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Who Is Devon Levi? 5 interesting facts about new Oilers goalie

Photo credit: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

By Sean Panganiban

Jul 21, 2026, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 20, 2026, 20:46 EDT

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The Edmonton Oilers made several big moves on the first day of free agency, including a trade that saw them acquire netminder Devon Levi and a seventh-round draft pick in exchange for a 2028 third-round draft pick.

With what we know so far, it appears the Oilers will be going with a three-goaltender system in 2026-27, with Levi sharing the crease load alongside fellow netminders Tristan Jarry and Frederik Andersen.

With that in mind, here are five tidbits to get acquainted with the Oilers’ new netminder, who hopes to become an NHL regular in 2026-27.

Carey Price was Devon Levi’s boyhood idol

The 24-year-old Levi was born in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, and growing up, he admired former Montreal Canadiens netminder Carey Price, who enjoyed a Hall of Fame career with the Habs.

In an interview with Spittin’ Chiclets in 2023, Levi mentioned that he was around 10 years old when he first met former Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Price, recalling:

“I was around 10 years old and with my best friend one day when his dad, who owns a poker place in Montreal, phoned and said the whole Habs team was there,” said Levi. “He told us to come down. I brought down so much stuff for Price to sign. Had all these things on my wall, took them off, and put them right back up (signed). It was a dream come true.”

He also revealed that five games into his time with the Buffalo Sabres, Price reached out to him with advice, encouraging him to embrace the journey and enjoy every single day of the process.

Spittin' Chiclets

@spittinchiclets

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Goalies helping goalies 🤝 Devon Levi grew up idolizing Carey Price and now has been getting his full support and advice. Nothing beats the hockey community. 📺: youtu.be/rck19t_M6Mg?si…

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8:53 PM · Nov 27, 2023

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That said, hopefully Levi can take even a few pages out of Price’s “how-to” book, specifically the chapter that describes how he became a Vezina Trophy winner, which would go a long way towards solving Edmonton’s goaltending questions.

Devon Levi broke Price’s national World Juniors Record while playing with a broken rib

Levi already has experience playing in big games at Rogers Place. He was the starting goaltender for Team Canada at the 2021 World Juniors, which were hosted in Edmonton.

Team Canada lost 2-0 to the United States in the gold medal game, with Levi and his teammates taking home a silver medal, but Levi’s performance throughout the tournament was amongst the greatest in Canadian history.

The netminder played all seven games for Team Canada, posting a 6–0–1 record, a tournament-best .964 save percentage, a 0.75 goals-against average (GAA), and three shutouts — becoming only the second goaltender in tournament history to record three shutouts. His dominant performance earned him Top Goaltender honours, while his .964 save percentage surpassed the previous record of .961 set by his idol, Price, in 2007.

What made the netminder’s performance even more impressive was the path he took to get there. After playing Junior A the previous season in the CCHL with the Carleton Place Canadians, Levi was considered a long shot to earn a spot on Team Canada’s roster.

But the most impressive part? Levi put on that brilliant performance while playing through a broken rib. Highlighting the adversity he battled through, Levi missed the next six weeks with Northeastern University after the tournament ended.

Devon Levi didn’t start as a goalie

Levi first laced up his skates when he was around five years old, and during his first few years of hockey, he wasn’t stopping pucks. Instead, he began his path in hockey as a forward, as previously noted by Boston-area reporter Rachel Hopmayer.

In a 2023 interview with Spectrum News, Levi described his passion for being a goalie, stating:

“I chose to become a goalie. Not because I thought I was going to play in the NHL, but because I loved it. I just really wanted to go goalie,” Levi said. “I’d hope every day that our goalie wouldn’t show up to practice or the game so I could get my gear and then put it on and play. So eventually I got a real shot there so that I could actually go out and play.”

Levi made the full-time switch from forward to goaltender around the age of 11, a decision that, given where his hockey career has taken him, turned out to be the right choice.

What Is Devon Levi’s unique in-game timeout routine?

Hockey players are creatures of habit.

We’ve seen previous Oilers talk about their specific routines, like Corey Perry, who has his own unique game-day ritual. Levi has adopted a routine of his own as well, although his happens during games. That’s a little something to watch for next season.

He developed the routine in college while his team was battling for a championship title, as previously noted by The Athletic. During TV timeouts, Levi skates out toward the blueline, turns towards the net, and drops to his knees. He then closes his eyes and focuses on breathing exercises and meditation.

Jack Kreuzer 🎙️

@JackKreuzer

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For those curious, here is Devon Levi’s full TV Timeout Routine. Complete with mediation & saying hello to fans in the corner. #LetsGoBuffalo

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12:31 AM · Apr 1, 2023

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The routine, as chronicled by reporter Matthew Fairburn, is derived from Levi’s and his father’s shared love of Star Wars. It is inspired by a scene in which Qui-Gon duels Darth Maul, then sits down, closes his eyes, and begins meditating.

Levi talked about this in a 2022 interview, saying, “There’s nothing else to do during a TV timeout that will stop the puck in the next shift, so might as well take it as an opportunity to recenter and focus.”

He added:

“It’s easy to make a save in practice with no pressure…But if it’s game seven, Stanley Cup final in overtime, are you still going to make that save? If you’re able to stay mentally calm and do what you’re doing, treat every puck with equal value, then it’s going to be easier to make the save.”

Of all the positions in hockey, being a goalie is arguably the most mentally demanding, and it seems Levi has a good head on his shoulders when it comes to resetting. Additionally, outside of his in-game routine, he does other things away from the ice to help with the mental side of the game, like painting and reading self-improvement books, which helps calm his mind.

What awards has Devon Levi won in his career?

Throughout Levi’s hockey career, he’s been recognized with numerous awards and accolades.

His collection of hardware started in 2019–20, during his first season with Carleton Place, where he took home Top Rookie honours and league MVP honours after posting a 34–2–1 record, a .941 save percentage, a 1.47 goals-against average, and eight shutouts. He was also awarded CJHL Player of the Year for being named the top Junior A player in all of Canada.

That said, after being drafted by the Florida Panthers in 2020 and later traded to the Buffalo Sabres, Levi began his NCAA career with Northeastern University, where he quickly established himself as one of the best goaltenders in college hockey, receiving numerous honours, including:

Mike Richter Award (Top NCAA Men’s Goaltender): 2021–22 and 2022–23 (first goalie to win it back-to-back)
Hockey East Rookie of the Year: 2021–22
Hockey East Goaltender of the Year: 2021–22, 2022–23
Hockey East First Team All-Star: 2021–22, 2022–23
Hockey East All-Rookie Team: 2021–22
Beanpot Tournament MVP: 2022–23
Hobey Baker Award Finalist: top 10 in 2021–22 and 2022–23

Also, during his two seasons at Northeastern University, Levi compiled a 37–22–6 record while posting a .942 save percentage, which ranks second all-time in NCAA history behind only Connor Hellebuyck.

On another note, while doing a deep dive into Levi’s career, one quote that stands out is from his personal goalie coach, Marco Raimondo, who has long believed in the netminder’s potential, saying in an interview with The Athletic in 2022:

“I have goosebumps thinking about it, but I know this kid is going to win a Stanley Cup,” Raimondo said. “I know that everything he’s doing is building toward him being a Stanley Cup Champion. I know it in my heart.”

For the Oilers, here’s hoping Raimondo’s belief in Levi’s ability to become a Stanley Cup champion is a sign of what’s to come.

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