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

[Team Cozens]

Three in four seems that it would be unlikely to get him sufficient practice time. While it makes for TV series drama to have him play against Montreal, it's probably more likely later in the season, like the last week, than next week.

Stop raining on our parade with logic. The game against Montreal is also on the 27th.

 

[Zman5778]

Three in four seems that it would be unlikely to get him sufficient practice time. While it makes for TV series drama to have him play against Montreal, it's probably more likely later in the season, like the last week, than next week.

Yeah....the longer he goes with not being able to practice, the longer his debut gets pushed back. He's going to need at least 1 week, but more likely 2 weeks to adjust to the NHL speed/shots before he might feel mildly comfortable starting.

As much as I love the idea of him starting 3/27 against Montreal, I just don't see it happening anymore. If we want to get him a home start, 4/13 against Ottawa really seems like the best idea.........I can't advocate starting him against a Carolina team that's going to skewer us again.

If a road debut would be OK, 4/6 against Detroit looks doable.

 

[Chainshot]

Yeah....the longer he goes with not being able to practice, the longer his debut gets pushed back. He's going to need at least 1 week, but more likely 2 weeks to adjust to the NHL speed/shots before he might feel mildly comfortable starting.

As much as I love the idea of him starting 3/27 against Montreal, I just don't see it happening anymore. If we want to get him a home start, 4/13 against Ottawa really seems like the best idea.........I can't advocate starting him against a Carolina team that's going to skewer us again.

If a road debut would be OK, 4/6 against Detroit looks doable.

Last game of the year is a reschedule against Columbus, that could also be one too.

 

[Zman5778]

Last game of the year is a reschedule against Columbus, that could also be one too.

Agreed. But if it's a choice of Ottawa or Cbus.......I can't imagine them not throwing the fans a bone.......(as opposed to boning the fans, but that's a different topic)

 

[Sabretooth]

4/13 is fan appreciation night if it matters into the calculus. Not sure if it would make it more or less likely he'd start there. I'd hate to take the opportunity away from UPL for example to play in front of what should be a great crowd. For Anderson if that might be his last game ever and against his former team.

 

[Tatanka]

Agreed. But if it's a choice of Ottawa or Cbus.......I can't imagine them not throwing the fans a bone.......(as opposed to boning the fans, but that's a different topic)

You will never learn..,smh

 

[Cirris]

I get that it's good that Levi is signed.

But wow this red carpet, social media blitz, gives me the willies.

Way too much pedestal being put under him.

He's a good prospect, not the second coming of Hasek.

Hell even Miller, Hasek, or Barrasso never got this much hype.

 

[Zman5778]

Hell even Miller, Hasek, or Barrasso never got this much hype.

Different Era with the prevalence of social media now. Miller would have arrived with this fanfare. Same with Barrasso.

 

[Chainshot]

I get that it's good that Levi is signed.

But wow this red carpet, social media blitz, gives me the willies.

Way too much pedestal being put under him.

He's a good prospect, not the second coming of Hasek.

Hell even Miller, Hasek, or Barrasso never got this much hype.

Hasek was found money. He didn't arrive with hype because he was a backup and then was a backup in Buffalo until Fuhr got hurt.

Barrasso got some hype from TBN at the time. Most of that was the ego of the GM pushing out how great his own picks were, even if they were a collection of egomaniacs, gutless wusses, coke heads, or guys who couldn't skate.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Hasek was found money. He didn't arrive with hype because he was a backup and then was a backup in Buffalo until Fuhr got hurt.

Barrasso got some hype from TBN at the time. Most of that was the ego of the GM pushing out how great his own picks were, even if they were a collection of egomaniacs, gutless wusses, coke heads, or guys who couldn't skate.

I’m sure if the world was similar back then as it is now, people would have been asking when he’s coming over and how he’d do in the NHL.

Although even looking back now, I don’t see arguably the best goalie in NHL history, let alone a hall of famer

 

[Cirris]

I get all the points. Maybe it's hyperbole thinking.

Still wish they'd tone it down a bit. It is a bit too much.

Also, Sorry for outing all of you guys as old farts who remember the 80s pretty vividly.

 

[Chainshot]

I’m sure if the world was similar back then as it is now, people would have been asking when he’s coming over and how he’d do in the NHL.

Although even looking back now, I don’t see arguably the best goalie in NHL history, let alone a hall of famer

Since he was the Blackhawks backup, I'm sure there would've been a lot of "gee, why is this guy good?" conversation.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Since he was the Blackhawks backup, I'm sure there would've been a lot of "gee, why is this guy good?" conversation.

That conversation probably would have been because they’re a good defensive team. They were for the most part.

 

[wunderpanda]

I get that it's good that Levi is signed.

But wow this red carpet, social media blitz, gives me the willies.

Way too much pedestal being put under him.

He's a good prospect, not the second coming of Hasek.

