The Buffalo Sabres on Thursday announced the team signed goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Luukkonen (age 19, 6'4", 198 pounds) spent the bulk of the season playing professionally for Leki (Mestis) of Finland's second division. In 24 games for Leki in 2017-18, he posted an 11-11-2 record and finished seventh in the league with a .909 save percentage. The Espoo, Finland, native also represented his country at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo.
Buffalo's second-round pick (54th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft, Luukkonen was rated the No. 1 European goaltender by NHL Central Scouting in 2017. During his 2016-17 campaign, Luukkonen backstopped HPK (Finland Jr.) to a championship with the league's best goals-against average in both the regular season (1.78) and the postseason (2.01).
Sabres Acquire Hickey From Coyotes
The Buffalo Sabres also announced the team acquired defenseman Brandon Hickey from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for forward Hudson Fasching.
Hickey (age 22, 6'2", 201 pounds) recorded 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists) in 35 games as the team captain in his senior season at Boston University in 2017-18, helping lead the Terriers to their second Hockey East championship during his tenure. The Edmonton, Alberta, native finished his collegiate career with 54 points (21/33) in 147 games.
Selected by the Calgary Flames in the third round (64th overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft, Hickey has also represented Canada internationally, appearing in the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship in Helsinki, Finland, and the 2018 Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland.
The Sabres also acquired forward Mike Sislo as part of the deal.
