BUFFALO – Brady Austin knew his first recall could be imminent. Most minors leaguers, whether they admit it or not, pay attention to the parent club. The defenseman heard about the injuries to the Sabres’ injury-ravaged blue line.
Still, Austin didn’t want to become too excited.
“You don’t want to get your hopes up in case you don’t get the call,” Austin said Tuesday prior to the Sabres’ 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins inside KeyBank Center, his second NHL appearance. “It’s always in the back of your head.”
After Sabres defensemen Taylor Fedun (foot) and Cody Franson (undisclosed) were injured Friday, Austin said Rochester Americans coach Dan Lambert told three of his defenders one or two of them could be summoned from the AHL.
When the Amerks’ flight from Newfoundland landed Sunday following a two-game road trip, Lambert informed Austin, a seventh-round pick in 2012, he was finally going to the Sabres.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Austin had just played his 200th game in the minors.
“Just to be playing in the National League, it’s a dream come true,” Austin said. “It’s what I’ve been working for my whole life. I just tried to soak it all in, enjoy it.”
Austin, 23, debuted in Monday’s 2-1 win in Detroit, looking comfortable while skating 15 minutes, 37 seconds, mostly beside Zach Bogosian. He skated 19:00 Tuesday.
Right away, just seconds into his first NHL shift, Austin leveled Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader, knocking him down.
“Getting that bump early on definitely helped,” Austin said. “It really couldn’t really have been timed any better.”
Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said: “Right off the hop in the game he set the tone with a hit on Abdelkader. I was really impressed with his skating throughout the game.”
Clearly, Bylsma liked Austin’s complete game.
“It was a real strong game from Brady,” he said. “He skated real well. A couple times he was skating and I thought it was Jake McCabe going back for a puck. (He) played big and strong.”
Playing in the Sabres’ final visit to historic Joe Louis Arena only added to the night.
“That’s another part of it that kind of made it surreal,” Austin said. “It’s the last year of the rink. It’s a pretty special arena to play your first game in.”
It’s unclear how long Austin, the 10th defenseman on the depth chart, might stay. He was also recalled with rookie Casey Nelson. Fedun and Franson are day-to-day. Defensemen Justin Falk (bruise) and Dmitry Kulikov (upper body) are also hurt.
Austin has flown under the radar during his three seasons with the Amerks. Still, the Sabres thoroughly examined him during the preseason, giving him regular duty.
“He’s not a highly heralded guy,” Bylsma said. “He doesn’t have highly heralded skill. He doesn’t have the flash of (top prospect) Brendan Guhle or that type of pedigree. He’s a big-bodied guy. He’s got to play a physical style. That’s what he’s got to be for him to have an opportunity in this league.”
Why does Austin believe he earned his opportunity?
“I think my work ethic and my skating,” he said, “just kind of sticking with it.”
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Bylsma said injured wingers Kyle Okposo (ribs, 10 games) and William Carrier (bone bruise, 24 games) have started conditioning skates and are “doing well.”
They could begin practicing with the team in the next week.
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The Amerks have signed former University of Michigan captain Alex Kile to an AHL contract for the 2017-18 season. The forward has joined the team for the rest of this campaign on an amateur tryout agreement.
Kile, 22, compiled 40 goals, 80 points and 78 penalty minutes in 130 games over four seasons with the Wolverines.
His contract is expiring and they need to see what he’s developed into…he needs to stay the rest of the season.
And he may not be highly heralded, but The Hockey News had him as the Sabres 10th best prospect last year…said he has good passing and skating for a guy his size, but he needs to use that size more.
He’s worth keeping on a one year contract next year.
Sometimes guys like this help a team beyond their own points or obvious contributions. Respectful, hard working, and humble – it has an influence in the team effort. Also shutdown specialists are essential but, as they said, unheralded. Glad to see the good start. Will be interesting.