Latest news with #DevonLevi
New York Times
30-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
What we saw from the Sabres' prospects during Rochester's AHL playoff run
Rochester Americans coach Michael Leone knows the Sabres' organization took a chance on him a year ago. He was 36 years old and had just two years of head coaching experience in the USHL. But after his first season in Rochester, it's clear Leone was up to the task. The Amerks lost to the Laval Rocket in Game 5 of the North Division Finals in the Calder Cup playoffs, but it was another strong season for Buffalo's AHL affiliate. Advertisement Leone picked up where Seth Appert left off. But he also put his stamp on this team. 'You have to coach what you believe in,' Leone said in April. For Leone, that was about defensive details and puck pressure. During his end-of-season news conference, Leone spoke about the Florida Panthers and the simple but hard way they play. Rochester gave up 191 goals this season after allowing 239 a year ago. Part of that was having Devon Levi in net for a long stretch of the year, but it's also evident players bought in to playing a certain way. 'Winning drives development,' Leone said at the end of the regular season. 'When you're around a lot of winning and understand what that looks like, there's no better form of development.' That's particularly important in the Sabres' organization, considering the NHL team hasn't played in the postseason since 2011. The winning environment in Rochester is critical for Buffalo's young prospects. That's why Jiri Kulich came down to play in the AHL playoffs after spending most of the season in the NHL. And it was a valuable tool for Levi, who is still trying to establish himself as a goalie capable of playing a full season in the NHL. Here are some thoughts on how Buffalo's prospects performed in Rochester this season after Leone and Amerks general manager Jason Karmanos addressed the media at the end of the season. Buffalo's front office has been a topic of discussion early in the offseason. Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams added Eric Staal as a special assistant, and the team has also been searching for a senior adviser. That's led to some speculation about what the future holds for Karmanos, who has been the team's associate general manager since 2021. 'I'm thankfully not on social media of any kind, so one of my daughters informed me of my 'uncertain status' a few weeks ago or whatever,' Karmanos said. 'I'm under contract and I'm here. So yeah, no change.' After dominating during a 3-0 series sweep against the Syracuse Crunch in the first round, Devon Levi wasn't as sharp against Laval. In four of the five games, Levi's save percentage was below .900. He allowed five goals on 29 shots in the decisive game five. Prior to the start of the AHL playoffs, Adams expressed some optimism that Levi could get a jump start on winning an NHL job with a strong postseason. Instead, these two series were a mixed bag. Are the Sabres ready to bank on a bounce-back season from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and a strong rookie season from Levi to solve their goalie problem next year? Advertisement When the Sabres signed Levi out of college, he jumped right into the NHL at the end of the 2022-23 season. The Sabres started him on opening night in 2023-24 and had him on their opening-day roster again in 2024-25. But he played 81 games in the AHL over the last two seasons, including playoffs. Karmanos noted that Levi still doesn't need waivers to go to Rochester and added that the decision on where Levi plays will likely be determined by what else the Sabres do to their roster this summer. 'It's not something that can be committed to right at this point, in my opinion, because there's a lot of other things we need to explore and understand in terms of our ability to improve in other areas,' Karmanos said. 'I don't want to put words into Devon's mouth, but he wants to play hockey, he wants to play a lot of games, he wants to develop. He wants to be the best goalie he can be. Obviously we're interested in that as well.' Levi is a restricted free agent this summer, but he shouldn't command a ton of money. The free-agent goalie market isn't particularly strong, and most options carry some degree of risk. There's always the option of bringing back James Reimer, who just turned 37 but had a terrific run to end the season. Right now, though, nothing is set in stone. Karmanos emphasized that goalies take a while to develop, so the door is at least open for Levi to return to Rochester next season. Jiri Kulich was not expected to grab hold of an NHL job the way he did in Buffalo this season. He earned Lindy Ruff's trust with his ability to play away from the puck and ended up centering the top line toward the end of the season. The Sabres still decided to send him back to Rochester for the AHL playoffs, and it was worthwhile. He was a point-per-game player during the postseason and handled the toughest minutes and assignments for Rochester. He said the areas of his game he wants to focus on this offseason are the defensive zone, getting to the net and being more physical. The AHL playoffs were the right environment for him to start that offseason work. If the Sabres' season started tomorrow, Kulich would likely be a top-six center on the depth chart. Whether that remains the case in October depends as much on what the Sabres do this offseason as it does on Kulich's offseason work. It's a risk trusting a 21-year-old who had 24 points as a rookie to handle such a big role. But this season was a big one for Kulich's development. Advertisement Early in the season, Leone said he saw Konsta Helenius cheating for offense, as many young players do. By the end of the year, Helenius was someone who stepped up in the playoffs. He was playing with a nastiness and physicality that are necessary in the postseason. Laval was a team that wanted to play with an edge, and Helenius was up to the challenge. 'I thought he rose to the occasion,' Leone said. 