The Buffalo Sabres opened 2025-26 training camp with unsettling news. Ukko-Pekka-Luukonen missed Day One with a lower-body injury. Unfortunately, the 26-year-old Finnish netminder’s return timetable is unclear.
The team does not yet know the extent of the ailment. Consequently, his availability to start the regular season is uncertain.
“He (UPL) had a great summer. He was ramping up, kind of getting closer to ‘game mode’, call it. At training camp, he just started having some pain,” Sabres’ general manager Kevyn Adams said.
“We did imaging and a lot of doctors were involved. The imaging is clean, which is good news. So they’re just trying to do some rehab and figure out exactly how to get him over the hump. He’s kind of in that day-to-day mode (for now). It could be a little longer. “
With the importance that the organization has placed on improved goaltending, this is not welcomed news. However, opening night for the Sabres is not untl October 9th.
Sabres best laid net plans could be in trouble
Buffalo entered September counting on a bounceback season from Luukonen. Between Luukkonen and Alex Lyon, the team aims to improve its goals against average in 2025-26. Right now, at least, that plan is in potential peril.
Meawhile, the Finn focused on putting his subpar 2024-25 campaign in the rear view mirror. Meanwhile, team expectations for Luukonen remain high for the new season. Now they have to be at least a bit nervous about his readiness.
Buffalo gambled on Georgiev
The Sabres recently signed free agent goalie Alexandar Georgiev. It’s some added veteran depth in net. However, Georgiev himself is coming off a terrible 2024-25 season. He’s in dire need of a major reversal of fortune. The Sabres didn’t want to cash in the insurance policy right off the bat.
They may have to, nevertheless. October 9th could see an all-new look in the Buffalo crease for the home opener. In July, The Sabres signed another free agent goalie, Alex Lyon. The American netminder is a battler and a proven NHL backup or even 1B if healthy. The issue: He has a worrisome recent health history of his own.
Fortunately, sheer talent is not the issue. The Sabres have multiple goalies with NHL-caliber talent and past track records of some success. However, every goalie in the depth chart carries question marks for different reason. The competition will sort itself out eventually during camp. It depends on performance and health.
Levi still waiting his turn for extended Sabres chance
What happens if Luukonen is unable to start the season on time? in that event, the Sabres will likely begin the schedule with a tandem of Lyon and Georgiev. However, don’t count out once highly-touted goalie prospect Devin Levy just yet. Meanwhile, the Rochester Americans goalie still clamors for an extended NHL opportunity in Buffalo.
“I think this is really important to have internal competition, no matter what,” said Adams.
“When you have a goaltender in Georgiev that’s played over three-hundred games in the league, he’s played playoff hockey, he’s at a great age(29) he’s been around the league for a while. That was there and we thought he could come in and provide an internal competition. ”
Adams is not in panic mode
The Sabres are not signally a long-term recovery for Luukonen right now, but they wanted to be prepared for that possibility.
“There’s no alarms right now, saying that it’s a significant injury. However, there was a tweak that didn’t feel great. So we have to make sure we protect ourselves,” Adams said.
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