Prospect Info: Devon Levi, G, Northeastern University (obtained in Reinhart deal) - Signed 3/17/23, Assigned 4/3/24

[old kummelweck]

Buffalo media can be so cringey.

I love this decision by Granato, let the kid take the bull by the horns, who is more capable amongst our goalies than Levi?

He's the only one that hasn't been inconsistent yet.

 

[Faceboner]

Don't worry I will still be grounded if Levi lets in 6 tomorrow and we lose playoff hopes. He's the future and I have full confidence he is going to be a good one.

Next year I would rather see him get starting goalie time in Rochester rather playing backup to UPL or Comrie.

Yeah we should definitely target a goalie to make upl the back up and let levi battle for starter in rochester for a year or two

 

[thomas vanek]

fully agree that we should be targeting Varlamov or Andersen for a 1 or 2 year deal (which they absolutely would sign if the money was right), but lets be real....if Levi somehow gets hot and sneaks this team into the playoffs there is NO WAY they are going to follow that up with a year in Rochester lol.

(also there is NO WAY they go into a must-make-the-playoffs season next year with UPL and Comrie as the tandem)

 

[dortt]

of course e bring in an established starter next year.* But give Levi the chance to earn the net in camp. He would have to prove conclusively that he is the best to be the starter in that scenario. If it is close, nothing wrong with giving the new starter ~50 games and Levi ~32 games. If Levi is not up to that level, send him to Rochester for the year. No harm

*This assuming Levi does not go full Dryden. If Levi were to win the Conn Smythe this year, he is the starter next year without question. The UPL and Comrie can battle for the backup position

 

[jcbeze]

of course e bring in an established starter next year.* But give Levi the chance to earn the net in camp. He would have to prove conclusively that he is the best to be the starter in that scenario. If it is close, nothing wrong with giving the new starter ~50 games and Levi ~32 games. If Levi is not up to that level, send him to Rochester for the year. No harm

*This assuming Levi does not go full Dryden. If Levi were to win the Conn Smythe this year, he is the starter next year without question. The UPL and Comrie can battle for the backup position

What established NHL starter would want to sign up under that scenario?

None

 

[Bobby Bottle Service]

Can't believe they are giving this kid the biggest game in literally a decade.

I'm on board. Still surprised tho.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

At this point I’d trust Steve Dangle with Sabres news than I would Friedman.

 

[RecycledEichel]

At this point I’d trust Steve Dangle with Sabres news than I would Friedman. He’s the NHLs version of Tucker Carlson.

I thought that was the case. Signing or trading for a good goalie in the off-season kind of flys in the face of this, so maybe the Sabres do not do that.

It is a little surprising Levi wants this though(if true) as he's been extremely patient at every level until now

 

[Dingo44]

I thought that was the case. Signing or trading for a good goalie in the off-season kind of flys in the face of this, so maybe the Sabres do not do that.

It is a little surprising Levi wants this though(if true) as he's been extremely patient at every level until now

Well he has always talked about he wanted to develop his way based on for what he thought he was ready. Maybe he thinks he's ready.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

I thought that was the case. Signing or trading for a good goalie in the off-season kind of flys in the face of this, so maybe the Sabres do not do that.

It is a little surprising Levi wants this though(if true) as he's been extremely patient at every level until now

I get asking if a team believes in the player, but no player gets to dictate the course of the franchise. And I doubt Adams dictates the course of the franchise because of Levi.

 

[Gras]

of course e bring in an established starter next year.* But give Levi the chance to earn the net in camp. He would have to prove conclusively that he is the best to be the starter in that scenario. If it is close, nothing wrong with giving the new starter ~50 games and Levi ~32 games. If Levi is not up to that level, send him to Rochester for the year. No harm

*This assuming Levi does not go full Dryden. If Levi were to win the Conn Smythe this year, he is the starter next year without question. The UPL and Comrie can battle for the backup position

Levi is better off playing a starters workload in Roch than being the backup in Buff

 

[1point21Gigawatts]

I am uncomfortable with all of this. It feels like we are rushing him for a “magic fix.”

 

[Matt Ress]

Can't believe they are giving this kid the biggest game in literally a decade.

I'm on board. Still surprised tho.

This is where I'm at. We don't have much wiggle room but if he wins again they'll probably keep riding him.

 

[Selanne00008]

I am uncomfortable with all of this. It feels like we are rushing him for a “magic fix.”

I get where this is coming from, but I am probly more uncomfortable with anyone else we can start. It's a pressure game but, to me it should feel like a rookie Field Goal kicker trying to win the SB as a big underdog.

Meaningful games in to April, a big game that gets us close to playoffs. Just go out there and kick it ya know?

If the Sabres end the season going 3-3-1 the rest of the way and fall short, the missed playoffs have nothing to do with Levi.

 

[BB79]

The worst tweet I’ve ever seen

Some guy named Jack. That's why we should keep reasonable expectations for Levi

 

[Tsujimoto]

I think I heard Levi vs Lyon tomorrow night.

I'm not sure how starting him against a mid-table French soccer team helps his development, but I trust Adams and Granato to do the right thing.

 

[Chainshot]

I am uncomfortable with all of this. It feels like we are rushing him for a “magic fix.”

I feel they did this with Greg O'Renko and Gus to an extent if we go back 10 years. Or Risto/Zadorov on defense in that era too. Levi may be unique, but I'm game to err on the side of caution. If he plays well, great. If he pushes into the starters role quickly? Wonderful. But I'm not attached to that outcome.

 

[Chainshot]

I'm not sure how starting him against a mid-table French soccer team helps his development, but I trust Adams and Granato to do the right thing.

It's time to kick Krueger right in the balls. Soccer balls.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Some guy named Jack. That's why we should keep reasonable expectations for Levi

Quinn has performed adequately for a rookie

 

[Zman5778]

I am uncomfortable with all of this. It feels like we are rushing him for a “magic fix.”

I tend to agree with you. While I think there's a remote chance that Levi is built differently than most.......it certainly feels like we're rushing things.

 

[dortt]

Levi is better off playing a starters workload in Roch than being the backup in Buff

I wouldn't call playing ~32 games as the traditional backup role. That's more of a 1B role

 

[dortt]

What established NHL starter would want to sign up under that scenario?

None

the established NHLer starter SHOULD then be better than Levi. If he is not, then he's simply not starting material any longer

 

[BG82]

Levi getting the call against Florida? Could be a poetic game for him against his former team in a big spot

 

[Waterfowlist]

This front office and coach have shown that they are not afraid to play young players and deal with growing pains. If Levi shows he can handle the NHL game over these last two weeks, I wouldn't count out them "rushing" him to the NHL. Not saying it is the right call, but given that they are starting him while they are still mathematically alive is pretty telling to me.

 

[BloFan4Life]

Levi is better off playing a starters workload in Roch than being the backup in Buff

According to who?

The team trending on being the best team to ever play in the NHL, thought differently with their young goalie prospect. Swayman has played all of 14 total games in the AHL.