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Jack Quinn, JJ Peterka Named To AHL All-Rookie Team

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F J.J. Peterka, Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres)

F Jack Quinn, Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres)

In Buffalo, things are getting very exciting as a new wave of talent emerges to try and drag the organization back to the playoffs. Peterka and Quinn were both outstanding in their rookie years, with the latter actually scoring at a better rate than almost anyone else. Quinn’s 59 points in 44 games is a better per-game rate than any qualified player other than T.J. Tynan and Andrew Poturalski, the league’s best two forwards. With the other young talent already in Buffalo, things are looking up for the Sabres.

Sabres Previously Showed Interest In Alexandar Georgiev

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The Sabres have shown interest in Rangers goaltender Alexandar Georgiev in the past, notes Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News.  Buffalo is in need of goaltending for next season regardless of whether or not they plan to have Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen jump up full-time to the NHL or not.  Georgiev is a strong candidate this summer given New York’s salary cap situation and while the 26-year-old has had a tough year (a GAA of 2.91 and a SV% of just .898 in 31 games), there could still be a bit of upside left to make him a worthwhile short-term option.  They have shown interest in bringing back Craig Anderson and the veteran could be a good mentor if Luukkonen is on the roster in a platoon situation.

Buffalo Sabres Recall Aaron Dell

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The Buffalo Sabres announced Saturday morning that they have recalled goaltender Aaron Dell from the Rochester Americans of the AHL ahead of their game this afternoon at home against the New York Islanders. According to Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News, goaltender Craig Anderson had left practice early on Friday and is listed as day-to-day, necessitating the move for Buffalo.

The Sabres had been utilizing a tandem of Anderson and Dustin Tokarski in net, which Dell will now join. Some might wonder why Buffalo would choose to recall the veteran Dell over Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, however it is worth noting that Luukkonen started in net for Rochester last night, his fifth straight start for the club. Even if Dell does not play today (or if Luukkonen had not played today), it might make sense to give the younger goaltender a rest as opposed to asking him to travel from Utica, where Rochester played last night, back to Rochester, then to Buffalo ahead of a 12:30 pm puck drop.

For his part, Dell has made a career as a serviceable backup in net. This season, he has split time between Buffalo and Rochester. In 10 games with Buffalo, Dell has a 4.03 GAA and .893 save-percentage, but a 3.02 GAA and .907 save-percentage in the AHL.

Casey Mittelstadt Settling Into Game After Lengthy Injury

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Buffalo Sabres youngster Casey Mittelstadt looked like he may be taking a long-awaited step forward last season with his biggest role and best offensive production yet, but an injury-riddled season has seen Mittelstadt take a step back in his development, a concerning look for the eighth-overall pick considering he’s already 23. But after sitting down with Buffalo Hockey Beat’s Bill Hoppe, Mittelstadt detailed his extensive struggle with a recurring upper-body injury this year, one that’s kept him out of the lineup at length and has caused him to be shuffled around constantly when healthy, not finding any chemistry with consistent linemates. Sabres fans will remember that Mittelstadt sustained an injury in the first period of the season, causing him to subsequently miss more than 20 games and then re-aggravate the injury soon after returning. It’s been a lengthy, trying season for the young American, but he feels as though he’s settling back into his game ahead of next season.

Buffalo Sabres Sign Josh Bloom

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The Buffalo Sabres will have another prospect under contract next season, as they have signed Josh Bloom to a three-year, entry-level contract. The deal will start in 2022-23, and for now, Bloom will report to the Rochester Americans on an amateur tryout.

Still just 18, Bloom was the 95th overall selection in the 2021 draft and one of the younger players selected. That pick was something of a shot in the dark, given how little he had actually played at the OHL level. As a rookie in 2019-20, the Oakville native played a depth role on the Saginaw Spirit, scoring just six goals and 14 points in 54 games. The following season, 2020-21, he didn’t play anywhere because of the canceled OHL season. That means the Sabres were spending a third-round pick on a forward with just 14 points at the major junior level, though he has quickly rewarded that faith.

This season, still with Saginaw, Bloom has 30 goals and 61 points in 67 games, showing off his blazing speed on a regular basis. Given that he won’t turn 19 until June, the young forward will not be eligible to play in the AHL next season. That means this handful of games on an ATO will be his only professional experience for a while–unless he somehow makes the Sabres out of camp in 2022-23.

USA Hockey Announces 2022 World Championship Coaching Staff

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The IIHF World Championship will begin next month in Finland, and former New York Rangers head coach David Quinn is set to lead the U.S. squad. Today, his staff has been announced, with Jeff Blashill of the Detroit Red Wings, Don Granato of the Buffalo Sabres, and Mike Hastings from Minnesota State University joining as assistants.

