Sabres’ Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen reacts to Connor Hellebuyck trade to Devils appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Buffalo Sabres were linked to a potential Connor Hellebuyck trade for months, leaving Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to deal with speculation about his own future — but the star goaltender is headed elsewhere.
With Hellebuyck joining the New Jersey Devils in a blockbuster on Friday, Luukkonen is welcoming the chance for some of that noise to finally quiet down in Western New York.
“It’s going to quiet a lot of conversation around the league. 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,” Luukkonen told The Athletic’s Matthew Fairburn shortly after the deal broke.
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“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. But in the end, I think it’s a good thing for everybody.”
It was widely speculated that Luukkonen would be one of the pieces headed the other way if Buffalo completed a deal for Hellebuyck.
General manager Jarmo Kekalainen publicly backed Luukkonen earlier this week, appearing on WGR 550 in Buffalo and saying “we believe in our goaltending,” while calling the Finnish netminder “a big part of our future.”
Still, it hasn’t been smooth sailing between the pipes in 2026-27. Luukkonen has a 3.53 goals-against average and .864 save percentage in eight appearances, while Colten Ellis has a 3.19 GAA and .864 save percentage.
Alex Lyon, who went on a couple of strong runs last season, is still working his way back from an injury.
The Sabres simply need better goaltending if they hope to make last year’s return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs more than a one-off.
Currently 4-4-2 after Wednesday night’s 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, Buffalo is in last place in the Atlantic Division through 10 games.
The Sabres will look to right the ship — likely with Luukkonen between the pipes — against the Washington Capitals in the nation’s capital on Saturday, the start of a four-game road trip.
Related: Sabres GM drops truth bomb on team’s goaltending amid Connor Hellebuyck rumors