Devon Levi’s season has done something strange to the Buffalo Sabres’ old trade decision: it’s made it look shaky, then not so shaky, then shaky again.
Buffalo moved on from Levi over the summer, and at the time the logic was simple enough. Edmonton needed a goalie, and the Sabres were done waiting on a prospect that hadn’t delivered. That looked like the end of the story.
Then Levi’s year in Edmonton started swinging all over the place.
His first outing was brutal. He was tagged for seven goals by the Vancouver Canucks in a 9-7 win for the Oilers, and that debut seemed to validate every reason Buffalo had for cutting bait. The questions got louder, not quieter.
But the next stretch changed the conversation. Edmonton tightened up in front of him and played better team defense, and Levi suddenly looked much more stable. After that ugly opener, the 24-year-old gave up just two goals in a 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks and one in a 4-1 victory against the LA Kings.
That’s when the “did Buffalo move too soon?” talk started to creep in, especially with the uncertainty around Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. For a while, the doubt felt fair.
Then Levi’s form dipped again. He allowed three goals in a 4-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth, then another three in a 4-3 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild.
And then came the roughest night yet: five goals against the Carolina Hurricanes in a wild 6-5 Oilers win.
The very next day, Edmonton announced Levi was on the shelf with an undisclosed injury. Mark Spector reported that the Oilers have not said what the injury is or how long he’ll be out, and Jason Gregor noted there is no timeline for his return. Babcock said the team is calling up a goalie to back up Jarry Saturday, along with a defenseman because Ekholm is out with a concussion.
Even with the injury putting Levi on pause, the bigger question remains the same: did Buffalo really make a mistake?
The answer, based on what Levi has shown so far, is probably not.
His line this season - 6-1-0 with a 3.11 GAA and an .887 SV% in seven games - tells the story. Yes, he has six wins. But Edmonton’s offense has done a lot of heavy lifting, smoothing over some rough outings that would have looked a lot worse without all that firepower behind him.
The seven-goal debut is the perfect example. That should have been a blowout loss, but the Oilers turned it into a chaotic comeback in a game with almost no defense.
The 6-5 win over Carolina fits the same mold. Edmonton caught the Hurricanes on a rare off-night and escaped with two points in a game they probably should have lost.
That kind of safety net is not something Buffalo can count on. The Sabres may not be worlds apart from the Oilers, but they are not built to hide bad goaltending with massive scoring bursts.
So if there’s seller’s remorse floating around Buffalo, it should come with a healthy dose of skepticism. Levi still has to put together something steadier - and win at a level that actually proves the Sabres got this one wrong.
In Other News...
Sabres Trade Chatter Just Put Their Goalie Plan In Focus
Trade chatter has been swirling around the league again, and the Sabres have not been immune to it. While the Red Wings are reportedly sticking with Dylan Larkin and Simon Edvinsson despite continued calls from teams looking for young centers, and Washington has opened the door for Ivan Miroshnichenko to explore a move, Buffalo has had its own noise to sort through with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and the goaltending picture.
Luukkonen said the message from GM Jarmo Kekalainen was simple: stop worrying about the rumors and keep his attention on his game. Kekalainen also made it clear on WGR Radio that Luukkonen is part of Buffalo's future, a notable vote of confidence at a time when the Sabres are still trying to steady things in net and define what comes next in goal. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Pressure Is Building After Jarmo Missed On A Major Trade
The Sabres have spent enough time circling the trade market to make patience feel like a luxury, and the pressure around Jarmo Kekalainen is only growing as those big swings keep coming up empty. Buffalo had reportedly been in the mix for major names, with the goalie search and the hunt for help down the middle both serving as reminders that the club still has clear needs if it wants to push forward.
Now the focus is shifting to what comes next, and the list of possible fixes is getting attention around the league. Robert Thomas, Ryan O'Reilly, Jake DeBrusk and Filip Gustavsson all fit different needs depending on how Buffalo wants to attack the problem, whether that means adding a center, wing depth or goaltending help, but none of those paths are simple and the Sabres still have to find a deal that actually sticks. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Already Face Heat Over Their Risky Goalie Bet
Buffalo had a chance to chase one of the leagues most proven goaltenders, but the Sabres did not push hard enough to land Connor Hellebuyck when rumors tied them to the Jets star. Instead, the front office is leaning into its current group, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Colten Ellis and injured Alex Lyon forming the backbone of the crease picture for now. It is the kind of decision that can look prudent in July and far riskier if the season starts to wobble.
Lindy Ruff is still showing confidence in Luukkonen, saying the Sabres will keep giving him starts as he works to clean up his game. For a team that has spent years trying to stabilize its most important position, the choice to stand pat is already drawing scrutiny, especially with a proven option having been there for the taking. The message from Buffalo is clear enough: they believe internal improvement is the path forward, even if the outside noise suggests they may be gambling more than they should. [Read more 🡒]