Detroit, Mich. (WGR 550) – The Buffalo chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association (PWHA) has selected Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to be the Sabres' 2023-24 nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy.
The Masterton Trophy is awarded annually to one player who personifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the sport.
When you think of Luukkonen’s journey to the NHL, there were a lot of bumps in the road. He’s thrilled to be nominated for the award after turning 25-years-old just last month.
"Being picked to be the guy is huge for me. I’ve worked a lot, and it’s great because I love to be here in Buffalo," said Luukkonen following Saturday's practice.
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During his 2018-19 season in his first season playing in North America with the Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario Hockey League, Luukkonen went 38-11-4 and was honored with the Red Tilson Trophy winner as the OHL's Most Outstanding Player. Then in April, he had double hip surgery.
Luukkonen started feeling it during the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship playing for Finland, where he won the Gold Medal in Vancouver. However, he managed to battle through and finish the season in the OHL, while also playing a game in Rochester with the Americans.
After rehabbing from surgery, he joined the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL, and then played 10 games for the Amerks.
Despite undergoing a significant hip surgery at such a young age, it didn’t deter Luukkonen’s dream of becoming a No. 1 goalie in the NHL.
"It wasn’t great, but I was still young and confident I would work through it. But there was a lot of uncertainty going to my first North American pro year after playing in junior, and even without the surgery, not knowing what it would be like," Luukkonen said. "Uncertainty was what was on my mind the most, and there’s a lot to navigate playing in the East Coast and AHL coming from the surgery. But those are the steps that I learned from, and you can’t take anything for granted in this job."
Luukkonen had a great stretch last season that earned him NHL Rookie of the Month, but when it got down the stretch and the Sabres were fighting for a playoff spot, head coach Don Granato never called on the young netminder. It was all newcomer Devon Levi, who had just signed his entry-level contract out of Northeastern University. His last game was an April 1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, where he stopped 39-of-42 shots in a 6-3 victory.
Buffalo still had seven games remaining, but none included Luukkonen.
This season started just like last season ended. Levi played the first four games, and then when he got hurt, Eric Comrie played the next two contests. The second game was a back-to-back situation, which finally gave Luukkonen his first game of the season.
Comrie then got hurt, and Luukkonen played in five-straight games. By Jan. 11, he earned the Sabres' starting goalie position.
The journey was long and hard, but Luukkonen wouldn’t change any of it.
"Overall, I feel like it’s been good to me, and I think I learned a lot from the different parts of it," Luukkonen said. "I don’t think if I would’ve skipped one step, I wouldn't be here right now. You don’t always like where you’re at, and you have to battle through it, but right now, I’m happy with everything I went through. It’s great to get recognized for that."
The Sabres visit the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday afternoon.
It wasn't a month ago when Buffalo lost, 4-1, in Detroit. Just four days earlier, they whipped the Red Wings, 7-2, in Buffalo. They also played in Western New York on Dec. 5, where the Wings went home with a 5-3 win.
The Sabres have won 3-out-of-4 games and 4-out-of-6, while Detroit has lost 5-of-6 games.
Rasmus Dahlin didn't practice on Saturday, but he will play on Sunday. Jordan Greenway practiced in a non-contact jersey, and Granato hadn't talked to him yet.
Join Brian Koziol and myself on Sunday for pregame coverage starting at 12 p.m. ET when you’ll hear from Granato, Luukkonen and Connor Clifton.
