The Buffalo Sabres will give incumbent starting goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen every chance to earn the crease again for the upcoming season. His monumental struggles last year — 3.20 goals against average and .887 save percentage — are a major cause for concern, though.
In turn, perhaps it’s no surprise TSN’s Travis Yost placed the Sabres in the lowest tier (Tier 5) for his goaltending talent rankings ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. Buffalo is joined by the Columbus Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins at the bottom of the list released Tuesday.
“Presumptive starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been a beacon of hope for Sabres fans over the past few years, a promising former second-round pick who looked fantastic two seasons ago,” Yost wrote. “… Much like [Jeremy] Swayman in Boston, the Sabres critically need a bounce-back campaign from their 26-year-old goalie, or they may be hunting for the next solution in net.”
UPL posted a 2.57 GAA and .910 SV% during the 2023-24 season. Buffalo rewarded his breakthrough campaign with a five-year, $23.75 million contract extension, which is already starting to look like one of Kevyn Adams’ worst moves as Sabres general manager.
The 26-year-old Finland native’s underlying numbers weren’t any more promising. His goals saved above average per 60 minutes (-0.38 GSAA/60) ranked 61st among 72 NHL goalies who played at least 10 games last season, per Natural Stat Trick.
An improved defense should help his cause. Buffalo’s acquisition of Michael Kesselring in the JJ Peterka trade should finally give Owen Power a capable partner, while the tandem of Mattias Samuelsson and Conor Timmins should be more effective than the team’s recent third-pair duos.
UPL was downright terrible at times last season, though. His individual play must improve considerably if he’s going to reestablish himself as the Sabres’ long-term answer in net.
Meanwhile, Buffalo signed veteran goalie Alex Lyon to a two-year contract in free agency. Lyon, 32, has appeared in 113 NHL games across eight seasons as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers and Philadelphia Flyers.
Some of the Sabres’ best hockey last year came when journeyman James Reimer took on more starts amid UPL’s struggles. Reimer could only handle so much of a workload at the age of 37, however, which is likely why Adams opted for a younger backup this season.
Prized prospect Devon Levi, who recently signed a two-year extension, is Buffalo’s other option between the pipes. He’s struggled at the NHL level (3.29 GAA and .894 SV% in 39 games) but has continued to show promise in the AHL (2.28 GAA and .922 SV% in 68 games).
The Sabres will ideally be able to give Levi another full season with the Rochester Americans to focus on development. That may not be possible if UPL falters early and the front office is desperately seeking a spark to keep the season alive, though.
All told, placing Buffalo in the bottom tier of the goalie rankings is fair. There’s no guarantee UPL will rediscover his 2023-24 form, and neither Lyon nor Levi is a perfect full-time replacement option at this stage of their respective careers.
The Sabres do have a lot of upside at the position, however, namely if Luukkonen bounces back and Levi proves himself unquestionably prepared for a major NHL role by season’s end.
