- Sabres GM Jarmo Kekäläinen says Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will be “a big part of our future”
- Luukkonen has a .860 save percentage through seven games as Connor Hellebuyck trade talk swirls
- Read below for what Kekäläinen said and where the Hellebuyck situation stands
Jarmo Kekäläinen isn’t ready to move on from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
The Sabres general manager joined WGR 550 in Buffalo on Tuesday and was asked about the team’s goalie situation, including how Luukkonen is handling the Connor Hellebuyck trade rumors. Kekäläinen gave his goalie a public vote of confidence.
“UPL is a really good goaltender that has a lot to give to the Buffalo Sabres, and he’ll be a big part of our future,” Kekäläinen said.
Check out the full answer from WGR:
Kekäläinen was also asked about Luukkonen’s slow start. He didn’t dodge it.
“Has he been on the level that he was last year? Probably not. Does he get there? I believe he will,” Kekäläinen said. “I think that he’s a pretty level-headed guy who can put out the noise in the background and just concentrate on the job.”
The numbers explain the question. Luukkonen is at a .860 save percentage and 3.59 goals-against average through seven games, according to Daily Faceoff. Last season he went 22-9-3 with a .910 and a 2.52 in 35 appearances, which helped Buffalo end its long playoff drought. The Sabres sit 4-3-2 and fifth in the Atlantic.
Kekäläinen also vouched for the rest of the crew. Alex Lyon is close to returning from injury, and he said Colten Ellis will find the form he showed last year.
The Hellebuyck piece is where this gets interesting. The Jets goalie’s suspension ends Friday, Oct. 23, and Emily Kaplan reported Monday that at least three teams are still in the mix. She also said there’s no guarantee a trade gets done by Friday.
Any Buffalo deal for Hellebuyck would almost certainly send Luukkonen out the other way or to a third team. We broke down the Panthers’ offer and the Sabres standoff last month.
Kekäläinen can say all the right things in public. The Sabres still have a goalie at a .860 and a trade candidate on the other end of the phone.
