Levi - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Ducks claim goalie James Reimer off waivers from Sabres

James Reimer won’t be going to the Rochester Americans. The Anaheim Ducks on Monday claimed the veteran goalie off waivers from the Buffalo Sabres.

The Sabres signed Reimer to a one-year, one-way contract worth $1 million – a significant salary for a player they hoped to assign to the minors – to provide insurance. In Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, 25, and Devon Levi, 22, the Sabres have one of the league’s youngest goalie tandems.

Reimer, 36, served ... Read the full article

Devon Levi happy to compete with UPL, sharp as Sabres beat Blue Jackets

BUFFALO – For years, Sabres goalie Devon Levi has been a workhorse, starting game after game.

At Northeastern, Levi played 89 percent of the Huskies’ games. After turning pro late in 2022-23, he started seven of the Sabres’ final eight contests and the first four last season before suffering an injury.

When Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen seized the No. 1 job late last fall, the Sabres assigned Levi to the Rochester Americans to play regularly, occasionally recalling ... Read the full article

Sabres preseason: Ryan McLeod set to debut; Rasmus Dahlin skates again

BUFFALO – Two exhibition games, two regular-season lineups.

The Sabres will mostly utilize their top players again for this afternoon’s preseason contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets in KeyBank Center. They dressed most of their NHL talent for Saturday’s 7-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, a game in which JJ Peterka scored three goals.

The complete lineup is below. Three notable offseason acquisitions – center Ryan McLeod, defenseman Dennis Gilbert and winger Jason Zucker – ... Read the full article

Former Sabres quickly found work as free agents this summer

In past offseasons, it sometimes took former Buffalo Sabres time to find work. Some went overseas or returned to the minors. Some never played in the NHL again.

But earlier this month, seven players from the 2023-24 squad quickly signed NHL contracts as free agents. Some updates are below.

– Winger Jeff Skinner signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers.

The Sabres, of course, bought out the final three seasons of Skinner’s ... Read the full article

Sabres make big commitment to goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with hefty five-year contract

Barely nine months ago, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s future with the Buffalo Sabres seemed in doubt.

When goalie Devon Levi arrived from college late in 2022-23, the Finn became a spare part. After watching the final seven games that season, he backed up or was scratched for the first six contests of 2023-24.

So on one hand, yes, the five-year, $23.75 million contract Luukkonen signed on Wednesday is a bit surprising. The Sabres clearly wanted Levi, ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: James Reimer added to goalie mix; Amerks’ roster filling up

BUFFALO – Having decided to utilize two young goalies next season, the Sabres needed to find a veteran to provide depth at the critical position.

So on Tuesday, they signed James Reimer, 36, to a one-year, one-way contract worth $1 million.

That salary, of course, is hefty for a No. 3 goalie who will likely play in the minors. Still, general manager Kevyn Adams, who recently said the Sabres plan to have Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, 25, ... Read the full article

Sabres sign goalie James Reimer to one-year contract

BUFFALO – The Sabres this morning added goaltending depth by signing veteran James Reimer to a one-year, one-way contract worth $1 million.

General manager Kevyn Adams recently said the Sabres plan to go with goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, 25, and Devon Levi, 22, next season, so Reimer, despite his salary, could be ticketed for the Rochester Americans.

Reimer, 36, offers the Sabres valuable depth. He has played 501 NHL games over 14 seasons, compiling a 215-177-63 ... Read the full article

With UPL, Devon Levi in Buffalo, Sabres plan to add goalie depth for minors

BUFFALO – When the Sabres look for goaltending this summer, they want to add depth for their minor league affiliates, not any immediate help for the NHL.

General manager Kevyn Adams said the team’s net belongs to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, 25, and Devon Levi, 22, next season.

“My plan is … we are going to have two real talented goaltenders playing on a nightly basis,” Adams said Thursday in KeyBank Center during media availability to discuss ... Read the full article

Rochester Amerks’ ‘unreal group’ will change as players leave, join Sabres

ROCHESTER – Seth Appert believes each year, no matter how special of a group you had the previous season, you must start over. If a team comes together – that’s a big if – it takes time.

“If you think you can start where you left off the year before, you’re setting yourself up for massive failure,” the Americans coach said following Friday’s 5-2 season-ending loss to the Syracuse Crunch in Game 5 of the ... Read the full article

Rochester Amerks’ season ends with loss to Syracuse: ‘That one stings’

ROCHESTER – When the Syracuse Crunch pounced on the Americans early Friday, opening up a 2-0 lead before the 10-minute mark, few believed the visitors would run away with the decisive Game 5.

The first four meetings in the AHL North Division semifinal had been bitterly contested, with one goal deciding each game. The last three games had ended in overtime. In Game 4, the Amerks erased a three-goal, third-period deficit to force Friday’s contest.... Read the full article