Prospect Info: Devon Levi, G, Northeastern University (obtained in Reinhart deal) - Assigned to Roch 11/18/24

jcbeze

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Dec 27, 2005
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Assuming the substance abuse has to do with the pressure of being in the NHL.
Safe assumption

Don't want to see him play up here at all this year on this team. I know he'l wants to burn a year, but it could be really ugly.
He already burned a year by signing. Do you honestly think anyone would be hoping he played a game this year if he only burned a contract year by playing?
 
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Gras

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Safe assumption


He already burned a year by signing. Do you honestly think anyone would be hoping he played a game this year if he only burned a contract year by playing?
He has to get in to a game for it to burn the year towards his UFA status.
 

dotcommunism

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Aug 16, 2007
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He has to get in to a game for it to burn the year towards his UFA status.
No. UFA status comes when a player turns 27, or has 7 accrued seasons (as of June 30 of the final season of his contract). An accrued season requires 40 games on the active roster (or 30 for a goaltender). That doesn't really matter here, though, as at Levi's age, he'll be UFA eligible the off-season following his 27th birthday, regardless of anything else.

It doesn't really matter for RFA eligibility, either, as Levi won't get the needed 10 professional games this season to count as a year of professional experience, meaning that he won't be RFA eligible when his ELC expires.

Playing a game this season does matter for starting the clock as far as waiver exemption goes, and maybe some other minor matters, but it has no bearing at all on RFA or UFA eligibility.
 

Jim Bob

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Feb 27, 2002
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I can't imagine Wolf not in the NHL next year as Markstrom's backup/1B.

That said -- anyone expecting Levi to step right in......this is your case study. 100 games in the AHL.
They gave Vladar a two year $2.2M AAV extension that runs through the 2024-25 season.

So, they will need to move Vladar or Markstrom to make room for Wolf. My guess is that they start Wolf in the AHL and he gets called up if Markstrom or Vladar get hurt.

Wolf was drafted one year prior to Levi. And he was also a 7th round pick as an undersized goalie. Wolf was also able to play close to 150 WHL games before turning pro versus Levi's less than 75 NCAA games played prior to turning pro.
 

WhereAreTheCookies

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Now that Levi is in the fold and Eric Comrie is healthy, the Sabres have four active goalies on the roster. The goalies in the room have already welcomed the rookie. And they, like his peers around the league, are ready to see him in action. Levi has been spending the games up in the press box with a notepad, studying the structure of Buffalo’s defense and where the chances tend to come from. He’s also been closely watching the visiting goalies to pick up whatever tips he can.

His notepad just said "Chances come from everywhere, there is no structure. What did I get myself in to?"
 

Chainshot

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His notepad just said "Chances come from everywhere, there is no structure. What did I get myself in to?"

Other notes might include:

"The back post play is always uncovered, the pass almost never defended and when it is, expect a deflection on your own net."
"Wow, that bumper on the PP is always open."
"Expect both odd-man rushes AND the Spanish Inquisition."
 

sabresfan129103

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Apr 10, 2006
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I can't imagine Wolf not in the NHL next year as Markstrom's backup/1B.

That said -- anyone expecting Levi to step right in......this is your case study. 100 games in the AHL.
Interestingly enough, I looked up Miller to see how many games he played in Rochester before he became a full time starter. 170. Granted one of those was a lockout year, but even without that he still played something like 110 games in AHL. The Sabres did give him a small taste of the NHL during that time frame and IIRC he got lit up so bad in one of those games he needed a sports psychologist to set him straight.
 
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Jim Bob

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Interestingly enough, I looked up Miller to see how many games he played in Rochester before he became a full time starter. 170. Granted one of those was a lockout year, but even without that he still played something like 110 games in AHL. The Sabres did give him a small taste of the NHL during that time frame and IIRC he got lit up so bad in one of those games he needed a sports psychologist to set him straight.
He was crying in his locker after getting lit up in one of those early games.

That is why I think rushing Levi is a bad idea and not learning from the past.
 
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DapperCam

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He was crying in his locker after getting lit up in one of those early games.

That is why I think rushing Levi is a bad idea and not learning from the past.
Every person is different. Some might cry after getting lit up, and some might look at the tape and take it as a learning opportunity. It would be up to the coaching staff and Adams to try to understand which Levi is.

The only thing that gives me pause is Granato’s absolute refusal to switch goalies in-game. For the love of god, if Levi gives up three softies in the first period, then swap him out. Don’t let them hang 10 on him.
 
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Jim Bob

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Every person is different. Some might cry after getting lit up, and some might look at the tape and take it as a learning opportunity. It would be up to the coaching staff and Adams to try to understand which Levi is.

The only thing that gives me pause is Granato’s absolute refusal to switch goalies in-game. For the love of god, if Levi gives up three softies in the first period, then swap him out. Don’t let them hang 10 on him.
Some of the refusal of switching goalies has been the score and part of it was not wanting to put Anderson in mid-game while Comrie was out and Anderson was the backup to UPL.
 

Matt Ress

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Interestingly enough, I looked up Miller to see how many games he played in Rochester before he became a full time starter. 170. Granted one of those was a lockout year, but even without that he still played something like 110 games in AHL. The Sabres did give him a small taste of the NHL during that time frame and IIRC he got lit up so bad in one of those games he needed a sports psychologist to set him straight.
I'm not saying we should rush Levi but for Miller, he played decent in 02-03. 15 games .902 2.63. Then got crushed in the 3 games in 03-04 with the Sabres. So they were trying to get him into NHL games but he happened to play well and then take a step back. Add to that the Marty/Noronen 2 headed monster already in net and wasn't really any sense of urgency to push him either. I guess the moral of the story is to create a situation where there is no sense of urgency.
 
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Dex

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Every person is different. Some might cry after getting lit up, and some might look at the tape and take it as a learning opportunity. It would be up to the coaching staff and Adams to try to understand which Levi is.

The only thing that gives me pause is Granato’s absolute refusal to switch goalies in-game. For the love of god, if Levi gives up three softies in the first period, then swap him out. Don’t let them hang 10 on him.
Or, some might cry after getting lit up, go look at the tape, take it as a learning opportunity, and go on to become the all time franchise leader in wins and most wins by a US born goaltender. I guess there was no mutual exlusivity concerning Miller's reaction and career path. But you're right - every player is different and Levi's development path is TBD.
 
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OkimLom

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May 3, 2010
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Other notes might include:

"The back post play is always uncovered, the pass almost never defended and when it is, expect a deflection on your own net."
"Wow, that bumper on the PP is always open."
"Expect both odd-man rushes AND the Spanish Inquisition."
"How is it possible the bumper on the PP, and the forward on top of the crease always uncovered?"
 

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