BUFFALO – Zach Metsa beat incredibly long odds to reach the Sabers and fulfill his unlikely dream. After all, he is an undrafted 6-foot-4 defenseman who played his first two professional seasons on an AHL contract.
Two and a half years ago, less than a week after winning a national championship with Quinnipiac University, he signed that deal and went on a tryout with the Rochester Americans before it kicked off.
Today, Metsa, who was recalled Thursday, is an NHL rookie. He turns 27 on Sunday.
“I’m incredibly proud,” Metsa said of his unique journey here after Friday’s practice at KeyBank Center. “I think the most important thing for me was just sticking to what I needed to do every day to get better.”
On Friday, Metsa practiced as the Sabres’ extra defenseman, meaning he will likely be scratched for this afternoon’s home game against the Florida Panthers.
But considering he was the first defenseman the Sabers drafted this season and given the rugged nature of the position, injuries could certainly create an opportunity for him.
Very quietly, Metsa has established himself as one of the AHL’s best offensive defensemen and developed into an NHL prospect.
“I’d like to think I’m a two-way player,” he said. “Try to be reliable in the D-zone and keep things simple. Just move the puck, give it to the experienced forwards, give it to the forwards to make plays and support them where I can.”
Last season, Metsa’s 39 assists led the Amerks and ranked fourth among AHL blueliners. His 46 points ranked fourth on the team.
That breakout campaign earned him a two-year NHL contract that he signed on July 1.
“I think it comes down to trusting yourself, and part of that is proving to yourself that you can do it at the next level,” said Metsa, who was named Rochester’s captain earlier this month. “For me at that point it was proof that I can do it in the American League, and now it’s proving to myself that I can do it here. I have a lot of confidence in myself and I just want to prove it to the staff here and to everyone.”
Metsa said he was at Best Buy buying a television when Amerks coach Mike Leone called to tell him the Sabers needed him.
“I was shocked,” Metsa said. “I didn’t really expect it. I don’t even know if I really said much to him, I was just shocked. Special moment.”
After Metsa learned of his recall, he said he called his girlfriend and mother to share the special news. He also bought a 55-inch Insignia for the apartment he shares with Amerks defender Noah Laaouan.
Sabers coach Lindy Ruff said Metsa “has earned his way to the NHL.”
“He played well there,” he said. “He is a man who has fought to get where he is now. You have to admire a player like that. We stick to the rule: if you are doing well and we need someone, you will be called up.”
Metsa has taken his opportunities and found success by staying in the moment. The Wisconsin native played for four teams in the junior United States Hockey League – after his sophomore season he spent a year in the British Columbia Hockey League – before joining Quinnipiac shortly before his 20th birthday.
“I wasn’t necessarily someone that anyone looked at in college,” he said. “I was just working to get ice time. That’s all I wanted to do.”
After spending five years at Quinnipiac – scoring 37 points in each of his final two seasons and captaining the Bobcats in 2022-23 – Metsa landed on the Sabres’ radar.
When he joined Rochester, he simply focused on what he had with the Amerks and making more.
“At the time, I wasn’t necessarily thinking about an NHL deal,” he said. “It’s just, ‘I want to play, I want to get in the lineup. What do I have to do today to get in the lineup?’ And then you get into the lineup and you’re like, ‘Okay, now I want to be a difference maker. I want the puck. I want to be in the power game. I want to be someone they look to when it matters and grow from there.’”
Metsa has achieved all that. Now he’s playing in the big leagues.
“That’s a great journey for him,” Sabers defenseman Jacob Bryson said.
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The Sabers assigned defenseman Ryan Johnson, who skated limited minutes in three games this season, to Rochester when they recalled Johnson.
“(We) wanted to get him to play some bigger minutes,” Ruff said. “I thought he had a little trouble with some of his puck decisions. When he was playing limit play, I think he played a little bit nervous at times. His puck play wasn’t as good as I thought it could be.”
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The Panthers, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, have lost three straight games and are dealing with a slew of injuries.
Notably missing are captain Aleksander Barkov, who could be lost for the season with a knee injury, and winger Matthew Tkachuk, who will be sidelined until at least December with a torn adductor muscle.
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