Sabres goaltender went 27-22-4 in 51 starts last season
The Buffalo Sabres were scheduled to go to arbitration with goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on Monday, but as they did with forward Beck Malenstyn earlier in the week, the club got a deal in advance of the hearing, signing the 25-year-old to a five-year, $23.75 million deal ($4.75 million AAV).
Luukkonen made 51 starts last season, taking over the primary goaltending duties in early January when rookie Devon Levi was sent down to Rochester. He posted a 27-22-4 record, 2.57 GAA, and .910 save % in the final year of a two-year, $1.675 million bridge deal and set career highs in games played (54), wins (27), and shutouts (5) last season. His wins and shutouts were the most in a season by a Sabres goaltender since Ryan Miller.
GM Kevyn Adams indicated that there was mutual interest between the two sides in getting a deal done and that negotiations were ongoing from the end of the season through to the end of June with agent Markus Lehto.
“We really like the position we’re in with having UPL and Devon Levi as still young, developing goaltenders, guys we think are going to continue to grow and get better, that are extremely talented, hard-working, and character people,” Adams said in a press release.
The five-year deal extends three years into when Luukkonen would be eligible for unrestricted free agency and was less than the five-year deal (at $5.375 million AAV) signed by Pittsburgh’s Tristan Jarry last summer. With others like Boston RFA goalie Jeremy Swayman in need of a new deal coming off an excellent year in which he took over the primary duties, it was wise of Adams to be proactive in getting an extension done for a reasonable cap hit.
