The Edmonton Oilers have acquired goaltender Devon Levi from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a third-round draft pick, a move that carries significant risk given Levi's limited NHL experience. The 24-year-old netminder carries a cap hit of $812,000 and has posted a career .894 save percentage across 39 NHL games over three seasons. In his most recent campaign, Levi went 2-7 with an .872 save percentage in nine appearances for Buffalo.
A gamble on potential
Levi, a seventh-round pick (212th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft, was once considered a top prospect in the Sabres organization. However, he has spent the majority of his professional career in the AHL, recording 120 games with the Rochester Americans. At six feet tall, Levi is undersized for a modern NHL goaltender, and his inconsistency at the top level has raised questions about his readiness to handle a significant workload.
According to Oilers reporter Robert Tychkowski, the team is betting that Levi can rediscover the form that made him a highly regarded prospect. "It's still possible that the 24-year-old breaks through and realizes the upside that made him a hot prospect in Buffalo," Tychkowski wrote. "That's the gamble here, but he is also entirely unproven at the NHL level, which makes this a significant risk for a team that might be in the final year or two of its Stanley Cup window."
Oilers' crease uncertainty
Edmonton's goaltending situation has been a persistent weakness over the past two seasons. The team currently projects a tandem of Tristan Jarry and Levi, a combination that lacks a proven veteran presence. Jarry himself struggled in 2025-26, posting a .901 save percentage and a 3.12 goals-against average. The Oilers had been linked to higher-profile options such as Jacob Markstrom, who was traded to the Florida Panthers, and Sebastian Cossa, a 2021 first-round pick who landed with the Utah franchise. However, Edmonton opted for the cheaper, lower-risk acquisition in Levi.
"It seems highly unlikely that the Oilers plan on trying to win a Stanley Cup with Tristan Jarry and newly-acquired Devon Levi in goal, but until another shoe drops in the crease, this is what they've got," Tychkowski noted. The move leaves Edmonton with limited cap flexibility to pursue additional goaltending upgrades before the trade deadline.
Pressure cooker in Edmonton
Levi will face intense scrutiny in Edmonton, a market notorious for its demanding fan base and media spotlight on goaltenders. The Oilers are in the midst of a championship window led by superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and any perceived weakness in net could derail their aspirations. Levi's affordable contract and acquisition cost (a third-round pick) mitigate some risk, but the pressure to perform will be immediate. If Jarry fails to rebound, Levi could be thrust into a starting role sooner than anticipated.
For now, the Oilers are banking on development and opportunity. Levi has shown flashes of brilliance in the AHL, including a .916 save percentage in 45 games during the 2024-25 season, but translating that success to the NHL remains an open question. The team's goaltending coach will work closely with Levi to refine his technique and positioning, hoping to unlock the potential that once made him a standout prospect.
