The Oilers have taken a low-cost swing on a goalie with real pedigree, landing Devon Levi from the Buffalo Sabres in a deal that sent Edmonton a 2028 seventh-round pick and cost them a 2028 third-round selection.
At 24, Levi arrives with a résumé that stands out for all the right reasons. He was named the best goaltender at the World Junior Hockey Championship, won the NCAA top goaltender award twice, and was also a Hobey Baker Award finalist. That kind of track record is exactly why Edmonton could view this as the kind of move that doesn’t ask for much upfront but could pay off in a big way.
The Oilers’ crease is crowded, though. Next season, Levi is expected to be in the mix with recent Stanley Cup champion Frederik Andersen and Tristan Jarry, who has struggled in his time with the Oilers.
On paper, that gives Edmonton three NHL-caliber options. In practice, it also opens the door for Levi if the right things break his way.
Andersen’s health is a major factor. The 36-year-old has dealt with health concerns in recent seasons and has played just 73 combined games since the start of 2023-24. If those issues linger, and if Jarry continues to have trouble, Levi could find himself climbing quickly.
That said, Jarry and Andersen likely begin ahead of him on the depth chart. Levi’s path to the net depends on either one of them slipping or Levi simply taking the job and forcing the issue.
There’s reason to think that’s possible. Levi has already played 39 NHL games and owns a 17-17-2 record, along with a 3.29 goals against average, .894 save percentage, -8.03 goals saved above average, and 5.16 goals saved above expected. Those numbers don’t scream finished product, but they do show a goalie with enough underlying talent to keep the conversation alive.
His career arc also fits the profile of a goalie who may need the right landing spot before everything clicks. Jacob Markstrom is one example of a highly regarded young netminder who didn’t fully break through with his first NHL team before becoming one of the league’s best after moving on to the Vancouver Canucks. Arturs Silovs is another recent case, unable to establish himself with the Vancouver Canucks before earning a steady role with the Pittsburgh Penguins this past season.
Levi’s advanced numbers add another layer to the optimism. On evolving-hockey.com, his GSAx marks compare favorably with under-24 goalies such as Devan Dubnyk and Jake Allen. That doesn’t guarantee anything, of course, and the position has plenty of cautionary tales too, including Karri Ramo and Hannu Toivenen.
So the answer on Levi is still unfinished. The Oilers won’t know exactly what they have until he gets a real run at Rogers Place this season. But with Andersen’s health questions and Jarry’s struggles sitting ahead of him, the path is there if Levi is ready to grab it.
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