BUFFALO N.Y. — It's a question of when, not if, for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to make his NHL debut. The Sabres 2nd-round pick (2017 Draft) hasn't been told if he'll start on Thursday or Friday during the Sabres' back-to-back against Boston, but it's likely he plays in one of those games while Dustin Tokarski plays in the other.

What You Need To Know

  • Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will likely make his NHL debut Thursday or Friday against Boston
  • Luukkonen, a 2nd-round pick from the 2017 NHL Draft, developed in Cincinnati and Rochester over the past two years
  • Luukkonen is the Sabres top goalie prospect and turned 22 in March
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"If anything happens, you have to be ready," he says. 

With 10 games left in the regular season, the Sabres are bringing up more prospects and seeing how they fare against NHL competition. Luukkonen would become the fourth Sabre developed in Rochester to make his NHL debut this season, following Mattias Samuelsson, Arttu Ruotsalainen, and Jacob Bryson.

"He has a real nice calm presence to him," says Granato. "He has a presence to him, you notice it. He has some unique qualities to him, in regard to that. I'm as, like all the guys, excited to see him."

Luukkonen has credited Tokarski with helping him adjust to a turbulent season; Luukkonen and Tokarski were Rochester's goalies to begin the year, until injuries and trades forced the Sabres to bring them up to the NHL.

"He has done a really good job. Getting to know him this season has helped me a lot," says Luukkonen. "It builds up my confidence if the chance comes to me to play."

Granato says he'll reveal his goalie plan on Thursday after speaking with Luukkonen and Tokarski.