The Buffalo Sabres announced a few roster moves on Monday morning, in anticipation of the start of the 2021 American Hockey League season.
The Sabres have reassigned forwards Jean-Sebastien Dea and C.J. Smith from Rochester (AHL) to the taxi squad and reassigned forward Jack Quinn from the taxi squad to Rochester.
— Sabres PR (@SabresPR) February 1, 2021
Jean-Sebastien Dea and C.J. Smith have been recalled from the Rochester Americans to the Buffalo Sabres taxi squad.
Dea and Smith spent last season with the Americans in the AHL but Dea did end up dressing in three games for the Sabres last season.
The bigger news here in the announcement is the status of the Sabres 2020 first-round pick, Jack Quinn.
With the current state of the world and the game of hockey in particular, Quinn does not have a permanent place to play for the remainder of the 2021 season.
Quinn certainly is able to slot into the Sabres lineup but the clock starts ticking toward burning the first year of his entry-level contract. Not an ideal scenario at this time.
Fortunately for the Sabres and Quinn though, with many junior hockey leagues still determining their current respective statuses, the American Hockey League can provide a temporary home until further notice.
Quinn will be able to suit up and play in the American Hockey League immediately which ultimately might turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the young prospect.