Appert - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres looking to make more moves after trading for Beck Malenstyn

LAS VEGAS – Considering how aggressively general manager Kevyn Adams has spent the offseason pursuing trades to upgrade the Buffalo Sabres, leaving the NHL Draft with one new roster player, winger Beck Malenstyn, seems disappointing.

Still, in trading the 43rd overall pick on Saturday to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Malenstyn, 26, the Sabres addressed a significant need by becoming tougher to play against.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Malenstyn, a pending restricted free agent, gives ... Read the full article

Jon Cooper, other NHL coaches helped Rochester Amerks’ Mike Leone grow: ‘People I lean on’

Mike Leone said he considers himself to be probably the luckiest guy in hockey.

The new Rochester Americans coach retired from playing at 28, never rising above the ECHL. But at each level of hockey during his days as a forward – junior, college and pro – he learned from someone who had been an NHL coach or would become one.

As a teenager with the Texarkana and St. Louis Bandits, Leone played for future ... Read the full article

Sabres hire Michael Leone as Rochester Amerks’ new coach

The Buffalo Sabres have hired another coach from junior hockey to be the Rochester Americans’ bench boss.

The Sabres on Thursday named Michael Leone, who spent the last two seasons as the general manager and coach of the United States Hockey League’s Green Bay Gamblers, as head coach of their AHL affiliate.

The 36-year-old replaces Seth Appert, who earned a promotion to Lindy Ruff’s staff in Buffalo last month following four seasons with the Amerks.... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Noah Ostlund’s hockey sense stands out with Rochester: ‘Basically blows your mind’

ROCHESTER – The Calder Cup Playoffs can be unforgiving to a 5-foot-11, 163-pound neophyte like Buffalo Sabres center prospect Noah Ostlund.

Forget about the talent and supreme hockey sense the Swede, 20, possesses. He was the lightest player on either roster during the Americans’ North Division semifinal series. No one had played fewer games in North America.

So after playing the first three playoff games, Ostlund, the 16th overall pick in 2022, took a ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Isak Rosen showcases strong development in Rochester; Joseph Cecconi seizes role

Over the final two months of the regular season, Buffalo Sabres prospect Isak Rosen busted out of his long offensive slump with the Rochester Americans, compiling nine goals and 22 points in his last 22 games.

In the last four contests, the Swedish winger registered four goals and seven points to finish with 20 goals and 50 points in 67 games. His point total tied center Mason Jobst for the team lead.

Consider that following ... Read the full article

Despite late struggles in Rochester, Sabres happy with prospect Jiri Kulich’s development

Following a regular season in which he roared out of the gate, slumped in the middle and finished on a tear, Buffalo Sabres center prospect Jiri Kulich struggled in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Kulich, 20, scored nine goals in his final 13 regular-season outings for the Rochester Americans. In a game he did not score during that torrid stretch, he pumped 11 shots on goal.

Then the Syracuse Crunch often stymied the Czech during the ... Read the full article

Seth Appert happy to join Sabres, work with Lindy Ruff; Rochester roster could look different next season

In his 27-year career, Seth Appert coached at just four places prior to his promotion to the Buffalo Sabres as an assistant. Instead of jumping at the next opportunity, he always chose to stay and build a program.

“I take a lot of pride in trying to create a culture, trying to build things the right way,” Appert, who on Monday was named to Lindy Ruff’s staff, said on a Zoom call Tuesday. “And I’m ... Read the full article

Sabres promote Rochester coach Seth Appert to assistant in Buffalo

In 2020, the Buffalo Sabres made an interesting move, hiring Seth Appert, who had spent his entire career in college and junior, to coach the Rochester Americans, their AHL affiliate.

Appert, who was coaching at the US National Team Development Program, said then he understood any skepticism that accompanied his jump to pro hockey because he had never done it before.

Today, after four seasons leading the Amerks, Appert, 49, is in the NHL.

On ... Read the full article

Rochester Amerks’ ‘unreal group’ will change as players leave, join Sabres

ROCHESTER – Seth Appert believes each year, no matter how special of a group you had the previous season, you must start over. If a team comes together – that’s a big if – it takes time.

“If you think you can start where you left off the year before, you’re setting yourself up for massive failure,” the Americans coach said following Friday’s 5-2 season-ending loss to the Syracuse Crunch in Game 5 of the ... Read the full article

Rochester Amerks’ season ends with loss to Syracuse: ‘That one stings’

ROCHESTER – When the Syracuse Crunch pounced on the Americans early Friday, opening up a 2-0 lead before the 10-minute mark, few believed the visitors would run away with the decisive Game 5.

The first four meetings in the AHL North Division semifinal had been bitterly contested, with one goal deciding each game. The last three games had ended in overtime. In Game 4, the Amerks erased a three-goal, third-period deficit to force Friday’s contest.... Read the full article