The Buffalo Sabres are wrapping up their season with exit interviews, including GM Kevyn Adams and head coach Lindy Ruff on Saturday, but the club took care of some roster business, sending centers Jiri Kulich, Noah Ostlund, Tyson Kozak, and winger Isak Rosen back to the AHL Rochester Americans for the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Kulich played most of the season with the Sabres, scoring 15 goals in 62 games and late in the year established himself centering the club’s top line with leading scorer Tage Thompson, so his returning for a third Calder Cup Playoff run with the Amerks instead of possibly representing Czechia at the World Championships is surprising.
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Ostlund was rewarded for a strong second half with the Amerks with an eight-game stint in Buffalo at the end of the season, while Rosen led the club with 28 goals. A good showing for both in the playoffs could give them the upper hand in a battle for a roster spot at training camp this September. Kozak has been out since April 1 with a hip injury, but according to head coach Lindy Ruff could be available for Rochester at some point.
Rochester’s playoff opponent was determined in spite of their 3-0 shutout loss to Toronto at Blue Cross Arena on Friday, as Syracuse’s 3-2 win over Utica clinched third place in the AHL North and first-round rematch with the Amerks. The Crunch eliminated Rochester in the first round in five games last season. Laval will face the winner of the four-five play-in round between the Marlies and the Cleveland Monsters.
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