While goalie Alexandar Georgiev played just two games for Rochester before the Buffalo Sabres terminated his contract earlier this week, he left a strong impression on Americans coach Mike Leone.
It never felt like Georgiev, less than two years removed from a 38-win season with the Colorado Avalanche, would stay with the Amerks.
Georgiev, who twice appeared in the NHL All-Star Game and led the league in wins in each of those seasons, hadn’t played in the AHL since 2018-19.
It would’ve been easy for him to pout after the Sabres, who signed him to a one-year contract on Sept. 11 to beef up their goaltending depth, waived him two days before the season opener.
But before he left to join Spartak Moscow, a Kontinental Hockey League team in his hometown, he made the most of another stint in the minors.
“Great teammate, works hard, great attitude, especially a guy (who has) won 40 games in the NHL,” Leone told the Times Herald on Nov. 12 in Blue Cross Arena. “It could go both ways, but he’s been a really good part of our group.”
Over their six weeks together, Leone said he learned why Georgiev spent eight years in the NHL.
Leone said Georgiev spent two and a half hours on the ice every day.
“He’s very driven, getting to know the person,” he said. “His personality, he’s old-school Eastern European from the block, and he works that way. I’ve never seen someone day in and day out with their process how he has worked as hard as he does.”