After spending the entire season in the AHL with the Rochester Americans, it was clear Devon Levi needed a change of scenery.
Traded by the Buffalo Sabres to the Edmonton Oilers on July 1, along with an exchange of 2028 draft picks, the Dollard-des-Ormeaux goaltender is excited to get a fresh start with a new organization — although Levi is expected to be one of three netminders the Oilers have said they’ll retain on their roster.
“I don’t mind that at all. I don’t care,” Levi told The Gazette. “My job is to keep the puck out of the net when I’m playing and called upon. Whenever they play me, however many games I get, I’m going to do my job, keep the puck out of the net and win games for the team. I feel ready to do that day in and out. I’m excited to get settled in and start playing.”
Edmonton’s netminding has been considered the team’s Achilles heel despite trips to the Stanley Cup final in 2024 and ’25, both ending in defeat to Florida.
After being eliminated in the opening round by the Anaheim Ducks last season, the Oilers signed Carolina’s Frederik Andersen as a free agent after the Hurricanes’ Cup title. Andersen, 36, signed a one-year deal with a base salary of US$1 million and an additional US$1.8 million in performance bonuses.
He’ll team with Tristan Jarry, traded to Edmonton by Pittsburgh in December, with goalie Stuart Skinner part of a package to the Penguins. But Jarry was underwhelming with his new team, sporting a 3.86 goals-against average and a .858 save percentage in 19 regular-season games. He appeared in only one playoff game, with the Oilers relying on Connor Ingram, who is an unrestricted free agent.
Using three goalies generally isn’t viewed favourably, as the Canadiens displayed last season with Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler and veteran Samuel Montembeault, who became a healthy scratch late in the season after inconsistent performances.
And former Canadiens goalie Jake Allen, now with the New Jersey Devils, recently criticized the team’s awkward rotation he was part of with Montembeault and Cayden Primeau during the 2023-24 season.
In Levi’s case, being one of three battling for playing time in Edmonton trumps another season in the AHL. He appears to be in an ideal situation if he performs well. Andersen is on the back end of his career and has battled recurring injuries, playing only 73 games since 2023-24. And Jarry isn’t considered an elite goalie, although his defenders hardly helped.
Under demanding new head coach Mike Babcock, players will receive a fresh start and be held accountable, but there could be a clash of personalities between the players and coach.
“I feel like I’ve done my time (in the AHL), experienced what I need to,” said Levi, 24. “I’ve had tremendous growth the past season and a half. It prepared me for this chapter. I feel like I have all the tools I need — mentally and physically — to have success and win.”
Originally selected in the seventh round (212th overall) by Florida in 2020, Levi played 39 career games for Buffalo over three seasons, but none in 2025-26. He has gone 17-17-2 with a 3.29 GAA and an .894 save percentage. But he didn’t have strong Sabres teams in front of him.
Last season, when Buffalo vastly improved, Levi was mired in Rochester, where he continued to excel. In 52 games, he had three shutouts, a 2.83 GAA and a .904 save percentage.
“I feel like I definitely did need the games in the AHL,” he admitted. “The taste that I got in the NHL showed me. It was a crash course, a study guide on how to succeed in the NHL. I had a lot of time to study and prepare for my next test. I knew what I needed to study for, work on and prepare. I spent a year and a half getting NHL game-ready.
“I feel more ready than I’ve ever been,” Levi added. “The time I’ve been away from the league is really going to pay dividends for me moving forward. I just want to play. As of right now, my game doesn’t need big adjustments. I’m pretty confident with where I’m at and know myself much better than two years ago. I know my game. Mentally, I have a grasp on the league. Going to the AHL was the best thing that could have happened for me.”
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Levi said patience wasn’t always his best virtue, especially after playing for Buffalo at such a young age. The former Northeastern University standout — he was a Hobey Baker Memorial Award (skills, character and sportsmanship) finalist and two-time winner of the Mike Richter Award (outstanding goalie in NCAA Division I) — is determined to prove his worth.
“Being held back really lit the fire inside,” he said. “If I’m going to be one of the best goalies in the league, it’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of time. It doesn’t have to be today. When I was younger, I needed it to be now. I wanted to play in the NHL now. I wanted everything to happen as soon as possible.
“You’ll be there when the time’s right.”
