ROCHESTER – Eight of the nine skaters followed the puck to the corner boards, leaving Buffalo Sabres prospect Isak Rosen, the Americans’ top scoring threat, with half the ice to himself during a power play.
So when Amerks center Konsta Helenius dug the puck out and fed his linemate, it felt like Rosen had enough time and space to tie his skates before he shot it.
With no defenders around, Rosen, 22, moved from the slot into the right circle and picked his spot, beating Utica Comets goalie Nico Daws bar down.
“It was probably a perfect shot, so usually when you get that much time maybe you think too much instead of just shooting it,” Rosen said following Wednesday’s 4-3 loss to Utica in Blue Cross Arena. “Yeah, I had time to aim where I wanted to, so it was good.”
Later in the period, Rosen struck again from nearly the same spot, this time putting the puck inside the far post.
“It’s one thing to have those opportunities, but the placement on the shots, too,” Amerks coach Mike Leone said.
Not the man you want to leave open… https://t.co/ZqZomaTnoT pic.twitter.com/4DiSAncekB
— Rochester Americans (@AmerksHockey) December 4, 2025
I mean, we warned them 🤷♂️ https://t.co/KZezOTtXZ4 pic.twitter.com/UAB54eW74V
— Rochester Americans (@AmerksHockey) December 4, 2025
Those goals help illustrate why Rosen, the 14th overall pick in 2021, ranks among the AHL’s elite scorers.
Right now, having recently returned from his most successful stint with the Sabres, he’s oozing confidence. Roster space, not his play, pushed the Swede back to the Amerks late last month when the Sabres activated winger Zach Benson from injured reserve.
Before he left, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said he told Rosen “it’s not the last we’re going to see of you this year.”
“Good talk with him,” Rosen said.
Six weeks ago, it felt like Rosen might never earn another chance in Buffalo. Following a quiet training camp, the Sabres assigned the winger to Rochester to begin his fourth season with the Amerks.
Rosen got off to a scorching start, and when the Sabres needed help, they summoned him Nov. 1.
It felt like it could be his last opportunity to impress them. Over the previous two seasons, he hardly stood out during his recalls, mustering just one point, an assist, in 15 games.
But Rosen often skated short minutes on the fourth line during those outings. From the get-go in November, the Sabres put him in positions that allowed him to showcase his skill, placing him on a scoring line and awarding him power-play duty.
He said simply getting some puck touches on the man advantage increased his comfort.
Rosen responded right away, scoring his first NHL goal in his season debut Nov. 1. Over 10 games, he registered three goals and seven points while averaging 15 minutes, 3 seconds of ice time.
“The times he’s been called up before since I’ve been here it probably hasn’t gone how he wanted,” Leone said. “… Given the situation that Buffalo’s roster was at the time, he was getting put in a position where he was playing (a) top-six, top-nine (role) playing with really skilled players.
“Before he earned call-ups, and he’s playing limited minutes. But he was put in a position on the power play playing with really good players, so you could see the skill.”
Rosen said he had always thought he was “good enough for that level.”
“But it was good to see that during that 10 games I felt like I belonged there,” Rosen said.
Now, his NHL dream might feel more alive than ever.
“When you contribute to the team when you’re up there, it feels really real,” he said.
Leone said Rosen is “thinking long term” after standing out in Buffalo.
“His future could be an NHL everyday player,” he said. “I think the mindset is a lot different.”
As he waits for his next opportunity in Buffalo, the Amerks sorely need Rosen to keep producing. Forwards Josh Dunne and Noah Ostlund have spent most of the season in Buffalo. Center Jake Leschyshyn, whose eight goals are tied with Rosen and winger Trevor Kuntar for the team lead, recently suffered an injury.
Rosen has a seven-game point streak entering Friday’s road contest against the Charlotte Checkers and 16 points in 11 contests with the Amerks this season.
“He’s a threat, he has an elite shot, he’s an elite scorer in our league,” Leone said.