By Warren Kozireski
While decisions were not yet final on who will make the Buffalo Sabers roster, the Rochester Americans are projecting four first- or second-round draft selections and a defense that could be the envy of the American Hockey League as they begin the 2025-26 season.
The team said goodbye to captain Mason Jobst and assistant captain Brett Murray, among others, which will give their top players even more playing time and special teams minutes.
Former first-round pick Isak Rosen, who led the team with 28 goals and 55 points last season, is joined by fellow first-round pick Noah Ostlund and Konsta Helenius, along with second-round pick Anton Wahlberg at forward.
Add third-rounder Viktor Neuchev, who scored 22 points in 39 games before suffering a season-ending injury, and veterans Josh Dunne, Riley Fiddler-Schultz, Graham Slaggert, Brendan Warren and Jake Leschyshyn and rookies Matteo Constantini and Tyson Kopff to what appears to be at least three solid forwards.
“It’s an opportunity for them (the younger players) to step into bigger roles that other guys have had in recent years and it’s a time for them to really show everyone … that they can do more and can handle a bigger load and have 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: 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 belatedly announced that 2025 first-round pick Radim Mrtka had been assigned to Rochester instead of returning to his WHL team Seattle.
Add in trade acquisitions Isaac Belliveau (from Pittsburgh) and Zac Jones (from NY Rangers), veterans Peter Tischke and Aiden Fulip (via Bridgeport) and there is clearly a numbers problem on the blueline.
“I’m sure some partnerships will remain the same… and you can use that experience to help, especially early in the season when you’re still a little rusty and just getting going,” Metsa said. “There are a lot of familiar faces in the room during camp here and it’s great.”
The questions in the objective are usually surrounded around who? Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s injury in Buffalo resulted in the signing of Alexander Georgiev after Alex Lyon signed a two-year deal this summer.
Devon Levi returns after a solid finish to the regular season and playoffs. His partner will be 2022 second-round pick Topias Leinonen or 2023 fifth-round pick Scott Ratzlaff, both of whom signed three-year entry-level contracts last spring, one of which likely went to Jacksonville (ECHL).
Or if Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is healthy in Buffalo to start the season, will free agent signees Alex Lyon or Alexandar Georgiev clear waivers and accept a minor league assignment by sending two to Jacksonville?
The season and the answers to some of these questions take place this week with the season opener Friday. October 10.
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