The Buffalo Sabres on Sunday assigned center prospect Matt Savoie, the ninth overall pick in 2022, to the Rochester Americans.
Savoie, 19, can join the Amerks, Buffalo’s AHL affiliate, because his junior campaign with the Winnipeg Ice ended Friday in the Western Hockey League championship. Teenagers who play for Canadian Hockey League teams aren’t eligible to play for AHL clubs until their season is over.
The Amerks begin the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final series on the road Tuesday against the Hershey Bears.
Two other forward prospects – Noah Ostlund, the 16th pick last year, and Olivier Nadeau – recently joined the Amerks. So far, neither youngster has participated in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
The 5-foot-9, 179-pound Savoie enjoyed a dynamic, career-best junior season, recording 38 goals, 95 points and a plus-57 rating in 62 regular-season games. In the playoffs, he registered 11 goals and 29 points in 19 outings.
In three seasons with Winnipeg, he has compiled 73 goals and 192 points in 149 games.
He earned a long from the Sabres during training camp, sticking with the team into October.
Savoie, who turned 19 on Jan. 1, isn’t eligible to play regularly with the Amerks next season, so he must return to junior if he doesn’t crack the NHL.
