'I'm going in an underdog' | Levi looks to build on strong NCAA season

Devon Levi feels his most difficult hockey season was in 2018-19, when he returned for a third season of U-18 hockey in Lake Saint-Louis, Quebec.
Levi had dominated the year prior to the tune of a league-best .927 save percentage. He felt the weight of expectations when it came time to duplicate that performance.
"I was a bit younger, and I came off a good season my second year," Levi said. "So, it's how are you gonna do it again? I struggled a little bit at first trying to manage it. It's like, you put so much pressure on yourself to do it again."

Levi saw his save percentage dip to a still-impressive .909 that season, though he adjusted in time to post a .937 clip in 16 playoff outings. The experience stuck with the goaltender, who has embraced patience throughout his journey in hockey.
So, when the time came for Levi to decide whether to return to Northeastern for his junior season and attempt to follow up a campaign that earned him the Mike Richter Award as the NCAA's top goaltender, he embraced the challenge.
"This year going in, I'm gonna treat it like it was last year," he said. "I still have a lot to prove. I definitely think I have more to give. So, I'm going in as an underdog. I want to get better. I want to do better, and obviously be mindful of not putting too much pressure on myself where I have to carry the whole team."
The Sabres acquired Levi from the Florida Panthers as part of the return for Sam Reinhart. He was a seventh-round pick with no NCAA games on his resume but a sterling performance at the 2021 World Junior Championship, where he posted a tournament-best .964 save percentage.
He delivered similarly outstanding numbers in his first season at Northeastern, leading the nation in save percentage (.952) and tying for second in shutouts (11). He was a member of Canada's roster at the Beijing Olympics.
Through it all, his relationship with his new organization in Buffalo was strengthening. Levi spoke with Sabres goaltender development coach Seamus Kotyk once a week, forming what he referred to as a "three-person" triangle alongside his personal goalie coach, Mike Condon, when it came to mapping out his development.
Levi also developed a relationship with Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams, who invited the goaltender to attend Buffalo's morning skate prior to a game in Boston in April.
The impression Levi felt then regarding Adams' vision for the organization has been reinforced through three days at his first development camp.

"You've got a lot of good, young guys that are good people," Levi said. "I was talking to a bunch of them, and they said it was the most fun they've had playing hockey as an organization in a long time. It really goes to show how this approach is working. It'll definitely work the next few years.
"Kevyn said in our little meeting before dev camp that we're looking to win a Stanley Cup. I really think the organization is on its way. It's really impressive."
When Levi told Adams about his decision to return to Northeastern, he referenced his desire to feel the pressure of being the focal point of opponents' scouting reports. He hopes to reap the rewards at this time next year.
"It's going to be a really good development year and a really good mental battle," he said. "I think I'm gonna be one more step ready to come in next year."