1/21: The Sabres have recalled Levi and sent Comrie back to the minors – reversing the moves made yesterday.
1/20: The Buffalo Sabres have announced that they’ve recalled goaltender Eric Comrie from the Rochester Americans of the AHL and in a corresponding move they’ve assigned netminder Devon Levi to Rochester. The Sabres had gone with three goaltenders at the NHL level earlier in the season, but have demoted Levi and Comrie at different times to try and open up some roster flexibility,
The 28-year-old Comrie has appeared three times for the Americans during his time in the AHL and has been terrific as he went 2-1 with a .951 save percentage and a goals-against average of 1.67. It was a dramatic turnaround from his numbers with the Sabres earlier in the season, as the Edmonton, Alberta native struggled in the NHL with a 1-5 record, a 4.01 goals-against average and a save percentage of .863.
22-year-old Devon Levi has also posted good numbers at the AHL level in limited action as he has gone 1-1 with a .921 save percentage and a 2.94 goals-against average. Much like Comrie, Levi has also struggled at the NHL level as he has dressed in 19 games registering an 8-7-2 record with a 3.32 goals-against average and an .889 save percentage.
While neither of the two netminders have cemented themselves as a full-time NHL backup this season, Levi has posted better underlying numbers according to MoneyPuck.com. While one would think that the Sabres would want to keep the stronger netminder of the two at the NHL, this move could be more about Levi’s development than anything else. The Sabres may want to get Levi into more games down the stretch, and given that he hasn’t been able to do so in the NHL, they might have deemed the best course to have him as a regular starter in the AHL.
Levi is not an NHL goalie right now. He needs some time in Rochester to sharpen his game, similar to Ryan Miller
Levi was, most likely, sent down to provide him with some game action before the CA roadie.
I think they’ll call him back and try to sneak Comrie back to ROC. (It’s possible that the Sabres secretly would like EC to be claimed.)
No sneaking needed. EC can be sent down without waivers as long as his stay in the NHL is less than 10 games, or 30 days. I think.
UPL is currently on a tear & the Sabres will be giving most of the starts to UPL. Levi needs to play & with UPL’s hot streak the Sabres are going with the hot hand. By sending down Levi he can now get regular playing time & Comrie is a vet that the Sabres are not resigning in the offseason. If UPL comes back down to earth is when Levi will be back. Levi is not a 18/19yo goalie out of Juniors.
Let’s also think of this angle….
EC found his groove in Rochester.
UPL is the hot hand in net.
Levi needs playing time.
Let’s say EC shows in a few starts that he is effective again.
That can give Buffalo a player to trade at the deadline.