Joseph Cecconi joined Rochester last season. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

13 months after trade, Joseph Cecconi developing with Amerks, happy in Sabres organization

ROCHESTER – Joseph Cecconi’s arrival here last season transformed the Americans, giving their defense corps a missing element. Without his muscle, coach Seth Appert said, the AHL club wouldn’t have enjoyed another long run in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

“We don’t go to the conference finals without that trade and getting Cheeks,” Appert said. “We didn’t have enough of that or much of that at all. … Trading for Cecconi, that really solidified our D ... Read the full article

Joseph Cecconi warms up before Tuesday’s game. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Youngstown’s Joseph Cecconi grabbing Sabres’ attention

BUFFALO – This time, Joseph Cecconi’s cheering section was more subdued. His 20 or so family members and friends in attendance still cheered for the Sabres defenseman, mind you.

But they left their neon green “Cecconi Fan Club” shirts, giant head cutouts and signs at home.

Instead, Cecconi’s mother, Regina, opted to have some smaller “Cecconi heads” mounted on stick.... Read the full article

Joseph Ceconni joined Rochester in December. ©2023, Rochester Americans

Sabres re-sign Youngstown’s Joseph Cecconi to one-year contract

The Buffalo Sabres on Friday re-signed defenseman Joseph Cecconi, a Youngstown native, to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 in the NHL.

Cecconi, 26, became a mainstay on the Rochester Americans’ blue line following his arrival in a trade Dec. 15, giving them a more defensive defender to complement some of their offensive threats.

In the regular season, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Cecconi registered three goals and eight points in 41 games. In the ... Read the full article

Joseph Cecconi spent three years in Texas before joining Rochester. ©2023, Rochester Americans

Trade to Sabres organization special for Youngstown’s Joseph Cecconi, family

ROCHESTER – Right away, Joseph Cecconi called his grandfather, Joe, to share the special news.

Throughout his grandson’s junior and college career, the elder Cecconi traveled to nearly every one of his home games. He estimates he racked up about 30,000 miles a year driving from his Youngstown home to Muskegon and Ann Arbor.

Then Joseph Cecconi turned pro in 2019 and reported to the Texas Stars, Dallas’ AHL affiliate, and the trips ended. ... Read the full article

Joseph Cecconi (34) turned pro in 2019. ©2022, Mollie Kendall, Texas Stars

Sabres trade Oskari Laaksonen to Stars for Youngstown’s Joseph Cecconi

The Buffalo Sabres on Thursday swapped AHL defense prospects with the Dallas Stars, trading Oskari Laaksonen in exchange for Youngstown native Joseph Cecconi.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Cecconi, 25, played four seasons at Michigan and captained the Wolverines as a senior. He has compiled four goals, 33 points and 106 penalty minutes in 176 games over four seasons with the Texas Stars.

Cecconi, a right-shot defenseman like Laaksonen, has registered two assists and 10 penalty ... Read the full article

Jacob Bryson (pictured) has been playing beside Rasmus Dahlin. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres notes: Buffalo adds defenseman; Jacob Bryson seizing leading role

BUFFALO – Just nine games in, the Sabres have already dipped deep into their defense reserves. Hours before Monday’s 8-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings, they recalled Jeremy Davies from the Rochester Americans.

Davies, 25, is the ninth defenseman who has been on the roster this season.

“We’re banged up on the back end and that’s the need, pressing need right now,” Sabres coach Don Granato said Monday prior to Davies’ recall.

They summoned ... Read the full article

Henri Jokiharju has missed the last three games. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu

D injuries could force Sabres to make trade; Peyton Krebs returns to lineup

BUFFALO – Just two weeks into the season, having lost Mattias Samuelsson, Henri Jokiharju and two more defensemen in the minors to injuries, the Sabres are considering adding depth to their blue line, Kevyn Adams said.

The general manager said prior to Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at KeyBank Center that Samuelsson, who suffered a lower-body injury in Saturday’s 5-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks, will be sidelined “a few weeks.”

“But much ... Read the full article

Matt Savoie played three preseason games for Buffalo. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres trim roster, send Matt Savoie to junior, 21 players to Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres on Saturday assigned center Matt Savoie to his junior team and loaned 21 players to the Rochester Americans, their AHL affiliate.

They have 31 healthy players left in training camp. They must finalize their 23-man regular-season roster by 5 p.m. on Oct. 10.

The Sabres gave Savoie, the ninth overall pick this year, a long look during camp, awarding him three preseason games before sending to the Winnipeg Ice. Savoie, 18, was ... Read the full article

Eric Comrie signed with Buffalo during the summer. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres goalie Eric Comrie set to make debut with slew of prospects

BUFFALO – After watching the first two preseason games, Sabres goalie Eric Comrie will likely be making his debut in tonight’s road contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Sabres, of course, expect Comrie, 27, to play a significant number of games this season or earn the starting job. He signed a two-year, $3.6 million contract during the offseason.

The rest of tonight’s game roster features mostly prospects and players ticketed for the Rochester Americans.... Read the full article

Jiri Kulich skates in Saturday’s Prospects Challenge game. ©2022, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich impresses in debut: ‘Couldn’t have been happier’

BUFFALO – Forget that Jiri Kulich possesses a shot so lethal his coach described it as “scary.” Forget that the Sabres prospect has recently dominated his peers, scoring 17 goals over a torrid 16-game stretch. Forget that he already has a full season of pro hockey experience.

In a few weeks, following his first NHL training camp, the Sabres will likely assign Kulich to Rochester, where he will begin his North American career with the ... Read the full article