Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres make depth signings, trade after free agency opens; Jarmo Kekalainen open to making more moves

BUFFALO – After free agency opened Wednesday, the Sabres stayed pretty quiet, signing four depth players likely ticketed for the minors and trading goalie Devon Levi.

While more notable moves could materialize – “We’re still open for business,” general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in LECOM Harborcenter – the roster might be pretty much set.

“By no means we’re desperate to add anything right now,” Kekalainen said. “It needs to be a perfect fit both from ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Trevor Kuntar, ink Conor Sheary in free agency

BUFFALO – The Sabres this afternoon added forward depth in free agency, signing forward Trevor Kuntar to a two-year contract and Conor Sheary and Jason Polin to one-year deals.

Kuntar, 25, enjoyed a breakout year last season, scoring 21 goals for the Rochester Americans and playing his first NHL game.

The Williamsville native signed an AHL contract last summer before earning an NHL deal during the season. His new contract is a two-way deal.... Read the full article

Sabres announce six hires, including Milan Lucic as pro scout

BUFFALO – Former Boston Bruins winger Milan Lucic, whose ferocious open-ice hit in 2011 concussed goalie Ryan Miller and made him public enemy No. 1 in these parts, has joined the Sabres as a pro scout.

His hire was one of six the Sabres announced Tuesday. This is general manager Jarmo Kekalainen’s first offseason running the team.

Lucic, 38, recently retired from playing after spending last season with the Fife Devils, an Elite Ice Hockey ... Read the full article

Sabres extend qualifying offers to two players, pass on four

The Buffalo Sabres on Monday extended qualifying offers to restricted free agents Peyton Krebs and Olen Zellweger.

Four players – defenseman Zac Jones, Nikita Novikov and Isaac Belliveau and winger Olivier Nadeau – did not receive a qualifying offer, making them free agents.

Krebs, 25, has established himself as one of the Sabres’ most versatile forwards. He’s eligible for arbitration.... Read the full article

Russian prospect Prokhor Poltapov could join Sabres next year

ORCHARD PARK – Over the 2021 and 2022 drafts, the Sabres took some big swings by drafting six Russians, including four in the second and third rounds.

Just one, defenseman Vsevolod Komarov, a strong prospect with the Rochester Americans, finished last season under contract in the organization.

So far, zero have played an NHL game. That could, however, change next year.... Read the full article

Sabres trade prospect and 45th pick to Ducks in exchange for Olen Zellweger

The Buffalo Sabres this afternoon possibly found their replacement for Bowen Byram through a trade, acquiring left-shot defenseman Olen Zellweger from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forward prospect Anton Wahlberg and the 45th overall pick in the NHL Draft.

The 5-foot-10, 193-pound Zellweger, 22, is a restricted free agent.

The speedy Zellweger compiled seven goals, 22 points, 34 penalty minutes and a plus-4 rating with the Ducks last season, his second full NHL campaign.... Read the full article

Surfeit of goalies means Sabres could trade Devon Levi this summer

BUFFALO – On Jan. 20, 2025, following two months in the minors, goalie Devon Levi made a rare start for the Sabres, stopping 28 shots in a 6-4 road loss to the Kraken.

A day later, they sent Levi back to the AHL, where he spent the next season and a half with the Rochester Americans.

No one knew it that day in Seattle, but Levi, once a prospect so highly regarded that many viewed ... Read the full article

Sabres lose Rochester Amerks assistant coach to Blues

Vinny Prospal, who spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the Rochester Americans, has joined Jim Montgomery’s staff as an assistant with the St. Louis Blues, the NHL team announced Monday.

In his tenure with the Buffalo Sabres’ AHL affiliate, Prospal, 51, played a prominent role in the development of some of their top young forwards, including Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich and Noah Ostlund.

This marks the first NHL coaching job ... Read the full article

In 1989, Rick Dudley fought to bring a relatively unknown coach named John Tortorella to the Buffalo Sabres

Rick Dudley said he had no idea what he would’ve done if the Sabres had said no. John Tortorella had been his right-hand man, serving as an assistant coach alongside him with the New Haven Knighthawks, the Los Angeles Kings’ top affiliate.

In the one season they had worked together, Dudley and Tortorella led a team expected to finish at the bottom of the AHL to the Calder Cup final.

Now, having earned his first ... Read the full article

Terrific season with Rochester Amerks earns Sabres’ Konsta Helenius spot on AHL Top Prospects Team

For the second consecutive year, Rochester Americans center Konsta Helenius, who finished the season with the Buffalo Sabres, has earned a spot on the AHL’s Top Prospects Team.

Helenius, who turned 20 on May 11, played his first nine NHL games this season before the Sabres recalled him from the Amerks and inserted him into the lineup in their second-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens.

The Finn scored 21 goals and a team-high ... Read the full article