By Warren Kozireski
While decisions weren’t final regarding who will make the Buffalo Sabres roster, the Rochester Americans project to have four first or second round draft selections and a defense that could be the envy of the American Hockey League as they embark on the 2025-26 campaign.
The team parted ways with captain Mason Jobst and assistant captain Brett Murray among others which will give even more playing time and special teams minutes to their top prospects.
Former first rounder Isak Rosen, who led the team with 28 goals and 55 points last season, is joined by fellow first-rounder Noah Ostlund and Konsta Helenius along with second round selection Anton Wahlberg at forward.
Add third rounder Viktor Neuchev, who scored 22 points in 39 games before a season-ending injury, and veterans Josh Dunne, Riley Fiddler-Schultz, Graham Slaggert, Brendan Warren and Jake Leschyshyn among others and rookies Matteo Constantini and Tyson Kopff to what appears to be at least three solid forward lines.
“It’s an opportunity for them (the younger players) to step into bigger roles that other guys had the last few years and it’s a time for them to really show everyone…that they can do more and handle a bigger load and more responsibility and time for them to take the next step,” last year’s assistant captain Zach Metsa said during training camp.
But the defense appears to be downright impressive returning Metsa, third on the team with 46 points, former first round pick Ryan Johnson, Nikita Novikov, who had a team-best +28 plus/minus in a breakout campaign, Vsevlod Komarov and Jack Rathbone. And Buffalo announced late that 2025 first round draft pick Radim Mrtka was assigned to Rochester instead of returning to his WHL team Seattle.
Add trade acquisitions Isaac Belliveau (from Pittsburgh) and Zac Jones (from NY Rangers), veterans Peter Tischke and Aiden Fulip (via Bridgeport) and clearly there is a numbers issue on the blueline.
“Certain partnerships I’m sure will stay the same…and you can use that experience to help especially early in the season when you’re a little rusty and just getting going,” Metsa said. “There’s a lot of familiar faces in the room during camp here and it’s great.”
The questions in goal are mostly surrounded around who? The injury to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in Buffalo resulted in the signing of Alexander Georgiev after Alex Lyon was inked to a two-year deal this summer.
Devon Levi returns after a solid end of the regular season and playoff. His partner will be either second round 2022 selection Topias Leinonen or 2023 fifth rounder Scott Ratzlaff, who both inked three-year entry-level deals this past spring with one likely headed to Jacksonville (ECHL).
Or if Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is healthy in Buffalo to start the season, does free agent signees Alex Lyon or Alexandar Georgiev clear waivers and accept a minor league assignment sending two to Jacksonville?
The season and the answers to some of these questions happen this week with the season opener Fri. Oct. 10.
