Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres re-sign Youngstown’s Joseph Cecconi to one-year contract

The Buffalo Sabres on Friday re-signed defenseman Joseph Cecconi, a Youngstown native, to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 in the NHL.

Cecconi, 26, became a mainstay on the Rochester Americans’ blue line following his arrival in a trade Dec. 15, giving them a more defensive defender to complement some of their offensive threats.

In the regular season, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Cecconi registered three goals and eight points in 41 games. In the ... Read the full article

Contracts for Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power in works; Kevyn Adams confident in goalies

BUFFALO – Following the season, some of the Sabres’ decision makers sat down with defensemen Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power and told them how much they believe in them and what they mean to the franchise.

“There was an excitement from both of them and a clear message to me that they both want to be here long-term,” Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said Wednesday during a news conference in KeyBank Center to discuss the ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign prospect Lukas Rousek to two-year contract

The Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday re-signed winger Lukas Rousek, who played his first two NHL games late last season, to a two-year, $1.55 million contract.

Rousek, 24, enjoyed a breakout season with the Rochester Americans in 2022-23, establishing himself as one of the Sabres’ top forward prospects. His 40 assists and 56 points both led the Amerks. His 16 goals tied for fifth on the team.

The Czech added five goals and 12 points ... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign Zemgus Girgensons to one-year contract

Forward Zemgus Girgensons, the Buffalo Sabres’ longest-tenured player, will be returning for an 11th season.

The Sabres on Tuesday signed Girgensons to a one-year, $2.5 million contract. He could’ve become an unrestricted free agent July 1.

Girgensons, 29, is the last remaining player from the Sabres’ “tank” teams of 2013-14 and 2014-15.

The Latvian has endured some rough seasons in Buffalo. The Sabres have finished dead last four times during his tenure and never ... Read the full article

Report: Michael Peca leaves Rochester Amerks for job with Rangers

The Rochester Americans must find two new assistant coaches.

Michael Peca, who has been instrumental in developing JJ Peterka, Jack Quinn and some of the Buffalo Sabres’ other forward prospects, has taken a job on coach Peter Laviolette’s staff with the New York Rangers, according to Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek.

Peca, a popular former Sabres captain and center, has strong ties to Laviolette, who was named the Rangers’ new coach last week.

... Read the full article

Mike Weber leaves Rochester Amerks for assistant coach job with Blues

Given the Rochester Americans’ recent success, some of their coaches would inevitably draw interest from NHL teams.

On Wednesday, the St. Louis Blues hired Mike Weber, who was in charge of the defense and penalty kill on Seth Appert’s staff, as an assistant coach.

Weber, 35, joined the Amerks as an assistant coach prior to the 2020-21 season following a three-year stint as an assistant with the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires.

... Read the full article

Austrian D David Reinbacher could be terrific NHL Draft choice for Sabres

BUFFALO – In the bedroom of his childhood home in Hohenems, Austria, NHL Draft prospect David Reinbacher still has a jersey of former Sabres star Thomas Vanek he proudly wore growing up.

Vanek, who scored 373 goals over 14 NHL seasons, has long been the face of Austrian hockey. But his popularity transcends the sport. He’s an icon in the country.

“I would say (he’s) like Arnold Schwarzenegger there,” Reinbacher said, comparing the high-scoring ... Read the full article

Rochester Amerks’ Jiri Kulich named to AHL’s Top Prospects Team

A terrific rookie season in which Rochester Americans center Jiri Kulich registered 31 total goals, including one in each of his first six playoff games, has earned the teenager a spot on the inaugural AHL Top Prospects Team for the 2022-23 campaign.

Kulich, the 28th overall pick by the Buffalo Sabres in 2022, enjoyed one of the best seasons by an 18-year-old skater in league history.

The Czech’s 24 regular-season goals led the Amerks ... Read the full article

After run with Amerks, Lawrence Pilut leaves Sabres organization again

For the second time in three years, defenseman Lawrence Pilut has left the Buffalo Sabres organization.

This time, however, it might be for good.

Pilut, who could’ve become an unrestricted free agent July 1, has signed a two-year contract with Lausanne HC in the Swiss National League, the team announced Tuesday.... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Noah Ostlund to play next season in Sweden

Buffalo Sabres prospect Noah Ostlund has decided to play in Sweden for another year.

Ostlund, the 16th overall pick in 2022, will be spending the 2023-24 season with Swedish Hockey League’s Vaxjo Lakers, the team announced Monday.

The center played 11 games in the SHL in 2021-22 with his former team, Djurgardens, before it was relegated to HockeyAllsvenskan, a second-division league.... Read the full article