Devon Levi, goaltender for the Rochester Americans, has credited meditation with helping him handle the pressures of his career. Levi began practicing meditation during a month-long quarantine before the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, a period he described as mentally challenging.
“It was a month there that I was just sitting in my room leading up to the tournament, so I was going a little crazy,” Levi said. “I would have lost my mind if I didn’t start meditating. So, kind of fate [that] what happened just pushed me down that path. Thankful it did, because it’s been a big part of my game.”
Levi, now in his third season with Rochester, has adopted a “be where your feet are” mindset as he serves as the team’s starting goaltender. The Buffalo Sabres, who currently have three goalies at the NHL level—Alex Lyon, Colten Ellis, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen—have continued to express confidence in Levi. General manager Kevyn Adams and coach Lindy Ruff both praised his approach during training camp.
“You’d never tell if he wasn’t handling it well,” Ruff said in September. “He’s just got that characteristic, and he’s got the attitude that he’s gonna be the hardest working guy, and he’s gonna go out and try to make every save. This game is all about competition. Whether it’s from one week to next, one year to next, you’re always competing. … I think he relishes the competition. He believes in himself, and I think that’s one of the greatest gifts you can have.”
Levi signed a two-year contract extension with Buffalo on July 31. Since being acquired from Florida in 2021, he has posted a .922 save percentage and a 2.29 goals-against average over 69 AHL games, earning an All-Star Game selection last season. He started the 2025-26 season with 24 saves in Rochester’s win over Toronto.
Rochester coach Michael Leone highlighted Levi’s mental approach and his improvement in patience as a goaltender. Levi himself emphasized the importance of mental stability and trust in his team. “An unbelievable group that I trust with my life,” he said. “Our D corps is awesome. I know that we could score. I know our coaching staff. Vinny [Prospal], [Nathan Paetsch], Leo [Leone], they’re all giving their all and helping the boys as much as they can, leading the ship. It’s easy to mentally be at peace when you know that the pieces around you are the right pieces, and you trust them and they trust you. I think that makes a team great.”
Levi can often be seen meditating during media timeouts, a practice he says allows him to stay present and focused. “Just being able to settle in mentally, just understanding how you work, what you like, what makes you tick, understanding how to be aware of your mind and your thoughts and returning to the present moment (is) just an important skill to have.”
In other prospect news, first-round picks Isak Rosen and Noah Ostlund had strong performances for Rochester during their season-opening series against Toronto. Rosen scored two power-play goals assisted by Ostlund in the opening win, and both players added assists in the following game. Coach Leone noted their ability to change games but stressed the need for consistency.
Brodie Ziemer, a third-round pick in 2024, has started his NCAA season with four points in four games for Minnesota, helping to keep the Golden Gophers ranked among the top teams nationally. Ziemer scored twice in the season opener and again against Boston College.
In the MHL, Yevgeni Prokhorov, Buffalo’s seventh-round pick from Belarus, has posted strong numbers early in the season with Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk. He ranks second in save percentage and third in goals-against average among qualified goaltenders and has recorded two shutouts through his first ten games.
