Ukko-Pekka
Luukkonen
G · BUF · Very good
- PAL
- 74
- WAR
- 3.0
- Value
- 74
- SV%
- .910
2025-26№ 18 / 98
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Buffalo Sabres) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
HEIGHT : 196 cm · WEIGHT : 101 kg · CATCHES : L
Born : March 8, 1999 · Espoo, Finland
Drafted : 2017 · BUF · round 2, pick #54
Contract : $4,750,000 · 2024-25 → 2028-29 · Two-Way Contract · UFA · Signing bonus $2,000,000M-NTC
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | W | L | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Buffalo Sabres | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3.27 | .878 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | Buffalo Sabres | 35 | 22 | 9 | 2.52 | .910 | 1 |
| 2024-25 | Buffalo Sabres | 55 | 24 | 24 | 3.20 | .887 | 2 |
| 2023-24 | Buffalo Sabres | 54 | 27 | 22 | 2.57 | .910 | 5 |
| 2022-23 | Buffalo Sabres | 33 | 17 | 11 | 3.61 | .892 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | Buffalo Sabres | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2.74 | .917 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | Buffalo Sabres | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3.88 | .906 | 0 |
| NHL totals | 201 | 98 | 77 | 2.98 | .899 | 8 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | W | L | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Buffalo Sabres | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3.18 | .876 | 0 |
| Playoff totals | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3.18 | .876 | 0 | |
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: our analysis
2025-26 season: 35 GP, 22 W, 9 L, .910 SV%, 2.52 GAA, 1 SO. WAR 3.0 (18th of 98) · PAL 74, very good.
In 2025-26, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, 27, posts a PAL Rating of 74 out of 100 (very good), and his WAR of 3.0 ranks 18th among 98 regulars, in the top quarter.
His strengths: consistency (84, well above average), efficiency (79, well above average) and impact (77, well above average).
GSAx: +9.8 (goals saved above expected).
A clear step forward: his PAL went from 27 in 2024-25 to 74; his WAR went from -1.9 to 3.0.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 74 (good value) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's story
Raised in Hyvinkää after being born in Espoo, Luukkonen developed through local youth hockey with Jää-Ahmat before moving into HPK’s U16, U18 and U20 ranks. He played other sports as a child but focused on goaltending, inspired by Finnish netminders such as Miikka Kiprusoff and Tuukka Rask. A loan spell to LeKi in Mestis was part of his early development while he prepared for a move to North America.
Selected 54th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Luukkonen signed a three‑year entry-level deal with the club on 15 June 2018. That summer he was also taken third overall in the 2018 CHL Import Draft by the Sudbury Wolves. In 2018–19 he set a Wolves single-season wins record and led the OHL in wins, save percentage and shutouts, becoming the first European import to earn the Red Tilson Trophy as the league’s most outstanding player.
He made his professional debut with the Rochester Americans on 14 April 2019, earning a win, and underwent hip surgery after that season. To regain form he spent much of 2019–20 with the Cincinnati Cyclones in the ECHL, where he was named Goaltender of the Month for November 2019 and appeared in the ECHL All-Star Game. With North American starts delayed by the pandemic, he returned to Finland on loan with TPS for a brief spell from October 2020 to January 2021.
Luukkonen recorded his first NHL win in his debut on 23 April 2021 against the Boston Bruins and split time between Rochester and Buffalo thereafter. His trajectory included standout performances—a 41‑save game praised by teammates—and recognition as NHL Rookie of the Month in January 2023. The 2023–24 season brought multiple shutouts, a period leading the league in save percentage and goals-against average, a nomination for the Bill Masterton Trophy and, after filing for arbitration, a five‑year, US$23.75 million contract extension with a limited no‑trade clause.
