Respected outlet has an optimistic outlook for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in 2024-25

While Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s 2023-24 season didn’t give us flashbacks of what we’ve seen from Dominik Hasek and Ryan Mill operator from once upon a time, his improvement was regardless incredible. In 2023-24, Luukkonen’s save rate changed from a small 0.891 to a 0.910, and his GAA expanded (positively) by 1.04.

Also, he shut adversaries out multiple times in his 51 beginnings, five a larger number of than he got in his initial 46 profession begins between 2020-21 and 2022-23. Further, his quality beginnings rate expanded by a decent 0.261, so it’s typical for anybody, even the normal NHL fan, to acknowledge Luukkonen will expand on his fruitful 2023-24 excursion this season.

But he’s also caught the attention of others in the NHL universe, including Jacob Punturi of SI.com, who included Luukkonen alongside Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues and Luke Hughes of the New Jersey Devils as one of three players “who will build off strong 2023.”

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will have a lot of help in 2024-25

While the Sabres were fairly boring in their free office odyssey prior in the month, we actually can’t reject that their last six is significantly better compared to it was on paper heading into last season. Jordan Scenic route, Ryan McLeod, (perhaps) Jason Zucker, Sam Lafferty, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Peyton Krebs, and Beck Malenstyn all brag an actual game and one that ought to give restricting advances migraines when they’re on the ice.

Last season, Luukkonen didn’t have that extravagance, and he was much of the time left to assume the part of “legend” when the Sabers separated protectively. Further, while the guarded pivot is as yet youthful, each player on it will be getting back from last season, regardless of whether they just invested a restricted energy with the group, as Ryan Johnson and Bowen Byram.

The last option is strength that will look good for group science, and it additionally helps that one of the most mind-blowing blueliners in the association, Rasmus Dahlin, is likewise essential for the Blue and Gold’s pivot. By and large, I’ll without hesitation say that Luukkonen more than has a place on Jacob Punturi’s rundown, and I would be extremely shocked in the event that Luukkonen didn’t end the 2024-25 season as a main 10, and maybe even a main five, goaltender.