The Sabres Decision That Has Immediately Paid Dividends
Both Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi have thrived since the rookie’s demotion to the American Hockey League
The Sabres Decision That Has Immediately Paid DividendsThe Buffalo Sabres have left themselves open to criticism with a number of the decisions made before this season, most notably the choice that has factored in their mediocre performance was believing that a 21-year-old Devon Levi was capable of being the club’s starting goalie, but after taking half a season to recognize that was a mistake, GM Kevyn Adams has righted course and both Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen are benefiting.
Levi struggled in his first four regular season games before suffering a lower-body injury, and had some good outings but remained inconsistent in the first half (9-7-2, 3.30 GAA, .891 save %). No matter how promising a prospect, making the jump from Northeastern University to the NHL and playing just seven professional games at the end of last season, expecting the two-time Richter Award winner to be the man was a mistake.
Luukkonen, after struggling with consistency issues last season, has shown growth in his second full NHL campaign. The 24-year-old appeared to take the job away from Levi in late November, but after being recalled to fill in due to the goalie’s illness, it took another five weeks for Buffalo to come to the decision that most observers thought was the best course of action and send Levi to AHL Rochester.
The choice has paid dividends with both netminders, since becoming the primary starter on January 11, Luukkonen has posted the best GAA (1.86) and save percentage (.929) in the NHL, but because of the Sabres ongoing scoring issues, they went .500 (6-6-0) in his 12 starts.
Levi has also thrived with consistent work in the AHL, going 5-1-2 in eight starts since January 20, including an impressive 51-save effort against the Toronto Marlies on February 19.
While it is not an impossibility that Levi will get recalled at some point, the Sabres are likely to keep the youngster down past the March 8th NHL trade deadline, so that the youngster can be on the Amerks roster and qualify to play in the Calder Cup Playoffs in April.
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