The NHL’s 2025-26 season is now only a handful of weeks away, so it’s as good a time as any for THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site to break down expectations for every Sabres player next year.
This new series kicks off with this file – an examination of every Sabres player, and the expectations for each of them this coming season. Time will tell whether this Buffalo organization finally gets into the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 15 years, and needless to say, that’s the overarching theme for everyone in this series.
For no particular reason, we’re going to start the series with the Sabres’ goaltending. And in the first article in the series, we’re going to focus on presumptive starting netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Player Name: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Position: Goaltender
Age: 26
2024-25 Key Statistics: 55 appearances, 24-24-5 record, .887 save percentage, 3.20 goals-against average
2025-26 Salary: $4.75 million
2025-26 Expectations: Despite losing his starter’s job to journeyman James Reimer in the last three weeks of the regular-season – he played only five times in Buffalo’s last 14 games – Luukkonen will almost certainly start the season as the Sabres’ starter. Clearly, management feels he can get back to the level he performed at in 2023-24, when he posted a .910 SP and 2.57 G.A.A., playing almost exactly the same number of games both last season and the season prior.
Sabres' Signing Of Veteran Goalie A Solid Gamble That May Wind Up Saving Buffalo's SeasonThe Buffalo Sabres' first day of the NHL's free-agent frenzy saw Sabres GM Kevyn Adams take some low-risk, decent-return gambles in signing mid-tier veterans like winger Justin Danforth and defenseman Zac Jones. But another Sabres signing could prove to be extremely important as the season goes on — and that's the signing of experienced goalie Alex Lyon.
Also working in Luukkonen’s favor – his considerable salary. The Sabres aren’t paying him to be a backup. He’s going to get the reins out of the gate. But it’s telling that Buffalo signed an insurance policy of sorts in veteran Alex Lyon. It wouldn’t surprise us if youngster Devon Levi also got a run, especially if Luukkonen flames out.
Indeed, the Sabres simply cannot afford to let Luukkonen have another down year. There is so much at stake, with coaching and management jobs on the line, and players’ long-term future with the team as well. So to say there’s a considerable amount of pressure on Luukkonen is a considerable understatement.
Here’s the worst-case scenario: Luukkonen struggles again and Lyon or Levi take the starter’s job from him. What do they do with the financial commitment they’ve made to Luukkonen? He’s still got four years left on his contract, and Buffalo is already paying buyout money and cap space for Jeff Skinner’s monstrous contract for the next five years. Ownership won’t be crazy to pay someone else not to play for the Sabres.
Sabres Potential Trade Partner: Pittsburgh PenguinsThe NHL's 2025 off-season is here, and teams are going to be jockeying for trades and free agents in the coming days and weeks. And in this ongoing THN.com Buffalo Sabres site series, we've been examining potential trade partners for the Sabres.
But let’s look at a possible positive development for Luukkonen. If his numbers look as good as they did two years ago, he’s going to give Buffalo’s forwards and new-look defense corps a chance to win games more often than not. And if that’s the case, he’s going to look like a smart investment.
There really doesn’t seem to be much middle ground for Luukkonen this coming year. Either he re-takes the No. 1 job, or Sabres GM Kevyn Adams (or his replacement) finds a new home for Luukkonen. It may take Buffalo retaining some of Luukkonen’s salary to find him a new employer. But there’s almost always another opportunity for a cost-controlled young goaltender, and given that Luukkonen is still well shy of 30, some team will take a second chance on him.
No matter the outcome, it’s going to be a momentous season for Luukkonen. If he likes playing in Buffalo, there’s a clear road ahead for him to do that. But it’s on him, and the Sabres team in front of him, to dictate the future for both parties.
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