Buffalo Sabres Lock Up Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Deal is worth an average annual salary of $4.75 million

The Buffalo Sabres and goaltender Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen have agreed on a five-year deal worth an average $4.75 million annually, the team announced Wednesday. 

The 25-year-old averaged 2.57 goals against last year,  ninth among NHL goaltenders. He also had a .910 save percentage. 

Luukkonen managed 27 wins and five shutouts last season, the best in a season since Ryan Miller. He set career-highs in wins and shutouts, and also games played with 54.

He made his 2023-24 season debut in the Sabres’ seventh game of the season, and took the starting job in early January with a 40-save game in Pittsburgh. Luukkonen was the starter for 36 of Buffalo’s last 43 games.