Sabres loan top goalie prospect to AHL amid slow start to season

The Buffalo Sabres have sent top goalie prospect Devon Levi to the Rochester Americans of the AHL. 

Rochester is gearing up for a road trip with back-to-back games against the Belleville Senators on Friday and Saturday, which could present a good opportunity for Levi to get AHL conditioning. The 21-year-old goaltender has appeared in nine NHL games so far this season, setting a 3-4-1 record and a .876 save percentage.

Buffalo has faced a lot of questions with their goaltending this season, currently carrying three serviceable goalies in Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Eric Comrie and Levi. 

Luukkonen has taken on the starting job, at least in the short term, as he’s recorded a 6-3-1 record and .918 save percentage through 11 games this season. This includes the 25-save win on Monday night, taking down the top-ranked team in the league, the New York Rangers. Comrie has matched Levi’s .876 save percentage while appearing in five games.

Levi has yet to play in the AHL through his early career, joining the Sabres after the conclusion of Northeastern University’s 2022-23 season. He tallied a dazzling .933 save percentage in 34 games with Northeastern last season, a mark that was one-upped by his 2021-22 season when he recorded a .952 save percentage in 32 games – the sixth-highest single-season save percentage in NCAA history. His two seasons of action at Northeastern University earned him a career .942 save percentage, the third-highest career save percentage of any collegiate goaltender, sandwiched between Connor Hellebuyck and Ryan Miller.

Levi has played a total of 16 career NHL games, recording a .890 save percentage. He is the youngest goalie to play in the NHL this season.