Back in September’s training camp, three goalkeepers competed for Buffalo’s starting goalie position: young talents Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen24, Devon Levi21 and a little more experienced Eric Comrie28.
In October, each of the three started matches, but in recent weeks there has been a clear change in the marching order. Luukkonen, who is playing his second full season in the NHL, has made a spectacular breakthrough in November and has taken over the goal.
Luukkonen, who lost only two of his six previous games in regular time, is one of the NHL’s hottest goaltenders in recent weeks. Luukkonen’s save percentage from the first eight games in November was 92 and the average number of goals conceded was 2.44.
Suomalaisvahti’s GSAA reading was more than four goals plus. The reading was the ninth highest in the series. The statistic tells how many goals the goalkeeper saves in relation to the number of goals expected, when the statistics are compared to the average level of the league. Luukkonen was fifth in the save percentage of dangerous goal posts.
Luukkonen’s last few weeks also caused the club management to react: Devon Levi was sent to the farm last week.
– We have all seen how well he (Luukkonen) has played. He deserves and will get more responsibility, head coach Don Granato stated earlier this week on a Buffalo radio station.
The big Espoo native won twelve of his fifteen starts in December-January last season, accumulating at best eight wins in nine matches. Although the level dropped in the spring season, Luukkonen, who started in 33 games last season, has already shown that he can play in the NHL at a top level.
– “Upi” has worked systematically and developed itself. I saw him in the corona year at TPS and even then the plan and own style was a bit of a search. Development has taken place over the years and there will be much more development. Experience has accumulated and self-confidence has clearly increased, former NHL goalkeeper Karri Rämö says.
A big step
Eating two competitors from the front, together with impressive statistics, says a lot about the lift in Luukkonen’s game. Now it’s all about whether the tendon will last longer than last season.
– Upi ate Levi for that and the goal is now won. He has worked hard and now he gets a big chance. And this is not the last chance. It’s not a forced situation. A clear choice has now been made and it brings peace, but also pressure from the outside. But that’s only a good thing. You want pressure because you want to be number one, Rämö thinks.
Luukkonen has been with Buffalo’s NHL team for four years already, which, according to Rämö, makes the breakthrough challenge easier. Head coach Granato also talked about this when emphasizing how Luukkonen has earned the trust of the rest of the team.
– He has grown for four years and is a familiar figure in the organization. He has seen the difficult times of that construction project. The construction phase is often not an easy place for a young carpenter, it is easily eaten alive. He has taken a big step, Karri Rämö praises.
The successes now come at the right time in terms of the contract situation. The young Finnish player is playing the last season of his contract and is a restricted free agent in the summer. The player’s rights therefore remain with the club. From what we’ve seen, the $837,000 annual salary is getting a hefty raise.
Hailed as an exceptional individual in North America, Devon Levi’s rookie contract runs until the summer of 2025. Things are looking good in Buffalo’s goaltending department for the future.
– I’m not saying that Levi isn’t a promising goalkeeper, but I wondered how he was brought in as the next sure as Carey Price. I don’t see anything in him that would justify that overflowing glow, Rämö points out.
“This is not do or die”
The following weeks and months will show whether Ukko-Pekka from Luukkos is really going to break into the front row starting goalkeeper. Luukkonen’s final breakthrough would naturally also be a huge deal for the club, as the Buffaloes have not been seen in the NHL playoffs for twelve years.
Top-level goalkeeper play could provide a decisive impetus. Karri Rämö emphasizes the importance of relaxation.
– The fun of the goalie game is that you should be able to be relaxed. Juniors often become too self-critical. Then it’s hard to be relaxed if you demand success from yourself all the time. However, this is not a do or die for Up, but an opportunity earned through hard work. He has everything to succeed.