo of Luukkonen and the 22-year-old Devon Levi. Levi, who had the highest save percentage among qualified AHL goaltenders last season, received praise from Adams. To strengthen their organizational depth, the team made signings in free agency, bringing in experienced players James Reimer and Felix Sandstrom.

Adams expressed his satisfaction with our current goaltending situation, highlighting the potential and growth of UPL and Devon Levi. He described them as highly talented, dedicated, and individuals of great character.

After years of dedicated growth and perseverance, Luukkonen finally reaped the rewards last season. Having spent his four previous professional seasons in North America split between the ECHL and AHL, the 2017 second-round pick entered the 2023-24 season as one of the three goaltenders on the NHL roster. He got his chance to shine in Buffalo’s seventh game, making his season debut.

Starting with a remarkable 40-save performance in Pittsburgh on Jan. 6, Luukkonen firmly established himself as the starting goaltender. From that point onwards, he started 36 of the Sabres’ last 43 games, showcasing an impressive .919 save percentage that ranked eighth in the NHL during that period.

“After the season, he expressed, ‘I believe it was highly beneficial for me and a valuable learning experience. My aspiration is to become a starting goalie in this league, and I genuinely feel that I possess the potential to excel in that role. Enduring such experiences throughout this year has greatly contributed to my confidence and overall growth.'”

I believe that both physically and mentally, I was in great shape and managed to navigate through the situation without any trouble. This experience has bolstered my confidence for the upcoming year as well.