BUFFALO – The Sabres think highly enough of defenseman Zach Metsa they signed him to a two-year AHL contract in 2023 and immediately awarded him regular duty on a tryout during the Calder Cup Playoffs.
He followed that up by standing out on a deep blue line as a rookie last season in Rochester, registering 24 points in 54 games for the Americans.
So Metsa, 25, is beginning a critical season. While he possesses talent, he doesn’t have an NHL deal. Other defense prospects rank ahead of him.
That’s why the last week has been so important in the Wisconsin native’s development. He must seize every opportunity to keep making his mark.
The Sabres’ season-opening trip to Europe early in training camp created chances for Amerks like Metsa to play more NHL exhibition games.
Rochester coach Mike Leone, who ran Buffalo’s bench, leaned on the 5-foot-9, 195-pound Metsa heavily, skating him more than 20 minutes in three of the last four games. He responded by recording one goal and four points.
In Monday’s preseason finale, a 4-3 overtime win against the Detroit Red Wings in KeyBank Center, Metsa registered an assist on center Graham Slaggert’s first-period goal and skated a game-high 24 minutes, 48 seconds.
Metsa, who captained Quinnipiac to a national championship in 2023, believes he made the most of his extended look.
“It’s not something maybe we all would’ve gotten in a normal camp,” said Metsa, a right-shot defender. “So you just got to take advantage of the opportunity. It’s an awesome opportunity to play in NHL rinks, in NHL games, and it’s been a blast. I couldn’t have asked for anything more out of this camp.”
Leone called Metsa “a gamer.”
“He’s just a winner,” he said. “You look at it, even though he’s undersized, the way he defends and competes. He helps us a lot (with) his poise with the puck, his awareness in late-game situations because he’s been there, he’s played in big-time games. He was (a) really good, steady anchor for us.”
Sabres rookie center Konsta Helenius, the 14th overall pick earlier this year, scored the power-play winner with 12.6 seconds left in overtime, his first goal. Slaggert’s short-handed breakaway, his second goal of the night, tied the game in the third period. Winger Viktor Neuchev scored the Sabres’ other goal.
Notes: The Amerks open their camp Wednesday with medical testing and off-ice workouts. They have their first on-ice session Thursday. … Leone said Ryan Johnson is day to day with a lower-body injury. He’s confident the defenseman can practice Thursday. … The Sabres’ B squad went 3-1-0 in its four preseason games. … The Red Wings had two games Monday – Saturday’s postponed contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins was made up in Detroit – so they utilized a split-squad lineup in Buffalo.