Former Northeastern men’s hockey star goalie Devon Levi opened his rookie NHL season with the Buffalo Sabres Thursday night, falling to the New York Rangers 5-1 in a season-opening rematch of his NHL debut in March. Levi made 26 saves for a .867 save percentage including some astounding stops reminiscent of his days as a Husky.
The Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, native was drafted by the Florida Panthers in 2020 and acquired by Buffalo a year later in exchange for forward Sam Reinhart. On March 17, Levi signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Sabres, becoming the third member of the 2022-23 Husky squad to sign with an NHL organization after the college season ended. The signing came just six days after Northeastern’s season came to an abrupt end following a 2-1 overtime loss to Providence College in the Hockey East Quarterfinals.
While he was at Northeastern, Levi broke the program records for shutouts in a single season (10), career shutouts (16), career save percentage (.942), single season save percentage (.952), career goals against average (1.90) and single season goals against average (1.54); tied the record for most saves in a game (60); and became the first-ever goalie to earn the Mike Richter award twice and in consecutive seasons. After missing the Beanpot tournament in his collegiate rookie season to compete with Team Canada in the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Levi led Northeastern to its fourth Beanpot title in five tournaments last season, making 65 saves through the two games and earning both the tournament MVP and Eberly awards for posting the best save percentage (.956). He also became the first Northeastern goaltender to record back-to-back shutouts in his first two career games, notching a third in his fifth start.
Just two weeks after signing, Levi made a similar stand in his NHL debut, making 31 saves in a 3-2 overtime victory for the Sabres — their first win against the Rangers since April 3, 2021. The 6-foot netminder started in seven of Buffalo’s last nine games of the 2022-23 season and earned five wins, including a second victory over the Rangers.
Levi made three starts in the preseason, showcasing his characteristic agility and puck-tracking ability through all three games and saving 73 of 83 shots. In his preseason debut, Levi stopped all 19 shots he faced in the two periods he played against the reigning Presidents’ Trophy honorees, the Boston Bruins.
Since the departure of former star Sabres goalie Ryan Miller in 2014, the future of Buffalo’s goaltending has been up in the air — a problem to which Levi is believed to be the solution. Although Thursday night’s scoreboard might tell a different story, Sabres head coach Don Granato doesn’t blame Levi for the goal disparity; instead, he attributed the loss to opening-night wrinkles the team hasn’t had a chance to iron out just yet.
“I had no issue with Devon,” Granato said in a postgame press conference. “I don’t think that was any issue whatsoever for us tonight.”
Levi was one of seven Husky alumni that made it onto opening night rosters across the NHL, alongside Josh Manson (2014, Colorado Avalanche), Cayden Primeau (2019, Montreal Canadiens) and former teammate Jordan Harris (2022, Montreal Canadiens).
