- Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen says the Connor Hellebuyck trade will quiet a lot of talk around the league
- The Sabres goalie was linked to the deal for months as Buffalo chased Hellebuyck
- Read below for Luukkonen’s full reaction and where Buffalo stands now
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is glad the Connor Hellebuyck saga is finally over, and he thinks everybody else should be too.
The Sabres goalie talked about the Devils trade with The Athletic’s Matthew Fairburn shortly after it broke Friday. Fairburn asked him about Hellebuyck finally getting moved after months of noise.
“It’s going to quiet a lot of conversation around the league,” Luukkonen said. “I mean, that’s part of sports and that’s what makes sports great, is that there’s always those conversations and names thrown around, but I think there’s just so much talk about it. Around the league, around our team. I think it’s good for everybody that some of that noise quiets down. But in the end, it’s always gonna be there, especially when you’re at the top level of sports. You’re going to have to learn to deal with it.”
Take a look at Fairburn’s post with the full quote:
Buffalo was tied to Hellebuyck for most of the offseason, and Luukkonen’s name kept coming up as a piece that could go the other way. Instead, the Devils got him. Winnipeg landed Dawson Mercer, Nico Daws, Nick Bjugstad, the rights to Alexander Command, a 2029 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
Here are the full trade details from our timeline:
Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen had already said on WGR earlier this week that Luukkonen is “a big part of our future.” The deal going elsewhere makes that a lot easier to believe.
The numbers haven’t been easy so far. Luukkonen has a 3.53 goals-against average and an .864 save percentage in eight appearances. Colten Ellis sits at 3.19 and .864 through his own starts, and Alex Lyon is still working back from an injury.
Buffalo is 4-4-2 and last in the Atlantic Division after Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to the Flyers. The Sabres open a four-game road trip Saturday in Washington, and Luukkonen is likely in net.
That game is his first chance to show the noise is actually gone.
