Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Amerks Playoff Appearance Provides Preview For Murray

April 24, 2014, 1:47 PM ET [505 Comments]
Augello: Team North America
Team North America World Cup • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Rochester Americans entry into the Calder Cup Playoffs has to be considered a pleasant surprise for the Sabres organization, as their AHL affiliate was heavily impacted by the mass exodus of traded veterans in Buffalo along with a slew of injuries throughout the season. Head coach Chadd Cassidy was challenged to piece together a patchwork lineup, especially late in the season as Sabres skaters and goaltenders dropped like flies.

The Amerks qualified for the post-season with an improbable 7-1-1 record in April, riding the goaltending of ECHL call-up Andrey Makarov to finish seventh in the AHL’s Western Conference.

Rochester hosts the Midwest Division winning Chicago Wolves in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs on Friday and Saturday, which will give Sabres GM Tim Murray an addition opportunity to evaluate some of the organization’s top prospects.

While first round defensive prospects Ramsus Ristolainen and Mark Pysyk got extended looks with the Sabres and are bound to be part of their defensive corps next season, the book still out on other top prospects, such as Joel Armia and Mikhail Grigorenko to whether they have what it takes to make it at the NHL level.

The 20-year-old Armia was selected 16th overall in the 2011 Draft and struggled with injury and adjusting to a smaller ice surface in his first season in North America after spending two years with Assat Pori in the Finnish SM-Liiga. Armia is blessed with size(6’3”, 190 lb) and skill, but scored only seven goals in 54 games in his rookie season with Rochester and was hampered by a hand injury suffered in a Sabres pre-season game that kept him out the first six weeks of the season.

The 19-year-old Grigorenko is eligible to play after the Quebec Remparts were eliminated from the QMJHL Playoffs and started off with four assists in his first three AHL games, but the 2012 first rounder went pointless in the final six games for Rochester.

Others such as Johan Larsson and Chad Ruhwedel might be able to stay in consideration for an NHL roster spot next season if they make an impression, but the focus of Murray will undoubtedly be on the former top draft picks to determine whether they are pieces to be held on to for the future or to be moved on the trade market this summer.

******
Wednesday was a night for overtime glory for Western New York natives, as Nick Foligno scored the winner for Columbus in their 4-3 comeback victory over Pittsburgh and Patrick Kane notched his second goal of the game at 11:17 of overtime to even the series between the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues.

The 26-year-old brother of Sabres winger Markus Foligno returned to the Blue Jackets lineup on Monday after missing eight games with a lower body injury and beat Pittsburgh’s Marc-Andre Fleury on a shot just inside the blue line to knot the series 2-2.

Kane, a native of South Buffalo, came alive for the Hawks with a three point performance at the United Center after being held scoreless for two games, as he beat US Olympic teammate Ryan Miller. Miller has been underwhelming so far in the series and could not hold a 3-2 Blues lead in the third period, as Bryan Bickell tied the game with 3:52 left in regulation.

For Those on Twitter:
Join the Discussion: » 505 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Augello: Team North America
» Gibson Replaces Murray Vs Sweden, Ryan Murray Questionable
» Ekblad Done For Tournament
» North America Looking Towards Russia Without Ekblad
» Learning Lessons And Line Juggling In Loss To Czechs
» Shutting Down Opposition More Important Than Scoring