What the Devon Levi Extension Means For the Buffalo Sabres Goaltending

The Buffalo Sabres signed Goaltender Devon Levi to a two-year contract extension worth $1.6 million, or $812,500 per season, a couple of weeks ago. The Sabres already have three other goaltenders under contract, including Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, James Reimer, and Alex Lyon. Has Levi’s role with the Sabres changed from hopeful franchise goaltender to fringe NHL/AHL goalie?

Devon Levi Isn’t the Answer For the Buffalo Sabres

Besides looking good in a small seven-game sample size in 2022-2023, Levi has been a below-average NHL goaltender. In his first seven NHL games, he posted a solid .905 save percentage and 2.94 goals against average. Besides looking good in a small seven-game sample size in 2022-2023, Levi has been a below-average NHL goaltender. The extension seems like it is Levi’s last chance, because the Sabres have three other goaltenders signed that have proved themselves to be at least serviceable goalies at the NHL level. 

The Clock Is Running Out

Reimer, Pekka Luukkonen, and Lyon are all going to try to get the starter’s role. There’s going to be a goalie battle during Sabres training camp this year, which means the clock is ticking for Levi. If the organization believed he was the answer for the future, they wouldn’t have this much competition on the roster. 

If the Buffalo Sabres didn’t believe Levi was the answer, then they would not have given him the extension. It is just tough to see a path to where he can beat out three goaltenders for the starting spot. The Buffalo Sabres have been a mess of an organization for more than a decade, so even they probably don’t know what they’re doing when it comes to this competition. Hopefully, they can turn around their woes this season.