Goalie
Luukkonen finished the season with a 27-22-4 record, becoming Buffalo’s first goalie to win 27 games and register five shutouts since Miller’s 31 wins and six shutouts in 2011-12.
Overall, he finished tied for eighth in the NHL with a 2.57 goals-against average and tied for second in shutouts. Luukkonen’s performance was considered one of the few bright spots for a Sabres team that extended its NHL-record playoff drought to a 13th season and led to coach Don Granato’s firing.
Granato has since been replaced by Lindy Ruff, who is back for a second stint with the Sabres.
Luukkonen spent the three previous seasons bouncing between the Sabres and the minors in combining for a 20-19-6 record for Buffalo. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 217 pounds, he was selected by Buffalo in the second round of the 2017 draft.
The Sabres anticipated opening the season with Luukkonen securing one goalie spot, and Levi and veteran free agent addition James Reimer competing for the backup job.