'The bigger the moment, the better he played. I thought he played with a level of physicality. Ultimately, when you get to this time of year, you find out who you are as a player … I thought (Helenius) played a lot of winning hockey for us.' This ended up as a productive first season in North America for Helenius. He played both wing and center and bought in to how Leone wanted the team to play. His tenacity stood out during his draft year, and it's encouraging to see that translate at the AHL level. His skill set will make him a versatile NHL player when the time comes. Anton Wahlberg didn't have a point and was minus-4 during the AHL playoffs. Playing his first full season in North America, Wahlberg got a real taste of the grind that the AHL season is. His size and playing style stand out in Buffalo's prospect pool. No other forward the Sabres have drafted in the last few years has Wahlberg's size. He fills an organizational need, but still has work to do to become NHL-ready. 'Wahly self-admitted that he could have been better,' Leone said. 'I don't disagree. I don't think he was bad. I just think it was probably eye-opening. His skill traits and his identity piece that he's going to have to be good at are things you're going to want in a playoff series. The physicality, relentless on pucks, being a really good forechecker, getting to the net front. If you look at him and his game and his development, where he could be better, it's scoring five to seven goals in front of the net.' Wahlberg looks like an important part of Buffalo's future. Getting him experience in the playoff environment is part of why winning matters to development. Noah Ostlund had zero goals and two assists in eight playoff games. It was a quiet end to an otherwise productive rookie season for Ostlund in the AHL. His main focus this summer, like a lot of young prospects, is on getting stronger. He's going to be training back home in Sweden with the Nylander brothers, Jesper Bratt and other NHLers. Making the Sabres next season might be a stretch, but that could depend on what roster moves the Sabres make this summer. Advertisement We've written about Buffalo's need for more nastiness on the blue line. And while they still need some seasoning, Nikita Novikov and Vsevolod Komarov both look like they have that bite to their game. It showed up more in the playoffs. Skating will be the question for both players, but Leone singled out both as players who elevated their games as the season went on. They'll be fun to watch at the rookie tournament in the fall. A few players I'll be curious to watch come training camp are forwards Isak Rosen and Tyson Kozak as well as defenseman Ryan Johnson. All three are reaching a point in their development where the team would love to see them break through and steal a job. Rosen, a 2021 first-round pick, just turned 22. He's rounded out his game nicely in the AHL. He led the Amerks with 55 points this season and also showed the requisite defensive skills and competitiveness to find a role as a third-line winger in the NHL. But every time he has been called up, Rosen hasn't stood out. It might be hard for him to win a job out of camp, but it would be great to see Rosen add more strength and make the Sabres' decision difficult in the fall. Kozak, who suffered a concussion against Laval, proved that he could be the organization's future No. 4 center when he was called up this season. Ruff trusts him to make good puck decisions and be responsible in his own end. He turned 22 this season, so he's getting closer to being a regular in the NHL. The same should be true for Johnson, who turns 24 this summer. He's also a restricted free agent. His path to the roster is trickier with Jacob Bryson under contract. And while Johnson isn't the most physical defenseman, his skating helps him be effective while breaking the puck out. There's a decisive and direct nature to his game that should translate to the NHL. Lukas Rousek officially left the Sabres' organization to sign in Sweden. The 26-year-old had a difficult journey with injuries early in his career, but carved out a big role in Rochester. He played through a torn meniscus in his knee during the playoffs despite knowing he'd be leaving the organization. While he got just 17 NHL games and didn't play any of them this season, Rousek was an important mentor for Kulich and other young players in Rochester.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Canadiens: Rocket Qualifies For Conference Final Thanks To Primeau's Perfect Game
Canadiens: Rocket Qualifies For Conference Final Thanks To Primeau's Perfect Game Nobody said it would be easy when the Montreal Canadiens' farm team, the Laval Rocket, qualified for the divisional final against the Buffalo Sabres' farm team, the Rochester Americans. Laval had won the regular season championship, but Rochester had quite an impressive roster, including a solid goaltender in Devon Levi, one of the league leaders in points in the postseason in Kale Clague, and Jiri Kulic, who spent most of the season in the NHL. The series was decided in a fifth and ultimate game Sunday at Place Bell, and the locals pitched a perfect game to prevail and qualify for the Conference final. 2:46 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Canadiens Farm Team Drops Game Four After Jacob Fowler Falters
