Vsevolod Komarov scored his first goal with Rochester on Jan. 19. ©2025, Micheline Veluovlu, Rochester Americans

In Rochester rookie Vsevolod Komarov, Sabres might have special prospect

ROCHESTER – One night earlier this season in Utica, when defenseman Vsevolod Komarov was still looking for his first pro goal, Americans coach Mike Leone figured the rookie deserved a chance to score on the power play.

“The bench was, ‘Let’s get Komy his goal,’” Leone recently told the Times Herald following a practice in Blue Cross Arena.

The excitement from his coach and teammates illustrates how badly the Amerks wanted to see the Buffalo ... Read the full article

Ryan Johnson played 41 games for Buffalo as a rookie last season. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

As Sabres prospect Ryan Johnson waits for next chance in Buffalo, he continues to develop in Rochester

ROCHESTER – Right now, Ryan Johnson, the defenseman who played 41 games for the Buffalo Sabres as a rookie last season, ranks eighth or ninth on their depth chart.

Last month, Johnson, 23, returned to Rochester, where he has quietly been gobbling up minutes alongside Jack Rathbone on the Americans’ top defense tandem.

If the Sabres lose another defenseman to injury – after beginning the season with eight, Mattias Samuelsson recently went down – ... Read the full article

Buffalo is Sam Lafferty’s fifth NHL team. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres newcomer Sam Lafferty enjoyed career season after trade

BUFFALO – Sabres center Sam Lafferty’s first three NHL teams utilized him in a checking role, deploying him for faceoffs in enemy territory for a whopping 73.7 percent of his zone starts.

Then last year, after the Vancouver Canucks acquired Lafferty, 29, from the Toronto Maple Leafs days before the season, they gave him a dual role.

For the first time in his five-year career, he had more offensive zone starts than defensive starts (51.3 ... Read the full article

Seth Appert coached Rochester four seasons. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

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

Nikita Novikov has acclimated to the AHL well. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

Rochester rookie Nikita Novikov looks like special Sabres defense prospect

ROCHESTER – Buffalo Sabres defense prospect Nikita Novikov displayed special offensive instincts throughout his first regular season in North America.

“Borderline high-end,” said coach Seth Appert, whose Americans open the Calder Cup Playoffs tonight at Blue Cross Arena in a best-of-five series against the Syracuse Crunch.

Without the benefit of power-play time, the 6-foot-4, 209-pound Novikov compiled 20 assists, a high total for a rookie acclimating to a different brand of hockey.... Read the full article

Seth Appert filled in as an assistant coach for Buffalo in 2020-21. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

Sabres’ Don Granato to miss game because of illness; Seth Appert to fill in

Buffalo Sabres coach Don Granato is ill and won’t be available for this afternoon’s home game, the team announced this morning. Rochester Americans coach Seth Appert will assume his duties behind the bench for the day.

Granato, 56, conducted Friday’s practice and addressed the media after the Sabres prepared for their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center.

When Granato went into COVID-19 protocol in 2020-21, general manager Kevyn Adams subbed behind the ... Read the full article

Nikita Novikov signed his entry-level contract in May. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

Sabres prospect Nikita Novikov turns heads in first games in Buffalo

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ leading scorer in the Prospects Challenge wasn’t Zach Benson, Jiri Kulich, Isak Rosen, Matt Savoie or another talented young forward.

No, try defenseman Nikita Novikov, who registered five assists, including three in Friday’s 6-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens in LECOM Harborcenter.

The Russian, 20, compiled three assists and five points in 62 games with the Kontinental Hockey League’s Moscow Dynamo all of last season.

The 6-foot-4, ... Read the full article

Zach Redmond (right) skates near Utica’s Ashton Sautner as a member of Rochester in 2017-18. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

Sabres hire former Rochester star Zach Redmond as development coach

The Buffalo Sabres have hired former NHL defenseman Zach Redmond, who starred for the Rochester Americans for three seasons, as a player development coach and Brad Dexter as a scout, the team announced Wednesday.

Redmond, 35, recently retired as a player following three seasons with Red Bull Munich, a team in Deutsche Eishockey Liga.

The Sabres needed to find a new development coach after former NHL defenseman Nathan Paetsch moved behind the bench to become ... Read the full article

Vaclav “Vinny” Prospal played for seven NHL teams, including the New York Rangers. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

New Amerks assistant coaches Vinny Prospal, Nathan Paetsch offer Sabres prospects notable experience

About six years ago, a mutual friend put Seth Appert and Vaclav “Vinny” Prospal in contact with each other.

Appert, now the Rochester Americans’ coach, was working at the U.S. National Team Development Program. Prospal, a veteran of 1,108 NHL games as a player, was coaching in the Tampa Scorpions youth organization.

As they chatted about hockey and player development, Appert realized how Prospal, who on Monday was named one of Rochester’s assistant coaches, embraced ... Read the full article

Nathan Paetsch smiles last week during development camp. ©2023, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres name Nathan Paetsch, Vinny Prospal assistant coaches with Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres today named former NHL players Nathan Paetsch and Vinny Prospal as assistant coaches on Seth Appert’s staff with the Rochester Americans.

They replace Mike Weber and Michael Peca, both of whom recently left the AHL team to take assistant coaching jobs in the NHL.

The Sabres also announced the coaching staffs in Buffalo and Rochester have received contract extensions. Sabres coach Don Granato earned an extension prior to last season.

Paetsch, 40, ... Read the full article