The Buffalo Sabres are lifeless final within the Japanese Convention, and simply bought blown out 6-2 on residence ice by the Thirty second-place Calgary Flames; modifications are coming. It’s a troublesome scene for a corporation that, barring a significant turnaround, is on the precipice of extending its playoff drought to a fifteenth consecutive season.
That excessive lack of success has generated commerce rumors round nearly each participant on the roster, and the newest identify to emerge within the chatter is goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
An harm, inconsistent efficiency, and the shock emergence of Colton Ellis have all culminated in Luukkonen being one to observe, according to insider Elliotte Friedman. Friedman mentioned:
“Buffalo nonetheless has plenty of goalies there. It’s clear they actually like Ellis… So, I wrote on Thursday about Luukkonen, and I had a few individuals name me and so they say that that’s going to be an fascinating one to observe.”
The 26-year-old is within the second season of the five-year, $23.75 million extension he signed with the Sabres in 2024.
Who May Have Curiosity in Luukkonen?
There’ll at all times be groups across the NHL in want of assist in purpose, so who ought to we count on to kick tires on buying Luukkonen?
The Edmonton Oilers have been on the lookout for an improve in internet for years, the Montreal Canadiens are impulsively struggling mightily on the place, and the Vancouver Canucks are as soon as once more making an attempt to salvage their season with out Thatcher Demko.
We additionally simply bought the information that Connor Hellebuyck will probably be out 4 to six weeks following a knee process, so we’ll see how snug they really feel using Eric Comrie as their starter for the subsequent month-plus.
Control these groups, and naturally, some other accidents on the place across the league may create extra potential touchdown spots for Luukkonen, who, with a recent begin, might be an fascinating buy-low goal that also has the potential to dwell as much as being a second-round choose (54th total, 2017).
Subsequent: Insiders Present Readability on the Nature of Auston Matthews’ Damage
