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Buffalo Sabres: It’s time to end the Devon Levi speculation

By Sion Fawkes

WORCESTER, MA - MARCH 25: Devon Levi #1 of the Northeastern Huskies makes a save against the Western Michigan Broncos during the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Northeast Regional game at the DCU Center on March 25, 2022 in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Broncos won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
WORCESTER, MA - MARCH 25: Devon Levi #1 of the Northeastern Huskies makes a save against the Western Michigan Broncos during the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Northeast Regional game at the DCU Center on March 25, 2022 in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Broncos won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /
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Devon Levi is going to be a great goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres. But contrary to popular belief, he won’t be in the blue and gold in 2023-24.

Devon Levi is going to be a great goaltender in the NHL, and there is no doubt about it. But the time has come for fans to stop speculating that Levi will just walk into the NHL and become the team’s starting goaltender the second he signs his NHL entry-level contract.

For one, the Buffalo Sabres may find themselves in contention for a wild card when Levi signs. And if that’s the case, you can forget about any “nine game trial.” Why would the Sabres put a kid who just walked away from college into the net of an NHL game if they have a chance to end a playoff drought? Two words: They wouldn’t. 

Further, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s emergence, it makes no sense to quell the hot hand just because a kid with limitless potential left college. This is, of course, assuming Levi signs following his season at Northeastern, but you should get the point here: Levi isn’t going to play in the NHL immediately. 

At least unless Luukkonen falls flat on his face, which no one foresees happening any time soon. So for those in the fanbase who believe Levi’s going to come in and snag the #1 goaltender in 2023-24, you can forget about it.

Buffalo Sabres won’t be throwing Devon Levi into an NHL net

I should also point out that christening Levi as the #1 goaltender makes absolutely no sense at this point. Luukkonen has played too well for the Sabres to just hand the job to someone else.

Sure, Buffalo needs a sound backup for 2023-24, but that will involve signing a serviceable veteran unless Eric Comrie makes strides when he finds himself back between the pipes. But as it stands, Devon Levi will be in Rochester for most if not all of 2023-24. He might make a few appearances in the NHL if he accelerates his development, but expect no more than 15 games, and even that is pushing it.

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Overall, look for Luukkonen to, if he keeps up his current pace, open the 2023-24 season as the starter. Comrie could return as the backup if he gets his act together, but the Sabres may also look for another veteran more capable of doing the job. Expect Levi to become a regular part of the lineup in 2024-25 at the earliest.

Article Source: Inside the NHL: Like he once did, Ryan Miller hopes Sabres’ goalie prospects can step into starring role by Mike Harrington 

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