It came down to the final day of the regular season but the Rochester Americans snuck into the Calder Cup Playoffs. They needed to force the last game into overtime, and they did (creating one of the more bizarre celebrations). The Amerks took a sigh of relief as they avoided a historic collapse to end the season. 

Was last season a success? It depends on how it’s measured. They struggled in the second half, barely made the playoffs, and then lost to the Toronto Marlies in the first round. That said, the Amerks developed multiple prospects along the way, some of whom were pivotal in the Buffalo Sabres' successful season and in snapping the longest playoff drought in NHL history. 

The Americans want to do the same this season but with a better team. In Mike Leone’s first season as head coach, the team was one of the best in the American Hockey League. Everything went wrong in his second season as coach. Year three is a big one, and the hope is he leads the Amerks beyond just the playoffs. 

Stats from 2025-26:

Record: 31-31-6-4 (5th in the North Division, tied for 10th in the Eastern Conference & tied for 22th in the AHL)

Offense: 2.97 goals per game (21st in the AHL)

Defense: 3.26 goals per game (24th in the AHL)

A theme last season was that the Amerks would lose centers and have no replacements. Konsta Helenius was a big one, although he returned down the stretch, while Noah Ostlund was another (plus, Zach Benson was a big-time player for the Sabres who they never replaced). The lack of talent up the middle was evident as they struggled against other teams in the North Division. 

They addressed the need with some moves in the summer while also adding depth to the forward group. Plus, the Amerks have a handful of names from within who they’ll turn to this season, including Trevor Kuntar, whom they re-signed to a two-year deal and can play center if needed. 

It’s worth adding that the Amerks also have questions in the net. Devon Levi was their workhorse last season, starting over 50 games and proving he belongs in the NHL. With three goaltenders on the Sabres, Levi became expendable, and they traded him to the Edmonton Oilers. 

So, who picks up the starts in the net? The Amerks signed Matthew Villalta as a veteran option while turning to prospects Scott Ratzlaff and Topias Leinonen, two unproven AHL goaltenders in their early 20s.

The Amerks spent big this summer to add elite veterans to the roster. Conor Sheary is a borderline NHLer, someone who is starting to decline and can be a constant scoring threat at the AHL level. Likewise, Aidan McDonough, Matthew Peca, Jason Polin, and Dennis Gilbert are among the league’s best vets. 

Throw in the Villalta signing and the Amerks don’t have a glaring weakness. Yes, he struggled last season with the Tucson Roadrunners, but he provides stability and allows Leone to ease prospects into starting roles. 

Everything went wrong last season, from the talent drain to the injuries, and this season, the puck should bounce their way. The Amerks are a well-coached and well-run team, and the record should reflect that. Speaking of coaching, Leone has a great track record of developing prospects, and there’s optimism that he’ll have the next wave overachieving this season. 

The difference is whether they’ll find depth. The veterans should help but the prospects stepping up will go a long way, especially by the end of the season when the team is preparing for a playoff run. 

The big one is Radim Mrkta, the Sabres' 2025 first-round pick who will become a regular for the Amerks this season. The Czech native is still learning the North American game and struggled in the Western Hockey League and was a non-factor in his eight games in Rochester. That said, Mrkta’s upside as a defenseman makes him a fascinating player to watch and someone the Amerks will hope to play in all situations. 

The other defenseman to keep an eye on is Gavin McCarthy, who signed his entry-level contract with the Sabres this summer and is expected to join the Amerks. McCarthy comes over to the AHL after spending the recent seasons in college, and his ability to become a shutdown option will go a long way for this team. 

Now many fans will wonder about the 2026 first-round picks. After all, the Sabres took two of them in the past draft (thanks to the Bowen Byram trade). However, Daxon Rudolph and Ilia Morozov are both committed to college hockey next season. So, Sabres fans must wait (although their defensive unit allows them to remain patient. 

The other two prospects are in the net. Scott Ratzlaff is a 21-year-old who split time in the AHL and ECHL, while Topias Leinonen is 22 and 6-foot-5, making him an intriguing option if he works out the finer details of goaltending. The Amerks will hope one of them breaks out to add stability to the position.