Levi On A Hot Streak With The Oilers

The Buffalo Sabres goaltending situation has stabilized after the Connor Hellebuyck deal to New Jersey, as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Colten Ellis have played well enough between the pipes, and veteran Alex Lyon is poised to return to active duty after missing the first quarter of the season with a shoulder injury. 

After last season, the Sabres resolved their goaltending depth dilemma by dealing Devon Levi to the Edmonton Oilers for a 2028 third-round pick. The writing was on the wall for Levi’s tenure with Buffalo after the club claimed Ellis off of waivers from St. Louis just prior to the start of last season. Buffalo demoted the 24-year-old Rochester after training camp because he was waiver exempt, and did not get an NHL look for the first time since signing with the Sabres in 2023.

“I knew there was a good chance of getting traded. So on July 1, I had my phone in hand,” Levi said. “My agents had a few conversations with them (Buffalo). So we knew that one guy was moving. When I heard it was Edmonton, I was pumped. Like, I was so happy.”

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Levi appeared to be a fallback option to veteran Tristan Jarry and Stanley Cup winning free agent Frederik Andersen, but Jarry struggled early on and Andersen started the season on injured reserve. The former Sabre has seized his opportunity with Edmonton, as he is 8-1-0, with a 2.75 GAA and .899 save % after a 3-1 win over the NY Rangers on Monday.  

“That's why I'm here, right? The last line of defence,” Levi said. “I kind of embrace that. I love it. If we played a perfect game, we wouldn't need a goalie. And they’ve got my back when I need them to—which isn’t much. We usually play really good.”

It is unknown whether Levi has wrestled away the starter’s job in Edmonton permanently, as Andersen, who was excellent during the Carolina Hurricanes run to the Stanley Cup, has not played a game yet, but it will be difficult for Mike Babcock to not start him if he keeps winning games. 

On the Sabres front, head coach Lindy Ruff indicated after practice on Tuesday that Lyon will accompany the club on their six-game road trip that begins on Thursday in Chicago.  

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