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Oilers 2026-27 Player Previews: Devon Levi

Devon Levi, Buffalo Sabres (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

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Oilers 2026-27 Player Previews: Devon Levi

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Matt Parks | Last updated Sep 2, 2026 11:44 AM ET

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The 2026-27 season starts this month, so let’s continue our Edmonton Oilers player preview series. The last player we looked at was defenceman Spencer Stastney, and now we turn our attention to our first goaltender.

The Oilers overhauled their goaltending this offseason, and their first move was acquiring Devon Levi from the Buffalo Sabres for a 2028 third-round pick. The Oilers also signed Frederik Andersen in free agency and still have Tristan Jarry under contract. One year ago, Stuart Skinner, Calvin Pickard, and Connor Ingram manned the crease. Now, they have three new goaltenders to hopefully improve that position, but there’s still uncertainty.

Levi spent last season with the Rochester Americans in the American Hockey League (AHL), and posted a .904 save percentage (SV%) and a 2.83 goals-against average (GAA), with three shutouts in 52 games. That was the most games he has played in a professional season in his career.

He’s relatively unknown at the NHL level, having played just 39 career games, but none since Jan. 20, 2025. In his limited NHL action, he has posted a 3.29 GAA and a .894 SV%. His last NHL stint was very forgettable. In 2024-25, he posted a 4.12 GAA and an .872 SV% in nine games. While those numbers don’t jump off the page, he’s still just 24 years old and is looking to find a home in Edmonton. With that said, let’s preview his 2026-27 season.

Worst Case Scenario

The Oilers should be utilizing a three-goalie system. However, Andersen has been ruled out with injury for most of October, so it’s Jarry and Levi’s crease to start the season. With Jarry’s inconsistencies, this is a perfect opportunity for Levi to step up and win the starter’s job. However, if Jarry plays well and Levi struggles, the young netminder could be the odd-man out when Andersen returns.

The worst-case scenario is that he would lose playing time and spend most of the season as the third goalie who’s often healthy scratched. He’s also waiver-eligible, so they can’t send him down because another team will likely claim him. He’s still developing and needs ice time. If he spends most of the games in the press box, that’s an awful situation.

It’s an 84-game season, so anything under 20 games would be a disappointment. He also needs to be effective when he gets an opportunity. If he has a SV% under .885, that would be putrid. Lacklustre goaltending has been the main storyline in Edmonton for decades, and Levi has an opportunity to change that narrative. But an underwhelming season will make it worse and add fuel to the fire.

Best Case Scenario

The base case scenario is that Levi comes in and steals the starter’s job from the get-go. Starting more than 40 games with a .905 SV% or better should be his personal goal. The better he plays, the more starts he will get. Therefore, if he’s starting 40 games, chances are, he’s earning that ice time. The Oilers don’t need spectacular goaltending; they need consistency, because they have the offensive firepower to get by.

The Oilers often needed five goals to win, and that’s not sustainable every game. That has been a massive problem during the Connor McDavid era. If Levi can have a 2.50 GAA, the Oilers are in a great spot. To put that into perspective, Skinner had a 2.83 GAA, Jarry had a .3.86 SV%, and Ingram had a 2.60 SV% with Edmonton last season. Ingram was solid, but the Oilers need just a touch better, and if Levi can provide that, they will find success.

Can Levi Be the Guy?

He’s an undersized goalie at 6-foot, 192 pounds, but he has the tools. He’s athletic and has great lateral movement. He can track those cross-seam passes, make excellent reads, and battle through screens. The biggest gripe with Skinner was his lateral movement, which is why the fan base quickly turned on him. If Levi excels at that, it’s already a win. Hopefully the Oilers’ defensive systems under new head coach Mike Babcock and associate coach D.J Smith will make Levi’s job easier.

Now the question remains: Can Levi be the number one netminder this season and for years to come? He’s competing against two veterans. Andersen is 36 and on a one-year deal, while Jarry is 31 and has two years left. The organization is betting on the Quebec native to be the future between the pipes.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

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