Buffalo Sabres sign goaltender Devon Levi to entry-level contract
The Buffalo Sabres have signed top goaltending prospect Devon Levi to a three-year, entry-level contract, the club announced Friday afternoon.
Levi, 21, wrapped up an outstanding NCAA career with the Northeastern Huskies last weekend. The Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que. product posted a 38–22–6 record with a .942 save percentage in 66 games over two seasons at Northeastern.
After leading the NCAA in save percentage and being named a Hobey Baker Award finalist in back-to-back seasons, Levi could make his much-anticipated pro debut with the Sabres this spring.
The Buffalo Sabres have signed goaltender Devon Levi to a three-year entry-level deal. pic.twitter.com/Tt5hy9dTcN
— Sabres PR (@SabresPR) March 17, 2023The Florida Panthers originally selected Levi in the seventh round (No. 212 overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft. The six-foot goaltender dominated with Team Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, posting a 6–1–0 record and a .964 save percentage in seven games.
The following summer, the Panthers traded Levi and a 2022 first-round pick (Jiri Kulich) to the Sabres in exchange for forward Sam Reinhart. Levi subsequently made his collegiate debut at Northeastern in the 2021–22 season, ultimately posting a jaw-dropping .952 save percentage in 32 games.
Levi followed that up with a strong sophomore campaign, going 17–12–5 with a .933 as Northeastern fell to Providence College in the Hockey East quarterfinals.
The Sabres have been right there on the cusp of the Eastern Conference playoff picture all season long but have struggled to find consistent goaltending. Craig Anderson has been their best option, but his jersey number (41) matches his age and he’s only appeared in 23 games.
With Levi now locked in, the Sabres will return to action at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday evening to take on the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center.