Blashill, head coach of the Red Wings for the last seven years, was actually head coach of the men’s national team at three previous World Championships. He also has experience with USA Hockey at the U18 and U20 levels and stops in both the AHL and NCAA. Several players that he is familiar with, including most prominently Dylan Larkin, could be in play for the U.S. at the event, as the Red Wings are set to miss the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.

Granato, who took over as the head coach of the Sabres last season, has received many accolades for his work turning the team around. While they won’t reach the playoffs this year, huge developmental steps have been taken from several players. One of those is Tage Thompson, who could play a significant role if selected for the U.S. squad, along with several of his Sabres teammates.

Hastings meanwhile is the lone assistant from outside of the NHL, coming to the Worlds after leading his Minnesota State Mavericks all the way to the national championship game this year. Hastings has been with the program for a decade and helped turn it into one of the most dominant teams in the NCAA, posting winning percentages above .800 in each of the last three years. Nathan Smith, the Mavericks standout who recently debuted with the Arizona Coyotes seems a likely candidate for the team if they so choose, after his outstanding junior season. Dryden McKay, winner of the Hobey Baker and a Mavericks legend, could also be in the mix, depending on the team’s goaltending situation.

The tournament begins on May 13 in Tampere and Helsinki.

Owen Power To Make NHL Debut Tuesday

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  • While Owen Power wasn’t in the lineup for the Sabres, the team plans to have the 2021 top pick make his NHL debut on Tuesday on Tuesday against Toronto, notes Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News. That will allow the defenseman to get a full practice in with the team instead of going directly from Michigan to Buffalo’s lineup.  Power suggested he might get an opportunity to see some time on his off-side over their final few games as they will evaluate his ability to play on the right.

Erik Portillo To Stay At Michigan, Sabres Hope To Sign Ryan Johnson

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After signing Owen Power on Friday, the Sabres were hoping to get two other key college prospects signed soon.  GM Kevyn Adams told Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News on Friday that he had reached out to Michigan goalie Erik Portillo and Minnesota defenseman Ryan Johnson to discuss the possibility of both of them turning pro.  However, as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link), Portillo has since decided to return to the Wolverines next season.  A 2019 third-round pick by Buffalo, Portillo had a 2.14 GAA along with a .926 SV% in 42 games in his sophomore year.

Meanwhile, Johnson, a first-rounder that same year, had 19 points in 39 games with the Golden Gophers.  If the Sabres wanted to do so, they could offer to burn the first year of his entry-level deal as they did with Power to help entice Johnson to sign.

Buffalo Sabres Sign Owen Power

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Another Michigan Wolverine has decided to make the transition from college hockey to the NHL. Along with teammate Kent Johnson, Owen Power has decided to ink his NHL deal as the Buffalo Sabres announced the signing of the 2021 first-overall pick on his entry-level contract. He could join the team and enter the lineup before the end of this season.

Power, 19, was as previously mentioned the first pick of the 2021 draft and has been the Sabres’ top prospect since. Standing at six-foot-six and 213 pounds, Power has coveted physical tools for a defenseman. He has flashed offensive upside to his game and has produced well at Michigan where he had 32 points in 33 games this season. Power had 16 points in 26 games as a freshman. It is a widely-held opinion across the league that Power has serious potential to become a do-it-all number-one blueliner, and he joins a surging Buffalo team that already boasts another number-one pick defenseman in Rasmus Dahlin.

Beyond his exploits at Michigan, Power proved his NHL readiness by being selected for the Beijing Olympics, where he registered one assist. While the Sabres, who are 5-2-3 in their last ten games, have run out of runway to make the playoffs this season, the signing of Power adds another jolt of optimism for a market that has to be feeling very confident about their squad going into next season. With top prospects such as Power and Jack Quinn set to enter a lineup that already posts strong young talent such as Dahlin, Peyton Krebs, and Dylan Cozens, perhaps the Sabres’ NHL-record eleven-year playoff drought can finally come to an end in 2022-23.

ESPN’s Kevin Weekes was the first to report the signing.

Owen Power Could Turn Pro After His NCAA Season Concludes

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6:55 pm: According to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, seven or eight Michigan University players are expected to turn pro after their NCAA season comes to an end (link). Most notable among them are Sabres’ number one overall draft choice in 2021, Owen Power; the second overall selection in 2021 and the first draft pick in Seattle Kraken history, Matty Beniers; and the fifth overall choice in 2021 by the Columbus Blue Jackets, Kent Johnson. Another premier name on the highly-talented Michigan team, Luke Hughes, who was selected fourth overall in 2021 by the New Jersey Devils, is not expected to turn pro and will return to Michigan next year. The NCAA men’s hockey championship game is scheduled for Saturday night at 8:00 pm ET.

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