The Buffalo Sabres have signed goaltender Devon Levi to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $812,500. The Sabres acquired Levi in July of 2021 in a trade with Florida, which saw Sam Reinhart sent from Buffalo to the Panthers. From the time of his arrival in Buffalo, too much was expected of Levi, far too early.
He jumped right to the NHL following the completion of his 2022-23 collegiate season at Northeastern, after winning his second straight Mike Richter Award as the NCAA’s best goaltender. He joined the Sabres in March and performed very well in seven starts to close out that NHL season. The team recorded their first winning season since 2011 but narrowly missed a berth in the postseason by one point.
Levi started the first four regular-season games for Buffalo in the fall of 2023, losing three out of those four decisions. Young goaltenders need time to develop, and over the past two seasons, they have now been given that opportunity with the Sabres’ AHL affiliate in Rochester.
As a starter for the Amerks each of the last two seasons, Levi has delivered outstanding numbers in each campaign, posting 16 regular season victories in 23-24 and 25 wins in 24:25. With veteran netminder Alex Lyon joining the Sabres this summer, the bulk of the goaltending load can be shouldered by Lyon and Ukko-Pekka-Luukonen giving Levi more time to refine his skill set in the AHL.
Levi will still see some playing time in Buffalo this season, and remains waiver exempt this fall based on his number of NHL games played. The contract carries a reasonable price tag and gives Levi more time to reach his full potential.
The deal also allows Buffalo to determine what they have in the 23-year-old and what the future will hold in the Sabres crease in the years ahead.
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