Devon Levi’s Clark Kent Moment Highlights a Season of Waiting and Working in Rochester
If you were watching the local news in Rochester on Sunday night, you might’ve caught a familiar face offering some winter wisdom. Devon Levi - yes, that Devon Levi, the Buffalo Sabres’ highly touted goalie prospect - popped up during a man-on-the-street segment about the winter storm that’s been sweeping across much of the country.
Bundled up and flashing a grin, Levi kept it simple: “Stay home. You know, enjoy your time with your family.
Stay safe. Stay warm.”
Just your average Rochester resident… except this one happens to be one of the most intriguing young goaltenders in the Sabres’ system.
The segment didn’t identify him as a pro athlete - no lower-third graphic, no mention of the AHL, just a guy on the street with a good attitude and a friendly reminder to stay inside. It was a classic “Clark Kent moment,” and Levi seemed to be in on the joke.
But behind the smile and the snow boots, there’s a deeper story unfolding. Levi’s journey through the Sabres organization has been anything but ordinary, and while he’s currently with the Rochester Americans, his eyes are still firmly set on the NHL.
A Promising Start, a Bumpy Road
The Sabres landed Levi back in July 2021 as part of the Sam Reinhart trade with the Florida Panthers - a move that looked savvy from the jump. After a stellar collegiate career at Northeastern University, where he posted a jaw-dropping 1.90 goals against average and a .942 save percentage across 66 games, Buffalo wasted no time bringing him into the fold.
Levi made his NHL debut late in the 2022-23 season and turned heads immediately. In seven starts, he went 5-2-0 with a .905 save percentage - not bad for a 21-year-old fresh out of college. That performance earned him a shot at the backup job the following season, but the transition proved tougher than expected.
Over the next two years, Levi’s numbers dipped. He posted a .899 save percentage in 23 games during the 2023-24 season, followed by an .872 mark in nine appearances last year. For a goalie who’d always seemed ahead of the curve, it was a reminder that development isn’t always linear - especially at the NHL level.
Sabres Reinforce the Crease
With Levi’s progress stalling, the Sabres made moves to stabilize their goaltending situation heading into this season. They signed veteran Alex Lyon in free agency and claimed Colten Ellis off waivers, adding depth and competition to the mix. That decision has paid off.
Lyon has arguably been Buffalo’s most consistent performer this year, while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has bounced back and looks more confident in net. Ellis, meanwhile, has had an up-and-down start to his NHL career but remains in the picture.
The result? Levi’s path to NHL minutes got a little more crowded - and understandably, a little more frustrating.
Grinding Through in Rochester
Back in the AHL, Levi’s numbers have taken a slight dip. After posting a .927 save percentage as a rookie in 2023-24 and .919 last year, he’s sitting at .907 through 28 games this season. That’s still solid, but it’s clear he’s not quite at the level he - or the Sabres - had hoped for.
Part of that decline can be traced to the situation in front of him. Injuries have hit the Sabres’ blue line hard this year, leading to call-ups and leaving the Amerks’ defense corps stretched thin. Extended absences for key defensemen like Michael Kesselring and Conor Timmins have made life tougher in the crease.
The Sabres addressed that concern over the weekend by acquiring veteran defenseman Gavin Bayreuther from the Hurricanes, sending prospect Viktor Neuchev to Carolina in return. It’s a move designed to add stability - not just in Buffalo, but for Rochester as well.
What’s Next for Levi?
Levi’s future in Buffalo isn’t in question - at least not yet. He’s still just 24, and his talent is undeniable.
But the timeline has shifted. Instead of being penciled in as the backup by now, he’s back in the AHL, trying to prove he belongs again.
How he finishes this season could play a big role in what general manager Jarmo Kekalainen decides to do this summer. If Levi can bounce back and show the consistency that made him such a hot prospect, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Buffalo move one of their current NHL netminders - possibly Lyon or Luukkonen - to make room for him next fall.
For now, though, Levi is focused on the task at hand: anchoring the crease in Rochester, grinding through the ups and downs, and staying ready for his next shot at the big stage.
And who knows? Until that call comes, maybe we’ll see him pop up on local news again - offering weather tips and a smile, just another guy trying to stay warm in Western New York.