Pascal Vincent had made it clear before the start of the third round that he fully intended to alternate his goaltenders, and while Cayden Primeau had a great game on Wednesday night for the Laval Rocket, it was Jacob Fowler who led them onto the ice on Friday night. The move is understandable from a developmental standpoint. After all, Fowler is the Montreal Canadiens' goaltender for the future, but it can be tricky to mix development and results. We got a prime example on Friday night. Could The Canadiens Poach A Maple Leaf In Free Agency?Canadiens: The Wedding Season Is Upon UsFormer Canadiens Win Gagarin Cup With Primeau riding the pine, Fowler gave up four goals on 14 shots before he was pulled from the game, but Vincent stood by his decision to give him the nod: You can't develop solely when it suits you. We have to see our young players. It's in games like these that we need to see them. Fowler joined us to play hockey. I am comfortable with the decision. [To play Fowler on Friday night] - Those four goals might not have been a death blow for the Rocket if Devon Levi had played like he had since the start of the third round, but unfortunately for Fowler and co., it was the real Levi who turned up between the pipes of the Rochester Americans last night. He saved 22 of the 23 shots he received, with Laval's sole tally coming off a rebound that Joshua Roy only had to tap in. The Amerks don't owe the win to Levi, though. Josh Dunne had the game of his life, scoring four points in the 5-1 victory. The 26-year-old centerman was undrafted and started his pro career with the Columbus Blue Jackets organization. He mainly played for the Cleveland Monsters for four seasons before joining the Buffalo Sabres' farm team last offseason. His two goals and two assists on the night give him seven points in as many games since the playoffs started. Meanwhile, Fowler wasn't the only one to have a tough night. Logan Mailloux, who has been very good since the start of the playoffs, was in the box for two of the Americans' goals, a costly lack of discipline, and he committed a turnover that led to another goal. Like it or not, Mailloux is still young, and off nights are just part of the development process, growing pains as they call them. With the series now tied at two games apiece, the fifth and final game will take place at Place Bell on Sunday afternoon. The 4:30 PM tilt will be a winner-takes-all battle that promises to be entertaining. Primeau will be back in the net in accordance with the alternating system, and it will be his chance to show that he can be clutch when it matters. Photo credit: Jamie Germano / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story. Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @ and Threads @karinehains. Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Amerks Facing Elimination After Loss To Laval
The Rochester Americans shifted to Laval in their best-of-five AHL North second-round series after splitting the first two games at Blue Cross Arena last weekend, but after tying the game in the third period, the hometown Rocket scored three unanswered goals in a 4-1 victory at Place Bell on Wednesday. Laval opened the scoring just 15 seconds into the contest, as Sabres winger Alex Tuch's younger brother Luke beat Devon Levi on a long shot. The Amerks outshot Laval 33-20 in the contest, but were unable to beat Rocket goalie Cayden Primeau until early in the third, when Jiri Kulich and Jack Rathbone set up Lukas Rousek for the tying goal. Other Sabres Stories Is Peterka In Prime Position For Big Payday? Sabres Summer Dilemmas - Bowen Byram Sabres Facing An Off-Season Of Change The deadlock lasted just 2:11, as Florian Xhekaj put Laval ahead for good on a backhand roofed over Levi's left shoulder. The Rocket pulled away with goals from Laurent Dauphin and Joshua Roy to take the series lead 2-1. 'I really like our game, but (the Xhekaj goal) was a momentum killer,' Rochester coach Michael Leone said after the loss. 'I think the shots were 26-12 after (the first and second) periods…..that's a tough one. When (Laval) get one (goal) in this building, they build a lot of momentum.' The series resumes on Friday with Rochester facing elimination for the first time. If they win, the fifth and deciding game will take place on Sunday afternoon in Laval. Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Canadiens Farm Team Ready For Game Three
The third-round series pitting the Montreal Canadiens' farm team, the Laval Rocket, and the Buffalo Sabres' farm team, the Rochester Americans, resumes tonight with the third game. Each team won one game in Rochester and entered tonight's match-up, with the best-of-five series tied 1-1. Laval won game one 5-4 with Cayden Primeau in the net and lost game two 5-3 with Jacob Fowler in the net. Neither were particularly sharp, with the former posting a .852 save percentage and the latter a .886, and Pascal Vincent is expected to continue rotating his netminders. At the same time, Rochester will keep riding Devon Levi. Canadiens: What If The PWHL Expansion Rules Happened In The NHLCanadiens: A Potential UFA Target?Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Kirby Dach In order to win, the Rocket will need to find a way to neutralise Kale Clague, who's currently third in the league in points. The defenseman was a second-round pick by the Los Angeles Kings in 2016 and spent 25 games in the Canadiens' organization during the 2021-22 season. Jiri Kulich will also need to be closely watched. The rookie spent most of the season in the NHL, scoring 24 points in 62 games, and stands out against AHL competition. In five playoff games, he has seven points. Offensively, the Rocket will need veterans Laurent Dauphin and Alex Barre-Boulet to continue their strong play. They both have eight points through six games. In Friday's defeat, Laval could only muster 19 shots on goal, with the duo accounting for six of them. Defensemen Logan Mailloux and David Reinbacher had three each. Generating more shots will be essential if the Rocket wants to beat Levi, who sports a .931 SP and has been very stingy in the playoffs with a 2.01 goals-against average. As for Primeau, who should be on duty for Laval, he has a .865 SP and a 3.62 GAA in just two outings. Fowler has the better numbers with a 1.75 GAA and a .929, but Vincent said before the start of the series that he intended to rotate his netminders. Logan Mailloux, who has looked very good in the postseason, will need to keep up his strong play. The blueliner is fifth in the league for points by a defenseman with five in six games, but he's also been efficient defensively. The puck is set to drop at 7:00 PM in Laval (you can watch on RDS), and game four is set for Friday, May 22, at 7:00 PM in Laval. If a fifth game is necessary, it will also be played at the Rocket's arena on Sunday, May 25. Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story. Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @ and Threads @karinehains. Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.
