Reports of a goalie trade coming for the Buffalo Sabres

The corpse of the 2025-26 Buffalo Sabres' season is still warm, but that hasn't stopped NHL insiders from poking and prodding at the upstate New York team.

NHL insider Jeff Marek reported today on the podcast Coming in Hot that the relationship between the Sabres and 24 year old goaltender Devon Levi is over and that Levi will be moved this offseason.

"It's over, it's over with Devon Levi and the Buffalo Sabres," Marek reported.

Levi, of course, was acquired by the Sabres from the Florida Panthers in a blockbuster trade that involved former 2nd overall pick Sam Reinhart. At the time Levi was seen as one of the best prospects in hockey and had all the makings of a future star goaltender. And while Levi has been solid at the AHL level, he has failed to make the leap to the NHL.

With Sabres having four goaltenders under contract for next season, something's got to give. Levi joins Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis as Sabres' goaltenders all signed through 2027. Again, something's got to give...

Luukkonen and Lyon cemented themselves as a solid combo for the team this past season, while Ellis gave them stability in the case of injury or illness. All of this is to say that there's little room left for Levi, who likely won't be content with another season in the minors in 2026-27.

The fact is that Levi needs some time in the NHL next season and the Sabres are in no position to hand him free games. The Sabres are a playoff team now with their sights set on the Stanley Cup, they can't afford to allow a goaltender to feel his way into the league. They need results.

Don't be surprised if Levi is involved in an offseason trade come July or August. To me, his situation reminds me a lot of the situation that the Panthers faced with Spencer Knight or the situation that the Nashville Predators faced with Yaroslav Askarov, two young goaltenders who moved on to new opportunities and flourished when given a second chance. Is Levi the next on the move?