BETTING À DAY
Quebec goaltender Devon Levin met with reporters from Buffalo on Monday noon to express his joy at having signed a contract with the Sabres, a team he wishes to represent for many years.
The 21-year-old signed a three-year entry-level deal on Friday and is the runner-up for the Hobey-Baker Trophy as the most valuable player of the NCAA, will continue his dream season with the New York State organization. Having shone with the Northeastern University Huskies, Levi is already getting comfortable.
“I felt in my heart I wanted to be a Saber and I'm so happy to be here. I share a lot of moral values and ways of seeing things with this group,” he commented at a press conference.
This is good news for general manager Kevyn Adams, who said Friday he hopes to see veteran Craig Anderson, 41, play a mentoring role to the prospect who was picked 212th overall in the 2020 National League Draft.
“For us, it was important to quickly integrate Devon into our training. We want to make sure we make him comfortable, Adams said a few days ago. It is essential to bet on someone like Craig Anderson to provide tutoring in a short period of time and allow Devon to start on the right foot. We will then see from there, one day at a time. But for its development, considering where we are, it is a critical moment. He has to learn and progress with us.”
A little pressure
The support offered to Levi will therefore be taken very seriously, since the native of Dollard-des-Ormeaux is very well perceived. Some compare him to Ryan Miller, a former Sabers big name, or Connor Hellebuyck, of the Winnipeg Jets. However, he doesn't seem to mind the pressure too much.
“It's very good to be in the company of such incredible goalkeepers. […] There have been many who have had long careers in the NHL. It's really an honor, especially since here, there was Ryan Miller and the goalkeeping duos were solid. To get everyone's encouragement and to be part of this organization here is rewarding,” he said.
Levi is 21 years and 83 days old. If used in a game by the end of the regular season, he will become the fourth-youngest goalie in club history to play a game. Martin Biron holds the prize for precocity at 18 years and 133 days, 55 days ahead of Tom Barrasso.