Internationally he has been a fixture of Finland’s junior programs: he stepped in during the 2016 World U18 Championship to help secure gold, took silver at the 2017 U18s, and backstopped Finland to the 2019 World Junior gold while being named the tournament’s best goaltender by the media. His game today reflects technical adjustments and a greater emphasis on positioning and calm in net.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- Starts
- 10
- Shots against
- 287
- Saves
- 252
- %ARR / SV%
- 87.8 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
Trend
Trend
Slightly up
- Goals saved above expected per 100 shots: -0.56 in 22-23, +0.69 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 27 → 74
Outlook, age included
↗ Slightly upAge 27: prime years
The trend is a hint, not a verdict. It reads recent seasons and PAL Rating (age only shapes the outlook); it knows nothing about future injuries, trades, or the defense in front of the goalie.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2025-26
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR
3.0
wins above replacement
18 of 98
PAL Rating
74/ 100
Performance · Very good
19 of 74 at the position
Value Rating
74/ 100
Good value
4.75 M$ · expected PAL 54
See full detailsHide details
- Efficiency
- 79
- Impact
- 77
- High danger
- 76
- Consistency
- 84
- Workload
- 46
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | BUF | 3.0 | 74 | 74 | 4.75 M$ |
| 2024-25 | BUF | -1.9 | 27 | 15 | 4.75 M$ |
| 2023-24 | BUF | 4.4 | 91 | 94 | 0.84 M$ |
| 2022-23 | BUF | -0.3 | 29 | 27 | 0.84 M$ |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
3.0
wins above replacement
0.0 to 6.0 — 90% interval
18 of 98 goalies
+15.9 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- Goals saved above expected
- +9.8
- Average → replacement
- +6.1
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | BUF | 35 | 3.0 | 0.0 to 6.0 | 18/98 |
| 2024-25 | BUF | 54 | -1.9 | -5.5 to 1.3 | 93/99 |
| 2023-24 | BUF | 54 | 4.4 | 0.9 to 8.4 | 6/98 |
| 2022-23 | BUF | 33 | -0.3 | -2.8 to 1.3 | 78/107 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →NHL EDGE tracks every shot with a chip in the puck: where it came from, how dangerous it was, and what the goalie did with it. The percentile places the goalie within the league.
- Save %
- .87825th percentileleague avg. .890
- High-danger save %
- .77935th percentileleague avg. .804
- Games above .900
- 30.0 %22nd percentileleague avg. 45.8 %
See full detailsHide details
- Goal support per game
- 3.0852nd percentileleague avg. 3.07
- Goal differential per 60
- -0.1942nd percentileleague avg. 0.07
Save % by zone
2026-2027 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2026-27
CBJ
LAK
WSH
PHI
MTL
TOR
FLA
DAL
CHIUkko-Pekka Luukkonen: frequently asked questions
What is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's record in 2026-27?
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has 5 wins in 11 games in 2026-27, with a .878 save percentage and a 3.27 goals-against average.
How old is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen?
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is 27 years old: he was born on March 9, 1999.
How tall is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and how much does he weigh?
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is 6'5" (196 cm) and weighs 223 lb (101 kg).
Where is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from?
Finland: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was born in Espoo, Finland.
What team does Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen play for?
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen plays for the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL, at G, wearing number 1.
Is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen injured?
No: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen?
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen produced 3.0 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 18th of 98 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 74 out of 100: very good for his position.
How much does Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen make?
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen earns $4.8M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 74 out of 100 (good value): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's contract end?
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's contract runs through the 2028-29 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent. It includes a M-NTC clause.
Is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen overpaid?
No, he gives more than he costs. His Value rating is 74 out of 100 (good value), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 18th of 98 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen getting better?
Yes: his PAL rating went from 27 in 2024-25 to 74 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
What are Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has 201 games, 98 wins and 8 shutouts. His best season: 2023-24, with 27 wins.
Where was Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen drafted?
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was drafted 54th overall (round 2) by Buffalo Sabres in 2017.
How does Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has 6 games and 3 wins in his career.
Which player is most similar to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen?
Casey DeSmith: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Casey DeSmith's page →Does Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen have siblings?
Yes: his twin brother Jaakko Luukkonen (played football before becoming an engineer), his older brother Nuutti Luukkonen (was a goaltender at the junior level).
Is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen related to anyone famous?
Yes: Jari Luukkonen (father, Secretary General at the World Wildlife Fund–Finland).
What is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's nationality?
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is Finnish. Internationally: Played for Finland national under-18 and junior teams: gold medal at the 2016 World U18 Championships, silver medal at the 2017 World U18 Championships, gold medal at the 2019 World Junior Championships (named media's pick for best goaltender).
What awards has Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen won?
Red Tilson Trophy (OHL most outstanding player), 2018–19 season ; ECHL Goaltender of the Month, November 2019 ; NHL Rookie of the Month, January 2023 ; Media's pick for best goaltender at the 2019 World Junior Championships ; Nominated by the PHWA for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, 2024 (nomination).
How many championships has Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen won?
3: 2016 World U18 Championships – gold medal with Finland; 2017 World U18 Championships – silver medal with Finland; 2019 World Junior Championships – gold medal with Finland.
What is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's nickname?
He is nicknamed UPL.
Where did Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen play before turning pro?
HPK (under-16, under-18 and under-20 teams), on loan to LeKi (Mestis), Sudbury Wolves (OHL, 2018–19 season).
See also: his Buffalo Sabres teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)