ROCHESTER – Veteran defenseman Rostislav Klesla, an afterthought in Wednesday’s Jaroslav Halak-Michael Neuvirth trade, still hasn’t reported to the AHL Americans.
Amerks coach Chadd Cassidy said he still expects the 31-year-old Klesla, a veteran of 659 NHL games, to report.
So when will the Czech be joining the club?
“We’re still trying to figure that out at this point,” Cassidy said Friday following the Amerks’ 4-1 win against the Syracuse Crunch inside the Blue Cross War Memorial. “There’s some issues, obviously, in terms of just getting him here with his family and everything else. I’m not 100 percent sure when he’s going to get here yet.”
Where is Klesla?
“I don’t know,” Cassidy said. “I haven’t talked to him myself. He’s not here, and I worry about the guys that are here.”
It’s unclear if the Buffalo Sabres have any plans for Klesla, the fourth overall pick in 2000. He had never played in the AHL prior to this season.
Klesla has experienced a whirlwind week. The Phoenix Coyotes traded him to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday before flipping him a day later.
Update: According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, Klesla won’t play hockey again this season. His career will continue in Europe.
Who cares? Let the youngsters have their shot.