Hell even Miller, Hasek, or Barrasso never got this much hype.

part of the social media blitz could be because he is a finalist for richter and in the final 10 for hobey baker awards. some extra marketing towards the voters? thats in addition to keeping fans interested.

hasek wasn't hyped, but the gm was fired for trading puppa & andreychuk for fuhr so there was media interest. media loved puppa because they hated barrasso.

there was drama around barrasso, mostly to fix the edwards/sauve/cloutier thing. traded sauve & edwards, cloutier wasn't great, then barrasso became starter & sauve came back, cloutier returned after barrasso trade. was a messy thing like noronen, miller, biron, hasek.

best hype comparision tho, might be dekeyser signing with detroit or vesey?

 

[Jim Bob]

Since he was the Blackhawks backup, I'm sure there would've been a lot of "gee, why is this guy good?" conversation.

Having Fuhr, the expectation was that he was just a weird Euro backup goalie and not that he would be the #1, let alone a multiple Hart winner.

Different Era with the prevalence of social media now. Miller would have arrived with this fanfare. Same with Barrasso.

The eras were different, but the Miller hype was similar to what we are seeing now with Levi adjusted for the difference the internet and smartphones have made to everything.

Barrasso was less hype and more curiosity given that he was jumping straight from HS to the NHL.

Future Considerations: College free agents to watch, and what Levi brings to Sabres

Teams looking to bolster their prospect pool without spending draft capital often turn to the NCAA. Jason Bukala takes a look at some of the best college free-agents who could join NHL clubs.

www.sportsnet.ca

Devon Levi signs with Sabres​

The Buffalo Sabres inked Devon Levi to an entry-level contract last week. The former Northeastern goaltender had a phenomenal two years playing for the Huskies. His goals-against average and save percentage (see card below) are statistical anomalies. Levi is a butterfly/athletic goaltender who has worked tirelessly to improve his game. He’s on the smaller side for the NHL and it will take time to adjust to the best shooters in the world.

NHL Projection: (2G) trending (1B)

And Levi's former creasemate is on the list:

Yaniv Perets​

School: Quinnipiac
Position: Goaltender
Catch: Left
Height: Six-foot-one
Weight: 189 pounds
NHL Projection: (3G) / Call-up

 

[Gosabres08]

I get that it's good that Levi is signed.

But wow this red carpet, social media blitz, gives me the willies.

Way too much pedestal being put under him.

He's a good prospect, not the second coming of Hasek.

Hell even Miller, Hasek, or Barrasso never got this much hype.

If it makes you feel better, Levi clearly doesn't care about all the hype at all:

“The great thing about expectations is they're not real, they're just what people are talking about,” Levi said. “It's talk about the future. The way I've always dealt with expectations is kind of not dealing with them. It's just talk, everyone's going to have something to say.

 

[oldwpgjet]

Hopefully he gets a game ... or two this season, when the games don't matter( pretty close if not already there). If it was the western conference, they might still have a chance, pretty inept battle for last playoff spot between Winnipeg, Calgary and Nashville. Anyways, the hype will peak, he'll get his feet wet and then next season AHL for 1st half of season , and called up for good after that, battles for # 1 and then #1 for next 10 years after

 

[jcbeze]

If only he had gotten a job at the college library for like 10 hours a week, he could have been practicing by now lol

 

[Chainshot]

If only he had gotten a job at the college library for like 10 hours a week, he could have been practicing by now lol

Good idea, but both F-1 and M-1 student visas allow people to work in their area of training off-campus while still taking classes. It's more that being on the Sabres isn't part of computer science than getting a job at the library would've made it work. If they could show that playing net for them is similar - perhaps he's working on a solution for frequent netminding crashes or the "Blue Paint of Death" that is the Sabres crease?

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

If Barrasso would have debuted now there'd be massive media interest.

 

[Chainshot]

If Barrasso would have debuted now there'd be massive media interest.

Though at 58, that might be more of a curiosity.

 

[Abraham de Lacy]

Great personality, fun to listen to, and super positive: that youthful exuberance. Someone I'd love to share a couple of Coca-Colas with.

I assume he's going to get a few starts before the end of the season, and hope that's not going to break his heart.

 

[Sabre the Win]

If they do do that...

Cursed logo and colors but simple and awesome design

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

Good idea, but both F-1 and M-1 student visas allow people to work in their area of training off-campus while still taking classes. It's more that being on the Sabres isn't part of computer science than getting a job at the library would've made it work. If they could show that playing net for them is similar - perhaps he's working on a solution for frequent netminding crashes or the "Blue Paint of Death" that is the Sabres crease?

Just put some books on top of the goal next to his water bottle. Make him study during stoppages.

 

[old kummelweck]

Cursed logo and colors but simple and awesome design

I guess his NCAA equipment met NHL compliance requirements.