This Trade Is Shaping Up As One Of The Worst Moves Of Sabres GM Kekanen's Time In Buffalo

The Buffalo Sabres didn’t make a slew of moves this summer the way the Toronto Maple Leafs did, but one of the moves was the trading of young goalie Devon Levi to the Edmonton Oilers. And it’s understandable why that happened: there was a logjam between the pipes, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, currently injured veteran Alex Lyon, and relative youngster Colten Ellis all battling for opportunities.

However, Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen must look at the way Levi has worked out in Edmonton and kick himself. Levi came out of the gate strongly, and although he was sidelined by injury for a two-week stretch, Levin has come back and hasn’t missed a beat, winning two games and posting a save percentage of .913 or better. And on a high-octane, high-flying Oilers squad, Levi’s season save percentage of .899 and his season’s GAA of 2.75 are numbers Edmonton has to be pleased with.

And the sad thing for Sabres fans is that every game won by Levi is an indictment of Sabres management. In essence, the argument here is that Kekalainen should’ve moved anyone other than Levi. He bet on the wrong horses, and Kekalainen should be called on the carpet for it.

We get it – Levi’s attempts to establish himself as an NHL goalie didn’t go well. In parts of three seasons, Levi had an SP of .899 or worse in two seasons. And his play in the American League wasn’t particularly encouraging, at least in the end. He posted a SP of.904 – and while that would be above-average at the NHL level, it’s less impressive in a lesser-skilled league like the AHL.

So, when Kekalainen traded Levi, it was rather surprising that the best he could get for Levi was a third-round draft pick. That’s it. That’s all Kekalainen could get for someone who once was Buffalo’s goalie-of-the-future. And here’s the crazy part – Levi is still only 24 years old. He’s still got time to grow his game, and although GMs make gambles on players one way or another all the time, the Levi trade could haunt Kekalainen for the rest of his career.

It’s true that Levi is benefitting from playing behind stars Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard, but Levi also was playing behind some pretty solid players. And this is why there’s legitimate cause to criticize Kekalainen. He didn’t have a crystal ball to see Levi's career trajectory. But Buffalo fans are going to get steam coming out of their ears every time Levi appears on their radar. 

It could’ve been Levi wearing a Sabres uniform and thriving in Buffalo. It could’ve been Levi evolving into a top-ranked netminder. But Kekalainen made his bed, and now he has to lie in it. The Sabres’ goaltending has been better latelyy, but they should’ve stuck with Levi. He’s younger, cheaper and better. And Sabres fans are going to have to grind their teeth into a fine powder as they grumble over losing Levi – essentially, for nothing.

It’s true hindsight is always 20/20, but when you’re a GM in hockey’s top league, you’re judged by the moves you make (and some moves you don’t make). And moving Levi is a major trade. Levi is the de facto starter in Edmonton, and as the Oilers thrive with him front-and-center, you can’t blame people in Buffalo for being salty over the Levi trade. 

In Levi, the Sabres had a solid young player at the game’s most-important position who was still evolving as all young goalies do. And they gave him up for essentially nothing. That should put a burr in the britches of every Sabres supporter.