Name me ONE goalie that went straight from NCAA to full time NHL at 21 years old that succeded?
Goalies need reps. He needs starts in the AHL.
G Devon Levi - Rochester Americans, AHL (2020, 212th, FLA; traded to BUF)
- Thread starter ConnorMcMullet
- Start date
Goalies need reps. He needs starts in the AHL.
Yup you can see the growing pains Hart and Knight went through and are currently going through. Give Levi a year or 2 in the A to refine his game.
toddkaz
Registered User
- Nov 25, 2022
- 6,314
- 3,860
So you want to box him in? I understand you don't actually look at Levi you just look at the odds. Tom Barrasso went from High School to the NHL.
You were wrong about throwing him a game to burn his ELC right? Can you admit that?
Then we can move onto the next point.
Carey Price played 12 games in the AHL. Levi broke Carey Price's records at the WJC.
Friedman on 32TP says before signing with the Sabres, Devon Levi wanted to make sure they believed in him and if he played well there was a path for him to get there faster than perhaps a lot other prospects would get.
Last edited:
AssaultPK
Registered User
- Jul 22, 2014
- 465
- 572
This kid is cool as a cucumber
I agree and the Sabres did an excellent job showing him they believe in him. He’s definitely got the potential to be great. My only concern is that Florida did the same with Knight and he looked great coming in as well but then they rushed him. Levi doesn’t need much time in the AHL but a year would do him great.
Tom Barrasso, really? hahaha
Jacques Plante as well, I guess?
Carey Price was drafted #5 OA and was seen as a generational goalie prospect at the time. He still spent the whole playoffs (22 games) in the AHL in his D+2 and won a calder cup (posting a 0.945 save percentage and winning the playoffs MVP in the process) the year before playing 40 games in the NHL as a 21 year old (D+3, still spent 10 games in the A).
Nothing against Levi, but he's no Carey Price because there has not been one since.
Carey price is the exception, and still he had to get his reps in the AHL. Levi will be sent in the AHL, it is a matter of time. Good for him to get a taste of the NHL now.
toddkaz
Registered User
- Nov 25, 2022
- 6,314
- 3,860
Take this for what it’s worth but it’s “allegedly” not a substance problem. Knight was also known for his cool demeanor which also makes it very weird.
Doug Prishpreed
Registered User
Barasso started at 18 and did fine.
Sometimes a player will develop well regardless of what league he's developing in. Levi will be fine wherever he goes because he's smart and makes sure of it.
Maybe I'm wrong and he's the exception from the last 40 years (Barrasso was in 83), maybe!
I truly wish him the best.
CowbellConray
Registered User
- Sep 8, 2010
- 2,504
- 1,620
I will say, he doesn't SOUND like a rookie when he speaks. He seems to have an incredibly strong mental game. After every save he jumps up, turns away from the play, skates a lap and dials back in. You could see both Panthers and Rangers players were trying to get close to him, say a few words, get him off his game.
The kid hasn't been beaten cleanly ONCE in this first two games.
4 goals:
Deflection up in the air and put home
Ref doesn't blow whistle as puck is in this pads, jammed home
Shot off post then bounces off his arm and in
double deflection
He is incredibly composed and agile in net. He really just LOOKS different than most goalies ive seen. Combine that with his mental game... he very well may be up in the NHL next season as a split time starter.
The kid hasn't been beaten cleanly ONCE in this first two games.
4 goals:
Deflection up in the air and put home
Ref doesn't blow whistle as puck is in this pads, jammed home
Shot off post then bounces off his arm and in
double deflection
He is incredibly composed and agile in net. He really just LOOKS different than most goalies ive seen. Combine that with his mental game... he very well may be up in the NHL next season as a split time starter.
toddkaz
Registered User
- Nov 25, 2022
- 6,314
- 3,860
I was just curious if it was the pressure that got to him or was it something from his past.
Satanphonehome
Registered User
- Jan 4, 2015
- 1,088
- 1,684
If Levi plays out the rest of the season the way he has, do you still pencil him in as your #3 to start training camp?
If he continues at this level through training camp, do you still send him down?
When do results take precedence over ”best practices”?
Did Oettinger and Swayman “need” their AHL stints, or was it a luxury their teams could afford?
If he continues at this level through training camp, do you still send him down?
When do results take precedence over ”best practices”?
Did Oettinger and Swayman “need” their AHL stints, or was it a luxury their teams could afford?
toddkaz
Registered User
- Nov 25, 2022
- 6,314
- 3,860
So Levi can't be the exception to the rule too? I mean the fact that you are using a rule in the first place shows you don't even care about Levi you just want it to fit into a box.
nickdawg95
scoutdawg
- Jan 7, 2016
- 3,294
- 1,782
GermanSpitfire
EU Video Scout for McKeen’s | Rest Easy #13
Should note that the last 2 games Eric Comrie has a .955sv% And the last game UPL played he had a .929sv%.
Ace
Registered User
- Oct 29, 2015
- 24,853
- 31,311
I dare you to go back one more game
GermanSpitfire
EU Video Scout for McKeen’s | Rest Easy #13
That’t my point - it is a small sample size and team defence as a whole has been quite good for the other two goalies that have started for Buffalo recently.
Doug Prishpreed
Registered User
I don't know if anyone listen's to Merek's podcast/radio show, but he was really laying into Granato for starting Levi, saying the locker room must be really pissed off when they're in a playoff race. The guy who he was speaking with fully agreed that it was an awful move by Granato.
Is anyone else following this logic? Are these guys familiar with the other Buffalo goalies? Are they overrating them? Am I underrating them?
Is anyone else following this logic? Are these guys familiar with the other Buffalo goalies? Are they overrating them? Am I underrating them?
Team Cozens
Registered User
Doug Prishpreed
Registered User
He sure sounds brighter than 90% of the posters on here, at least when it comes to hockey.
Thorton02
Registered User
- Feb 6, 2009
- 1,839
- 673
I'm fine with Levi earning games this year considering these are simulated playoff games. Great experience yet with Buffalo practically eliminated, there isn't much to lose. Next year though? Levi better start the year in Rochester. People in this thread are going back to Tom freaking Barrasso to find an example for the last time a guy came in and succeeded without minor league development. If Levi is truly legit, hey may only need half a year in the AHL but still. Start him there and let him continue to develop.
The funniest part is they cite Barrasso as an example seriously.
Then they accuse you of being anti-Levi if you point out he should play in the AHL, like, you know, all goalies should... beside Barrasso, of course.
I remember I had an awesome Tom Barrasso ProSet card where he was laying in a "paysage view" from over the net. 91-92?
Yes. That one.
The way he handles pressure, the way he carries himself, Sabres brass will certainly be noticing these things. If they feel he can emotionally and mentally handle the challenges of playing in the NHL, I really think they will have him up for most of next season. Maybe they will give him some early games in the AHL, just to get warmed up, work out any kinks.
But as long as he performs well in the first few months in Rochester, I could see them having him up most of the season.
And the way he appears so composed and mentally capable, don't see why he couldn't be successful as early as next season. I know, he'd be an outlier. But outliers exist. And there is enough there, in to think he could be such an outlier. It would be far less shocking if he was that one out of 50, 1 out of 100, than any other goalie prospect I could think of right now.
