The Buffalo Sabres are a team in need of hope. With 14-straight seasons without a playoff appearance, the Sabres sit tied with the New York Jets for the longest playoff drought in North American pro sports.
While the Sabres' prolonged rebuild has been a bit of a mixed bag, one guy that many thought would grow into a star-caliber netminder for Buffalo was Quebec native Devon Levi. The now 23-year-old goalie was drafted by the Sabres in the seventh round of the 2020 draft and seemed like a steal with impressive play in the NCAA and at the 2021 World Junior Championship.
At the 2021 world juniors, Levi put up an impressive .964 save percentage and a 0.75 goals-against average in seven games, and during his 2021-22 campaign at Northeastern University, Levi looked incredible while posting an elite .952 SP and a 1.54 GAA in 32 games.
However, Levi's play at the NHL level thus far has been a tad lackluster, leading to him consistently bouncing between the NHL and AHL. This past season, Levi posted a .872 SP and a 4.12 GAA in nine games with the Sabres. Those numbers are nowhere close to the totals he had in the NCAA or at the world juniors.
With these numbers in mind, do you think Devon Levi will be able to turn things around and live up to expectations in Buffalo?
Let us know what you think. And remember, The Hockey News Community is a hockey forum where you can not only join the conversation but start your own.