While the main focus has understandably been on the Buffalo Sabres roster, the organization has also been building its minor-league roster for the Rochester Americans. From players signed by the Sabres to two-way deals, to Amerks signings for two-way AHL/ECHL deals, there have been a handful of players signed who are likely to see action in the AHL this coming year.
A friendly reminder: the Amerks are slated to open their season on Sunday, October 17 at the Utica Comets. Their first home game of the season will see the team host the Syracuse Crunch on Friday, October 22.
Recent signings include:
Forward Ryan Scarfo (1 year, two-way AHL/ECHL) appeared in nine games with the Amerks last season on a professional tryout. The 27-year-old has played with Belleville and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, both also in the AHL, as well as Brampton & Wheeling in the ECHL. He’s also a Union College graduate.
Forward Lukas Craggs (1 year, two-way AHL/ECHL) split last season between the Chicago Wolves (AHL) and the Florida Everglades (ECHL). The 25-year-old played three years at Bowling Green State University and also appeared in 23 games with the Milwaukee Admirals.
Forward Brendan Warren (1 year, two-way AHL/ECHL) appeared in 10 games with the Amerks last season, registering six points. The 24-year-old also played 44 games with the ECHL’s Jacksonville Icemen. A former 2015 draft pick of the Arizona Coyotes, Warren is a graduate of the University of Michigan.
Forward Mason Jobst (1 year, two-way AHL/ECHL) split last season between the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Binghamton Devils. He has played in 63 AHL games in the two years since graduating from Ohio State University.
Forward Michael Mersch (2 years, two-way AHL/ECHL) accrued 19 points in 28 AHL games with the Amerks last season. A 2011 draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings, the 28-year-old spent several years in the Kings organization between Manchester and Ontario before playing two seasons with the Texas Stars.
Defenseman Peter Tischke (1 year, two-way AHL/ECHL) appeared in 16 games with the Colorado Eagles last season. Overall, he’s appeared in 51 ECHL games (Utah) and 21 AHL games since graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 2019.
Defenseman Josh Teves (1 year, two-way AHL/ECHL) skated in 23 games with the Utica Comets last season. The 26-year-old played one game with the Vancouver Canucks in the 2018-19 season and has spent the years since with Utica and Kalamazoo (ECHL).
Goaltender Mat Robson (1 year, two-way AHL/ECHL) spent this past season with the Straubing Tigers overseas, where he appeared in nine games and recorded a 3.61 GAA and .861 save percentage. He previously played one season with the Iowa Wild after two years at the University of Minnesota.
Goaltender Michael Houser (1 year, two-way AHL/ECHL) appeared in four games with the Sabres this past season, also skating in four games with the Amerks. The 28-year-old has bounced around the AHL and ECHL since 2012, playing largely with the Cincinnati Cyclones over the years.
Sabres signings who are likely to join the Amerks include forwards Sean Malone, John Hayden, Ryan MacInnis and Rasmus Asplund, and defensemen Brandon Davidson, Ethan Prow and Jimmy Schuldt.
Others who are also under contract and likely to play in Rochester include forwards Brandon Biro, Jack Quinn, JJ Peterka, Linus Weissbach, Lukas Rousek, Brett Murray, Matej Pekar and Andrew Oglevie. Defensemen include Mattias Samuelsson, Oskari Laaksonen and Casey Fitzgerald. And of course, in net, there’s Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Dustin Tokarski, too.