The Buffalo Sabres took care of their final unresolved contract situation of the summer, signing goalie Devon Levi to a two-year, $1.625 million deal ($812,500 AAV). The 23-year-old was 2-7-0, with a 4.12 GAA and .872 save % in nine NHL games last season, but posted a very strong 25-13-4 record, 2.20 GAA, and .919 save % with AHL Rochester.
The Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Quebec native was originally a seventh-round pick of the Florida Panthers in 2020, but was acquired along with a first-round pick (Jiri Kulich) for Sam Reinhart in 2021. After winning consecutive Mike Richter Awards as the NCAA’s top goaltender at Northeastern, Levi signed with the Sabres and was 5-2-0 at the end of the 2022-23 season, which convinced GM Kevyn Adams and former head coach Don Granato that at 21, he could be the club’s future between the pipes.
Other Sabres Stories
Projecting Sabres Trade Cost – Bryan Rust
Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere
After a slow start, the Sabres switched to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as their primary starter, and the young netminder was demoted to the Amerks, where he went 16-6-4, with a 2.42 GAA, and .927 save percentage. Luukkonen’s strong second half and new five-year contract seemed to signal that Levi was more on a devlopmental track, and when veteran James Reimer was reclaimed off of waivers, the youngster was once again sent to the AHL.
The deal is one-way and at the NHL minimum $775,000 in year one and $850,000 in the second year. With the signing of veteran Alex Lyon to a two-year deal, it appears that Levi will begin next season in the AHL, sharing the goaltending duties with 20-year-old prospect Scott Ratzlaff. Expectations for Levi are still extremely high but his waiver exempt status this upcoming season makes it almost certain that his year will start in Rochester.
Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo
Read the full article here
