Mattias Samuelsson was a second-round pick in 2018. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

Sabres recall Mattias Samuelsson from Amerks, make other moves

BUFFALO – The Sabres this afternoon recalled defenseman Mattias Samuelsson, one of their top prospects, from the Rochester Americans.

Samuelsson, 21, will make his NHL debut this afternoon against the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center.

General manager Kevyn Adams and interim coach Don Granato have said they plan to give some of the organizations prospects a taste of the NHL over the final few weeks this season.

The Sabres recently recalled winger Arttu Ruotsalainen and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. The 6-foot-4, 223-pound Samuelsson looked impressive when Adams recently visited Rochester.

“I think Samuelsson’s taken a huge step from where I saw him in training camp to the other day when I was in Rochester watching them play,” Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said on a Zoom call Monday. “He’s really showing signs of a rapid development.”

The Sabres drafted Samuelsson in the second round in 2018, 32nd overall. He has compiled three goals, 11 points and a minus-7 rating in 19 AHL games this season.

Samuelsson, the son of former NHL defenseman Kjell Samuelsson, played two seasons at Western Michigan.

In other news, the Sabres this afternoon also assigned winger Steven Fogarty to the taxi squad and sent forward C.J. Smith from the taxi squad to Rochester.

Update: Granato said Samuelsson will replace defenseman Matt Irwin.

“He’s just better and better each time out,” Granato said. “Obviously, he hasn’t had many games. But the reports have been vastly encouraging. Just the progress has been significant, I would say, which would probably be the best way to describe it.”

Samuelsson said learned he had been recalled during the bus ride back to Rochester following Saturday’s 6-3 loss to the Cleveland Monsters.

“I’m really excited, obviously, but a little nerves that I need to get away out of the way early there,” Samuelsson said.

In other lineup news, Granato goalie Dustin Tokarski, who faced 41 shots in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Pittsburgh, will start this afternoon.

“I waited to see how he’d respond after the game, and how he would feel, and he feels good,” Granato said.

Granato said forward Riley Sheahan, who missed two games recovering from soreness after taking a hit Tuesday, will return this afternoon. He will replace Fogarty.

3 thoughts on “Sabres recall Mattias Samuelsson from Amerks, make other moves”

  1. Samuelsson is the real deal. Gonna be good on D and the tough guy Buffalo is lacking. He and Tage on the ice together would be a BIG lineup and fun to watch.

  2. The Sabres had a very impressive game today against the Penguins. They adjusted well Saturday but just missed tying that game and putting it into overtime. Today the Penguins looked and played tired. I am looking foeward to seeing Samuelsson and Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen play, although they might not be quite ready for the NHL. I haven’t felt this optimistic (in spite of the losing streak, and injuries) about the Sabres in a long time. They aren’t just squeaking by as was the case with last years 10 game win streak, they are scoring 5 on 5, they aren’t quitting, playing good defense, and are showing they are capable of playing great hockey in spite of Ullmark, Eichel, McCabe and others all missing from the lineup. It’s been a long time coming, but this is fun again. Mittelstadt is putting up a point per game, won 75% of his face offs today.

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