Will Devon Levi Help Make This Team Better Next Year?

[bob_sauve28]

I have not seen him play in AHL but it looks like he is doing something right. 

 

https://13wham.com/sports/pickin-splinters/with-6th-shutout-levi-in-recent-rare-territory-for-an-amerks-goalie

 

Rochester, N.Y. — The statistics for American Hockey League goaltenders paint a pretty vivid picture of just how well Devon Levi has played for the Rochester Americans.

The second-year goalie ranks fifth in both goals-against average (2.21) and save percentage (.918), is tied for third in victories (23 in 35 appearances) and is ninth in minutes played (2029.20).

But history provides an even more telling story. After Levi made 28 saves on Friday night in a 6-0 victory over the Bridgeport Islanders, the 23-year-old native of Quebec leads the AHL in shutouts.

An Amerks goalie hasn’t led the league in shutouts outright since Martin Biron in 1997-98 with five and 1998-99 with six. Mika Noronen tied for the lead the following year with six.

 

 

And as a bonus, a Noah Östlund highlight 

 

 

[HOUSE]

Yes

[LGR4GM]

Depends on if Levi can adjust his positioning for NHL shooters and read plays at NHL speed. 

[LGR4GM]

10 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

And as a bonus, a Noah Östlund highlight 

Should now note that since Jan 17, Noah Östlund has 17g, 16a, for 33pts and only 4 of those are PP goals. That is 33pts in 29games or 1.14ppg which if he had done the entire season, would put him in 9th overall in the AHL for ppg. If you adjust for age, that would put him in 4th for players 24 and under in the AHL. Note, I am saying if he had played at this pace all season, which he did not. 

[CallawaySabres]

I am not expecting Levi to even be on the big club next year. Maybe he gets a few games here and there but if they are relying on him as the starter, it's gonna be 16 years of no playoffs, or whatever the number is.

[Weave]

27 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

 

An Amerks goalie hasn’t led the league in shutouts outright since Martin Biron in 1997-98 with five and 1998-99 with six. Mika Noronen tied for the lead the following year with six.

This statement should cool some jets somewhat. Biron and Noronen were backups.  Very good backup in the case of Biron, but still, backups.  Levi’s future is still very much speculative.

[Doohickie]

4 minutes ago, Weave said:

Levi’s future is still very much speculative.

This is where I'm at.  I wouldn't depend on him turning the club around.

[Jorcus]

To be honest he has been in a bit of a slump for the last few weeks. There were games to be won where he let in late or overtime goals. Not all his fault and it happens to the best of them but he is going to have to step up a bit come playoff time. I think the playoffs will give a better indication of where he is at. I would be very nervous if he had to play in the NHL right now. 

[Night Train]

We don't know but he does deserve his shot. UPL is way too inconsistent. Have no idea what I'm getting from him game to game. 

[Thorner]

1 hour ago, Weave said:

This statement should cool some jets somewhat. Biron and Noronen were backups.  Very good backup in the case of Biron, but still, backups.  Levi’s future is still very much speculative.

Levi is Hasek was a time, man 

I also don’t believe my classification verges very thoroughly on hyperbole, either 

[Mustache of God]

The simple fact that Kevyn Adams targeted Levi as a cornerstone piece tells me that he is not going to pan out in the NHL. 

Not because I don't think Levi is talented, but entirely because Adams has the Merde Touch.

[bob_sauve28]

26 minutes ago, Mustache of God said:

The simple fact that Kevyn Adams targeted Levi as a cornerstone piece tells me that he is not going to pan out in the NHL. 

Not because I don't think Levi is talented, but entirely because Adams has the Merde Touch.

McCloud? Tuch is good, so are Zucker and Greenway

[PerreaultForever]

I do not think a plan of UPL and Levi is a good idea for next year. It could be the decision that makes us fail again. I wouldn't take the gamble. I would find a decent proven NHL goalie to handle half the load (roughly) and trade for him asap. 

[Mr. Allen]

He was 2-7 and allowing over 4 goals a game this year with the Sabres.  I don’t think he’s ready yet.  Leave him in Rochester again next year to get full time starts.  Won’t hurt to let him cook a little longer.  

[Thorner]

20 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

McCloud? Tuch is good, so are Zucker and Greenway

It’s “McLeod” (only phonetic) and you are right, it was a great trade. Never mind just “good”. 

Tuch doesn’t apply in this context, we traded the vastly superior player to get him, that doesn’t indicate trading aptitude 

[Drag0nDan]

2 hours ago, Weave said:

This statement should cool some jets somewhat. Biron and Noronen were backups.  Very good backup in the case of Biron, but still, backups.  Levi’s future is still very much speculative.

Miller had 8 in 04-05 FWIW, it just wasn't the outright league lead.  

[quill]

He probably won't make us any worse. We need someone a heck of a lot better, and more predictable, than Levi to make us better.

[HumanSlinky39]

If we have serious plans on making the playoffs next year, you CANNOT rely on UPL/Levi carrying you. Neither have proven enough at the NHL level to have any kind of confidence in them being good enough. Could they be good enough? Sure, they've both flashed ability. But neither has been consistent enough to tie your entire season to them. A serious hockey organization would be shopping for a steady veteran to hold the fort down. But as I've said many times - this is not a serious hockey organization. They have "concepts of a plan", but no real plan, to use the parlance of our times.

[matter2003]

Maybe...he has gotten progressively worse in the NHL the more games he has played which is somewhat concerning.

He made UPL look like an All-Star this year in his 9 games where he went 2-7 with a 4.12 GAA and .872 Save Percentage this year.

Has gone from a .905 to .899 to .872 save percentage in the last 3 years.

[Huckleberry]

3 hours ago, Weave said:

This statement should cool some jets somewhat. Biron and Noronen were backups.  Very good backup in the case of Biron, but still, backups.  Levi’s future is still very much speculative.

I remember playing NHL2000, Noronen would become your number 1 in  2 years if you played the full 5 years 🤣

[mjd1001]

Most obvious answer....Not sure.

Even if I wanted to say yes, Its hard for me right now.  In his spot duty with this team, I haven't seen much of anything to show me he is going to be good in the NHL.

He might be, goalies tend to get better with expereince and age.  But right now, I'm not confident.

Edited 21 hours ago by mjd1001

[Demoted]

Maybe this guy is only good against lower tier players.

[kas23]

The dude is a young goalie. No way he shoulders the load for the Sabres next year unless the Sabres get serious on adding a couple veteran defensive defensemen. That said, I don’t think he shoulders be in Buffalo if he is not playing the majority of games. He needs to play. Unfortunately, we’ll probably be stuck with UPL again, but we need a vet who is not >35 to compete with him. If the Caps can get Logan Thompson for a couple 3rd rounders, we should be able to get something comparable. But I won’t hold my breath. 

[GoPuckYourself]

In no way shape or form can they roll out the Levi, UPL train again. Trade UPL and get a legit goalie here, nothing suggests Levi will be anything more than an NHL backup until he proves otherwise.

[Mango]

3 hours ago, quill said:

He probably won't make us any worse. We need someone a heck of a lot better, and more predictable, than Levi to make us better.

At scale, tossing away quality player development because we don't have anybody better us a huge part of why we're in this mess (the last 5 years).