BUFFALO – In each of the last two seasons, goalie Devon Levi cracked the NHL roster out of training camp only to be demoted by the Sabres in November.
While the Sabres occasionally recalled Levi, 23, he mostly stayed in Rochester, emerging as the Americans’ backbone and one of the AHL’s elite netminders.
Levi, having registered a 2.28 goals-against average and .922 save percentage in the minors, has made a strong case he’s ready to graduate to the big leagues again.
Then again, his body of work, while impressive, is relatively small. He has played just 81 total games – 68 in the regular season and 13 in the Calder Cup Playoffs – for the Amerks.
Even top goalie prospects often require three or four years of development time. To wit: Sabres legend Ryan Miller played 170 regular-season games and 26 more in the playoffs for the Amerks over three seasons before making the NHL for good.
So, how might the Sabres approach their goaltending when free agency begins today?
General manager Kevyn Adams recently reiterated he feels comfortable utilizing a young tandem of Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Remember, Luukkonen, 26, endured a disappointing season in 2024-25, compiling a 24-24-5 record with a 3.20 goals-against average and an .887 save percentage in 55 games.
“I have all the faith in the world in UPL and Devon Levi,” Adams said last Tuesday at One Bills Drive in Orchard Park. “I believe in my core that both of them are going to be excellent National Hockey League goaltenders. I think we need to play better in front of them, defend better, and that’ll help our goaltending.”
The Sabres, one way or another, will likely add some veteran depth at the position, even if it’s just for Rochester.
Last year, when they signed James Reimer, 37, to a one-year contract in free agency, it was believed he would stick in the NHL.
When they went with Luukkonen and Levi out of the gate, they lost Reimer on waivers to the Anaheim Ducks. They assigned Levi to the Amerks when they reclaimed Reimer in November.
If Reimer, the Sabres’ most notable unrestricted free agent, wants to play again in the upcoming season, they might be interesting in re-signing him.
Even at an advanced age, the 15-year veteran ranked among the league’s best goalies down the stretch, compiling a gaudy 8-2-0 record from March 23 until the season ended, including a career-long seven-game winning streak. His win total during that torrid stretch was tied for first in the league with Los Angeles Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper, a Vezina Trophy finalist.
Clearly, the Sabres, who also started Levi for a string of critical late-season games after he left college late in 2022-23, will keep him up if he makes a strong enough case.
“We’re open for Devon, and this is not something new to him,” Adams said. “He and I have had this conversation within the last few weeks I believe in him.”
Adams said “the timeline is up to” Levi.
“He’s got some more experience under his belt that when he’s ready to take the step, he will, and we’ll be ready for that. Do I have a problem if those are our two goalies opening night? Absolutely not.
“But I’m also going to make sure that we’re smart how we do things and put our team in the best position.”