Devon Levi is the wild card in Mike Babcock's crowded Oilers crease this season.
TSN analyst Jamie McLennan joined Oilers Now this week and broke down Edmonton's decision to roll with three goalies: Frederik Andersen, Tristan Jarry, and Levi.
McLennan likes the setup. He thinks Jarry is primed for a bounce-back year after a strong offseason.
But the line that stood out was about Levi. McLennan said the 24 year old reminds him of Marc-Andre Fleury.
That's a name you don't drop lightly in goaltending circles.
Levi isn't on Edmonton's NHL crease chart yet. He spent this season with the Rochester Americans, going 52 games with a 2.83 GAA and a .904 save percentage.
Why Fleury comparisons carry real weight for Oilers fans
Fleury built a Hall of Fame career on athleticism, quick lateral pushes, and a knack for stealing games nobody expected him to win. If Levi has that gear, Edmonton found something.
Jarry's numbers last season tell a rougher story. He went 33 games with a .882 save percentage, a mark that needs to climb fast in a crowded division race.
Andersen split time between two stints this year. His overall line sits at 35 games and a .874 save percentage, with a stronger .910 mark in his second run.
None of that clears a path for Levi automatically. Andersen is 36 and still under contract. Jarry carries a $5,375,000 cap hit that buys him patience, not urgency.
Levi carries a cap hit of $812,500 on a two year deal that runs through 2026-27, when he becomes a restricted free agent.
Edmonton went 41-30-11 this season, sitting 14th overall and second in the division. That record buys some room to experiment in net.
Is a three-goalie system smart management or a sign nobody has separated themselves? Depends who you ask in that room.
McLennan's comparison puts real pressure on Levi to prove it belongs in Edmonton's plans, not just in a TV segment.
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The Oilers have talked about competition all offseason. Now they have to manage it without blowing up chemistry between three men chasing one net.
Should the Oilers commit to Devon Levi as their goalie of the future?
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