Sending Devon Levi to Rochester might have saved him in the right way in his development as a young NHL goaltender. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been playing exceptionally well recently, clarifying that Devon Levi’s time in Buffalo was ending. Young goalies like Levi need constant game reps and action to get accumulated to the NHL style and pace of play.
For the 22-year-old, netminder wasn’t getting that time behind Luukkonen. Levi has only got seven of the available 18 starts this season. Buffalo gained Devon in the Sam Reinhart to the Florida Panthers deal. Levi is 37 career NHL starts has a sub 90 save percentage only saving .896% of his shots in his short time in NHL.
Goalies take time to develop
Not one goalie is the same to develop into a true NHL starter. The closest Sabre example in this situation is Linus Ullmark, who won the Vezina Trophy in his second season with the Boston Bruins after spending time with the Sabres.
Ullmark had a similar path as Levi coming into the NHL, after Linus finished playing his final 35 games in Sweden, he came over to Buffalo that following season Ullmark played 20 games for the Sabres and was sent down to Rochester where he would appear in 83 games for the Americans appeared in one game in 16-17 and played another full season with the American in Rochester.
In his last season with Rochester, Ullmark concluded the year with his lowest goals-against average of 2.44 and his highest save percentage of .922. The 2017-18 Ullmark would be a full time Sabre soon later became the starter and won the Vezina. This doesn’t mean Levi is on the trajectory of winning the Vezina in five years. What’s this is showing is games matter for Levi, something he was not getting currently behind UPL who has the 21st highest save percentage in the NHL and the 28th lowest GAA among NHL goalies this season.
Don’t let Levi’s flashy saves blind you from his struggles
It was only a matter of time before Levi to be sent down to Rochester. The struggles were real, and it showed up against the Flyers on Saturday night. Levi over committed to his left, which allowed the puck easily to sneak by him on the right.
The netminder has also been overly aggressive, making him out of position and most times leaving an empty net for the opposition. Levi’s advanced stats show his struggles even more Levi currently is behind only Stuart Skinner the lowest goals saved above expected Levi sitting at -6.8 GSAx meaning he’s allowing more goals than saving them. Levi is 2-5 in his seven NHL starts and allowing almost four goals a game and has the fourth-lowest save percentage among goalies with at least seven games played.
Time in Rochester will only help Levi as he won 16 games in 26 games in Rochester and carried the ninth lowest GAA and had the second highest SV% in the AHL last season.
Lindy Ruff’s praise
Sending a guy with the competitive edge of Devon Levi is hard knowing that he wants to be the best player he can be in the NHL. Saying that they send down to Rochester is for the “Best thing for Him (Levi)”. Ruff also acknowledges that goalies take time to develop and that Levi needs game action to improve.
“I think it was one game in a month. That’s not easy on a goaltender, that’s not easy on a young goaltender because you need to find some rhythm. You need to see a game-like chaos, which you don’t get in practice" Ruff said. With hard work and game action, Levi will be back in Buffalo in no time, hopefully meaning a long playoff run.