While the Buffalo Sabres find themselves bottom feeding in the standings once again this season, their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans, have been a beacon of success in the minor leagues. They have had some of the best consistency, best overall numbers, and some of the best individual players to play this season, and it is showing in their record and their gameplay. They currently sit atop of the entire AHL standings at 34-14-3 and they are not showing any signs of slowing down any time soon. The kids are playing their hearts out, and it is a very promising sight compared to the NHL product. The only real question is, which ones are standing out the most?
The Rochester Standouts
The easiest three names to put on the list of American standouts are easily forward Isak Rosen, defenseman Zach Metsa, and goaltender Devon Levi. Between the three of them, they have been the backbone of the success the team has been experiencing all season long, and it is not even close. From the skaters’ point production to Levi’s locked-in performances, these three have been the Americans’ pillars and they have been infectious with their efforts.
Rosen has been the best forward on this team by far. In 49 games, he has 26 goals and 50 points, and his 1.02 points per game leads the team; which is well above Brett Murray’s 0.76 that is good for second in that category. He is the team leader in goals, points, and shots (133) while he is second in power-play goals (6) and third in assists (24). Being an offensive force has been the status quo for him all season long, and he has been arguably their best player offensively in years. With his current pacing, he should finish the season with 37 goals and 71 points and those numbers show exactly why he is still one of the Sabres’ top prospects.
Metsa has been a beacon of what it means to be a hardworking two-way defender. He defends well, but he also knows how to play exceptionally offensively. Despite not having an NHL contract and only being an AHL player, he is still out there every night being the best he can be and honestly deserves a shot based on how he contributes. As a defender, he currently sits fourth on the team in points with 34, and his 29 assists lead the team. Metsa may not be large at 5-foot-9, 195-pounds, but he has the speed and grit to keep up with almost anything put in his way. His play this season has been outstanding as a whole and he is a massive reason the Americans have been so successful.
Then there is goaltender Devon Levi. Once assumed to be the Sabres’ backup this season, it was determined it would be better for his development if he saw more playing time in the minors, and boy was that the right call. Since being sent to the AHL, Levi has flourished with a 19-6-2 record, a 2.16 goals against average, a .919 save percentage, and five shutouts, two of which he captured recently. He has looked locked in and steady in his crease during his tenure in Rochester, and the negative aura that shrouds him in Buffalo does not seem to impact him while having the red, white, and blue jersey on. Levi is still a young developing goaltender at 23 years old and there is still plenty of time to get him where he needs to be, and right now he is dominating. So, as things are, Rochester is where he needs to be.
Why Are the Americans Succeeding?
The question that is plaguing all Sabres fans right now is “why is the minor league team doing so well, while the major league team suffering,” and it is a valid question. With both teams using similar systems and having a near identical play style, it comes down to a different element at this point. It is simply the players and the environment. In Buffalo, there is the pressure of ending the playoff drought and the constant heckling from the fans when something goes wrong (and rightfully so.) There is so much pent up aggression and frustration with the Sabres, that it is like the team cracks under the weight of the pressure when it is time to perform or at least when it is time for them to win a game. The Americans, on the other hand, have been steady playoff performers for years and are on track once again to make it there.
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The culture is so much different between these two teams, that the players themselves have different mindsets. While the Sabres are fighting an uphill battle as bottom-feeding “losers,” the Americans are winning games left and right and are on top of the world. The mindset of winning is so much different when it stems from a positive place, and when the pressure is not constantly there to fight for your life. The Sabres currently need to leapfrog eight teams in order to get to a playoff spot, and they have 26 games to do it. Meanwhile, the Americans would need to have a catastrophic collapse to lose their playoff spot. It all comes down to mindset and the Americans have the much stronger one.
Can the Americans’ Success Translate to the Sabres?
In the long term, fans can only hope for this kind of a result, but the likelihood of it happening is slim. The Sabres are stuck in a loop of dread that they have not been able to shake, and it will take more than some kids in Rochester with a “can-do” attitude to turn that around. Will it help to have young players developing in a farm system that values winning and positive culture? Absolutely. But as soon as these kids make it to the NHL, the struggle for them will truly begin. It has already shown to be the case when both Levi and Rosen have gotten called up and struggled. The real solution will be getting the Sabres on track so these kids who are performing their hearts out in the minors can really show off their stuff when they get their deserved call ups.
