Two Buffalo Sabres among the top goaltenders under 25

While the Buffalo Sabres have not been to the playoffs in 11 seasons, you cannot deny how strong their prospect pool has become.

Scott Wheeler of The Athletic must be sold on what the Buffalo Sabres are doing regarding their goaltending situation as far as prospects go, considering he has not one but TWO goalies ranked in his list of The Top 10 Under 25. 

A ringing endorsement, nonetheless. Coming in at #5, Wheeler has arguably the NCAA’s finest goaltender, Devon Levi. And at #9, the University of Michigan’s Erik Portillo clocks in. And while we know how special this duo can be if they sign with the Sabres, what motivated Wheeler to rank Levi and Portillo so highly?

Buffalo Sabres goaltenders Devon Levi and Erik Portillo are ranked among Scott Wheeler’s Top 10 Under 25 – Devon Levi, Northeastern

Let’s start with Levi, who I believe has the better chance of signing with the Sabres following his 2022-23 season at Northeastern. One thing that jumped out at Wheeler wasn’t just Levi’s stellar 0.952 save percentage or even his winning of the Mike Richter Award or the Tim Taylor Award.

It was also Levi’s ability to navigate into uncharted waters that included a spot on Canada’s Olympic Team, and a sensational performance at the World Juniors comprising a 6-1 record, a 0.964 save percentage, and a GAA of 0.75. Not to mention he did all of this amidst a pandemic and the fact that he’s on the smaller side of the spectrum as far as goaltenders go.

However, Wheeler let us know just how well Levi remedies his small size. He cites Levi’s quickness, body control, reading would-be scorers, and never losing track of the puck through hordes of traffic. He also applauds the heart Levi shows, something he dubbed a “battler’s mentality.”

Erik Portillo, University of Michigan

Portillo is the one goaltender who I am having a hard time believing will remain in the Buffalo Sabres system. But as of today, Wheeler’s ninth-ranked goaltender under 25 could still potentially sign. To start things off, I cannot help but share my favorite quote from Wheeler’s article:

“Portillo ran with the net as a sophomore, playing every night to some of the best non-Levi results in college hockey.” – Scott Wheeler, via The Athletic.

This indicates that Portillo may have been the second-best goaltender in the NCAA last season, next to none other than Levi. He showed versatility with his 42 games played and consistency with a 0.926 save percentage.

Unlike Levi, Portillo is your typical towering goaltender, standing at 6’6, with a full, 225lb frame to match. He is so large in the net it is no wonder would-be scorers have a hard time getting the puck around him. And despite his size, Portillo is nimble, often showing off coordination that most his age have a hard time mastering.

If he can improve his rebound control and stop allowing the very occasional, “What was he thinking goal?” into twine, he may find himself moving up Wheeler’s rankings.

Overall, it should be an honor to the Buffalo Sabres organization to boast not one, but two top goaltenders under age 25. Especially on a high-profile site like The Athletic. And while it is a mystery as to whether both Levi and Portillo will sign with the Sabres, it is no mystery that this duo could instantly provide a long-term solution assuming one does not occur beforehand.

Full Credit To: Who are the NHL’s best goalie prospects? Scott Wheeler ranks the top 10 under 25 by Scott Wheeler.