The Edmonton Oilers have acquired goaltender Devon Levi, and a 2028 seventh-round draft pick from the Buffalo Sabres for a third-round pick that same year.

The Oilers get: One of the top prospect goalies out there and a goalie who is no longer exempt from waivers. Levi is signed for another season at the league minimum. He took the NHL by storm after turning pro, putting forth seven real solid games in 2022-23. The following year he struggled, and has since worked on increasing his workload at the AHL level. Last season for Rochester he was up to 52 games (23 wins) and a 0.904 SV%. He was very good for Rochester in the playoffs, even though the team was bounced in three games.

The Sabres get: Some value for their player who they would have lost via waivers. Enough value? Most people think they could have gotten a bit more. But it wasn't terrible.

Fantasy Players Impacted: Sabres first, because it's brief. The Sabres already have three goalies under NHL contract. This takes a bit of the heat off Colten Ellis. In fact, it's better for all involved not to muddy the waters with four goalies. Someone had to go. That's even assuming that Buffalo moves forward for a second year with a three-goalie tandem (with Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen).  

On the Oilers, this impacts Connor Ingram, who won't be coming back. Now just finding a starter's job will be tough. Tristan Jarry, whom fantasy owners weren't touching with a 10-foot pole anyway, will begin the season as a starter. That takes the heat off Levi and gives him a chance to "steal" the job. Which he will. In about a week.

Any team with McDavid and Draisaitl is going to win 40 games. I think with new coach Mike Babcock, they get back to their 48-49 win ways. Babcock, historically, has strong first seasons with new teams. Anaheim, Detroit, Toronto. Well, okay, his first 'season' with Columbus wasn't so good. But I digress. The point is, the team has a strong chance of winning games in the mid- to upper 40s even if the hot dog vendor was in net. So Levi has a real shot of stealing the job and hitting what Calvin Pickard did a couple of years ago (22 wins) and even more. If the Oilers win say 46—Levi gets 30 of them. His landing spot couldn't have been better.