Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is getting closer.
The Buffalo Sabres’ starting goalie hasn’t played yet this season due to injury, but he’s making progress toward a return.
On Tuesday, the Sabres announced that UPL has been assigned to AHL Rochester on a conditioning stint.
Officially, Luukkonen remains on Injured Reserve while on the conditioning stint. He has two weeks in which he can suit up and practice for the Rochester Americans before the Sabres then have to reinstate him from IR.
UPL had been out with a lower-body issue at the start of training camp, then made a preseason start, then sustained another injury that has kept him out thus far.
The Sabres have started Alex Lyon in all six of their games, and he’s 2-4 with a 92.4 save percentage and 2.55 goals against average. Lyon had a 32-save shutout against the Canadiens as part of that performance.
Lyon’s performance does mean Buffalo might not have to rush Luukkonen back, and it also raises the question of how starts will be divvied up when he returns.
UPL is 26 years old and coming off a season in which he started 55 games for the Sabres. In 2024-25, Luukkonen finished with a 24-24-5 record. He had a 3.20 goals against average and 88.7 save percentage. His numbers were all better in 2023-24 (27-22-4, 2.57, 91.0).
Heading into the season Luukkonen would still have been viewed as the goalie of the future. But with Lyon playing well, current backup Colten Ellis having promise and Devon Levi still a promising prospect down in Rochester, the Sabres may soon be looking at some tough choices in the crease.
MORE: Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer sets new NHL record with game-winning goal
