According to the Buffalo Sabers organization, Quebec goaltender Devon Levi has not only earned the right to finish the last regular season in the National Hockey League (NHL), but also to start the next one.
Excluded from the playoffs for a 12th straight campaign, the Sabers held their season report on Wednesday, in the presence of general manager Kevyn Adams and head coach Don Granato. If the end of the year proved to be an absolute disappointment, the performances of the young athlete of 21 years with Northeastern University as well as in Buffalo at the end of the calendar impressed the general staff of the club. Adams called everything Levi accomplished in 2022-23 “amazing.”
“He’s a small sample, but his mindset, athleticism and potential are impressive. Nothing is too big for him,” complimented the GM at a press conference regarding the one who won five of his seven games with the Sabers and maintained a goals-against average below 3.00.
Also, the formation of New York State seems comfortable with its workforce in place in front of the net. Granato said he’s ready to start next season with a duo of Levi, named the NCAA’s top goaltender, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
“I want our players to be fearless and that’s how we’re going to manage the team,” Adams said when asked about the possibility of adding reinforcements to the goalkeeper position.
“Currently, the net does not belong to anyone if we talk about the future,” added Granato as to the identity of his trusted goalkeeper.
Sadness
In Buffalo, expectations have not been met and local fans will wait at least one more year before seeing their favorites play in the playoffs again. The feeling of incompleteness is real.
“For all of us, there was a huge disappointment. It’s sad because we want our players to have high goals, Adams said, calling the club’s failure to qualify a missed opportunity. We try to put everything in place to achieve long-term success and we already have elements in our foundation. […] We had to build and restore faith. Our guys know they can do it and the goal is to make the playoffs and then excel.”