UKKO-PEKKA LUUKKONEN #1

Notes accurate as of Sept. 1, 2026

PRONUNCIATION: LOO-koh-nehn, OO-koh-PEH-ka

CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through 2028-29 ($4.75 million AAV)

CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Selected by Buffalo in the second round (54th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:  

  • Made his NHL debut and earned the first win of his career on April 23, 2021 vs. Boston.
  • Appeared in 69 games with the Rochester Americans from 2018-19 to 2022-23 and earned 32 wins in that span.
  • Named AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Nov. 14, 2021 after posting a 2-1-0 record, one shutout, a 1.68 goals-against average and a .957 save percentage in three starts.
  • Led all NHL rookie goaltenders in wins (6), saves (274) and time on ice (550:00) in January 2023 and was named the Rookie of the Month.
  • Earned a win in six consecutive starts from Dec. 15, 2022 at Colorado to Jan. 7, 2023 vs. Minnesota, the longest win streak of his career.
  • Made a single-game career-high 41 saves on Dec. 19, 2022 at Vegas.
  • Ranked third among all NHL rookie goaltenders in saves (940) and wins (17) in 2022-23.
  • Tallied the first point of his NHL career with an assist on March 7, 2023 at NY Islanders.
  • Recorded the first shutout of his career on Oct. 29, 2023 vs. Colorado.
  • Recorded an assist on March 24, 2024 at Calgary and became the 19th goaltender in Sabres history to record multiple assists with Buffalo in their career.
  • Tied for fifth among all NHL goaltenders in 2023-24 in shutouts (5).
  • In 2023-24, became the first Sabres goaltender since Ryan Miller in 2011-12 to appear in 50 or more games and record a goals-against average of 2.57 or lower in a single season.
  • Became the fourth-youngest Sabres goaltender to record five or more shutouts in a single season and the first since Ryan Miller in 2011-12 (six shutouts) to do so in 2023-24.
  • Recorded the most wins (27 in 2023-24) by a Sabres goaltender in a single season since Ryan Miller recorded 31 wins in 61 games in 2011-12.
  • Earned 22 wins in 2025-26, marking his third consecutive season with at least 20 victories. Became the first Sabres goaltender to record three or more consecutive 20-win seasons since Ryan Miller from 2005-06 to 2011-12. In conjunction with Alex Lyon, became the first pair of Sabres goaltenders to earn at least 20 wins in the same season since Martin Biron (21) and Ryan Miller (30) in 2005-06. 
  • Earned a 2-0 record in shootouts in 2025-26 and made seven saves on seven shootout attempts, becoming the first Sabres goaltender all-time to face at least five shootout attempts in a single season without allowing a goal. 

AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS:  

  • Recorded the best goals-against average (1.94) in the 2015-16 U20 SM-liiga playoffs.
  • Ranked first among all OHL goaltenders in save percentage (.920) and shutouts (6) in 2018-19.
  • Named as the OHL Goaltender of the Year and the OHL Most Outstanding Player (Red Tilson Trophy) in 2018-19.
  • Named to the OHL First All-Star Team in 2018-19.

INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS:  

  • Appeared in six games, recorded a goals-against average of 1.80 and a save percentage of .932 and earned a gold medal with Finland at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship.
  • Named to Team Finland’s roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025.

NHL FIRSTS

Game: 4/23/21 vs. BOS

Win: 4/23/21 vs. BOS

Shutout: 10/29/23 vs COL

AWARDS & HONORS

Professional:

2020 ECHL All-Star Game

NHL Rookie of the Month (Jan. 2023)

International:

2018-19 OHL First All-Star Team

2018-19 OHL Goaltender of the Year

2018-19 OHL Most Outstanding Player (Red Tilson Trophy)

Amateur:

2019 IIHF World Junior Championship All-Star Team

2019 IIHF World Junior Championship Gold Medal