Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Amerks’ Mason Jobst has NHL contract, belief he can play for Sabres

BUFFALO – At 30, an advanced age in which a hockey player is often past his prime, center Mason Jobst sees the door to the NHL open a crack.

Jobst, you see, keeps getting better. Over the past three years, he has jumped from 15 to 38 to 50 points. He just enjoyed a career season, tying Isak Rosen for the Rochester Americans’ lead in points and scoring 22 goals, the AHL team’s second-highest total.... Read the full article

Devon Levi happy to compete with UPL, sharp as Sabres beat Blue Jackets

BUFFALO – For years, Sabres goalie Devon Levi has been a workhorse, starting game after game.

At Northeastern, Levi played 89 percent of the Huskies’ games. After turning pro late in 2022-23, he started seven of the Sabres’ final eight contests and the first four last season before suffering an injury.

When Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen seized the No. 1 job late last fall, the Sabres assigned Levi to the Rochester Americans to play regularly, occasionally recalling ... Read the full article

JJ Peterka scores hat trick, shows star qualities as Sabres throttle Penguins

BUFFALO – Let’s temper any excitement over the Sabres’ 7-3 win and winger JJ Peterka’s hat trick in Saturday’s preseason opener by noting the Pittsburgh Penguins brought their B or C squad to KeyBank Center.

The Sabres, meanwhile, dressed what resembled a regular-season lineup featuring perhaps their top two lines and No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

An emphatic victory was almost expected. Following a slow start, the Sabres began annihilating the visitors, scoring five times ... Read the full article

After signing contract, Sabres’ Peyton Krebs might have to battle for spot

BUFFALO – When the Sabres overhauled their third and fourth lines during the offseason by trading for Ryan McLeod and Beck Malenstyn and signing two free agents, center Peyton Krebs’ future here became uncertain.

Krebs, the Sabres’ last restricted free agent, is officially back for his fourth season, having signed a two-year, $2.9 million contract on Tuesday. But as training camp opens today with the first on-ice sessions in KeyBank Center, it’s unclear where he ... Read the full article

Competitive style could help Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich earn spot

BUFFALO – Having scored 51 goals over two seasons in the minors and already earned a recall to the NHL, a strong argument could’ve been made prior to the Prospects Challenge that Sabres center Jiri Kulich had outgrown the rookie tournament.

Then Kulich, 20, performed dominantly over the three games, scoring five goals, including two in Monday afternoon’s finale, an 8-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in LECOM Harborcenter.

“He blew the doors off the ... Read the full article

Prospect Olivier Nadeau impressing Sabres after demotion to ECHL

BUFFALO – Through two games of the Prospects Challenge, winger Olivier Nadeau, the only player with an NHL contract the Sabres assigned to the ECHL last season, has emerged as perhaps their biggest surprise.

Nadeau, 21, has showcased an aggressive, heavy game, scoring a power-play goal in Friday’s opener and generating offense both nights. With the Sabres trailing by one goal late in Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils, his dogged backchecking ... Read the full article

After injury-plagued season, Sabres still high on prospect Tyson Kozak

BUFFALO – Fresh off a standout rookie season in which he established himself as one of the Sabres’ best forward prospects, Tyson Kozak never found a groove last year.

The aggressive center battled injuries throughout a difficult campaign with the Rochester Americans, leaving the lineup for long stretches and missing 31 total games.

“When you come back, your confidence is a little gone,” Kozak told the Times Herald prior to Friday’s 3-1 win over the ... Read the full article

Size, skill make Sabres’ Anton Wahlberg intriguing prospect: ‘Maybe a steal’

BUFFALO – Vinny Prospal listened to the question about Sabres prospect Anton Wahlberg’s brief stint with the Rochester Americans, leaned forward to the microphone and offered a one-word answer.

“Size,” a smiling Prospal said of what stood out about the youngster.

When Wahlberg, 19, arrived in Rochester late last season, his 6-foot-3, 198-pound frame quickly grabbed the assistant coach’s attention.

Among Amerks forwards last year, only 6-foot-5 Brett Murray was taller. Among drafted Sabres forwards ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich focused on becoming grittier, stronger presence

BUFFALO – Over his first two seasons, Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich morphed from a one-dimensional scorer who relied on his blistering shot into a more mature center.

Through some tough love, former Rochester Americans coach Seth Appert helped Kulich, 20, realize he needed to evolve and develop a more versatile style.

So when the Czech endured a two-month scoring slump last season, he used the time to hone his “B game” and contribute in other ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Patrick Geary growing into unique talent at Michigan State

BUFFALO – During their chats leading up to the NHL Draft, Hamburg native Patrick Geary told the Sabres that in the past, he had often played a raw, undisciplined game.

“He used the term that a couple of coaches used with him, he was a little bit of a cowboy on the ice at times,” assistant general manager Jerry Forton said June 29 after the Sabres selected Geary in the sixth round, 174th overall, at ... Read the full article