Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

AHL cancels rest of 2019-20 season; Amerks finish in second place

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the American Hockey League to cancel the remainder of its 2019-20 season.

“After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions,” AHL president Dave Andrews said in a statement released this morning. “The League’s operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 season. We are very grateful to the ... Read the full article

Decision to leave Amerks for Germany ‘difficult’ for Zach Redmond

Zach Redmond and his wife, Maggie, wrestled with their decision. Rochester, after all, became their second home.

On the ice, Redmond, 31, thrived for three seasons, morphing into the Americans’ biggest star and perhaps the AHL’s most dynamic defensemen. The Redmonds felt so comfortable they purchased a house a five-minute drive from Blue Cross Arena.

“If I’m not (in the NHL), I really could not have imagined a better setup (than Rochester),” said Redmond, whose ... Read the full article

Amerks agree to terms with Army leading scorer Dominic Franco

The Rochester Americans have agreed to terms with forward Dominic Franco, Army’s leading scorer in each of the last three seasons, to a one-year AHL contract, the team announced today.

The 6-foot-5, 218-pound Franco scored 10 goals and 23 points in 33 games as a senior in 2019-20.

A memo Defense Secretary Mark Esper signed in November allows athletes like Franco at military academies to immediately play professional sports following their graduation if they receive ... Read the full article

Zach Redmond leaves Amerks, signs to play in Germany

Zach Redmond, the popular Rochester Americans veteran who was named the AHL’s best defenseman last year, has signed a contract to play next season in Germany.

Redmond, 31, will be joining Red Bull Munich, the same team in Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), Germany’s top pro league, that produced Buffalo Sabres winger Dominik Kahun.

Replacing Redmond could be difficult. The Michigan native was often a dynamic presence over his three seasons with the Amerks, ... Read the full article

Williamsville’s Justin Bailey waiting to resume monster season with Comets

If the COVID-19 pandemic hadn’t halted the AHL season, Justin Bailey would likely be playing big minutes right now in the Utica Comets’ first-round playoff series.

Of course, given the scoring prowess the former Buffalo Sabres prospect showcased – 28 goals in only 53 games – he could’ve earned another recall to the Vancouver Canucks.

Instead, Bailey, 24, is home in Williamsville making the best of a difficult situation.

“Right when I got home, I ... Read the full article

Former Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko signs with Blue Jackets

Former Buffalo Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko has landed with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Following three seasons in the KHL starring for CSKA Moscow, Grigorenko today signed a one-year contract worth $1.2 million, according to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston.

The 25-year-old Russian last played in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche in 2016-17.... Read the full article

Sabres let go media relations head Chris Bandura, two other VPs

Chris Bandura, the Buffalo Sabres’ vice president of media relations, was one of 21 employees Pegula Sports and Entertainment dismissed Tuesday.

While PSE did not name Bandura in a press release announcing the layoffs as well as an additional 104 furloughs and temporary executive salary reductions within the organization because of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Buffalo News reported he was let go.

PSE also fired John Sinclair, the Sabres’ vice president of tickets and service, ... Read the full article

Sabres might possess special talent in newcomer Dominik Kahun

BUFFALO – It was in 2016, after Keith Aucoin returned home following a championship season overseas, when he called a friend in the scouting business and asked if he had heard of a young, undersized center turning heads in Germany.

The 20-year-old’s name? Dominik Kahun.

The scout knew nothing about Kahun, who had grabbed Aucoin’s attention during their first year as teammates with Red Bull Munich.

“I’m like, ‘Well, you guys might want to ... Read the full article

Sabres sign Mattias Samuelsson to entry-level contract

After two seasons at Western Michigan, Buffalo Sabres defense prospect Mattias Samuelsson has turned pro.

Samuelsson, 20, has signed a three-year, entry-level contract, the Sabres announced today. They drafted the American in the second round in 2018, 32nd overall.

The 6-foot-4, 223-pound Samuelsson compiled seven goals, 26 points and 78 penalty minutes in 65 career games at Western Michigan. The COVID-19 pandemic cut short his sophomore season.... Read the full article

AHL season won’t resume before May

The American Hockey League season won’t resume before May, the league announced today.

But the league has recommended to its 31 teams they help their players return home, an ominous sign the season could be canceled in the coming weeks.

On Thursday, shortly after the NHL suspended its season indefinitely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the AHL also stopped its campaign.

On Sunday, the CDC recommended that events with 50 or more people be canceled ... Read the full article