Nathan Paetsch, who spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the Rochester Americans, has left the Buffalo Sabres’ AHL affiliate to become head coach of the Youngstown Phantoms.
The Phantoms, a junior team, play in the United States Hockey League. Ryan Ward, their last coach, recently moved up to the AHL to become an assistant with the Providence Bruins.
Paetsch, 43, spent 17 seasons in Buffalo’s organization as player, assistant coach and development coach.
The Sabres must fill a vacancy on Amerks coach Mike Leone’s staff for the second time this offseason. Scott Moser, a Tonawanda native, recently replaced Vinny Prospal, who left to become an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues.
After retiring as a player in 2020, Paetsch, a former defenseman and winger, spent three seasons as a development coach before moving behind the bench and running the Amerks’ blue line.
He began his pro career with Rochester in 2003-04 before graduating to Buffalo, where played 157 total games for the Sabres from 2005-06 to 2009-10, including Game 7 of the 2006 Eastern Conference final, just his second NHL outing.
After moving around pro hockey, he returned to Rochester to play his final three seasons.