This is the second in a two part series on the present state of the Rochester Americans this off-season. Part 1, looked at the growth of Pegula Sports and Entertainment, which has become a huge organization.
"It feels like, at times, we're falling further down the totem pole," said long-time Rochester Americans broadcaster Don Stevens, "especially since the addition of the Buffalo Bills. A whole lot more concentration goes to them at this point, but of course they're coming up on their season very soon."
As mentioned in the previous piece, in the beginning there was a man, Terry Pegula, who wanted to buy a hockey team, the Buffalo Sabres, and in just over four years that beginning grew into a huge organization. Pegula Sports and Enterainment, the umbrella company, now has in the fold, the Sabres, Buffalo Bills, HARBORCENTER, the Buffalo Bandits lacrosse team, music company Black Rock Entertainment and a number of satellite business associated with them. The recently purchased Bills sits atop the organization as the behemoth while the Sabres and the USA Hockey-centric HARBORCENTER represent Terry Pegula's love for the sport and hist desire to make downtown Buffalo the center of USA hockey.
And then there's the Rochester Americans, the minnow in the big pond.
Stevens is a realist knowing that PSE's finances will be driven by the Bills and the Sabres and by the multi-use HARBORCENTER that is just scratching the surface of it's potential. It's more of a priority thing for the organization than anything else and Stevens puts it in perspective as diplomatically as possible, "The Sabres [and Bills] will make more in one game than we might make in a season pretty much," he said, "so where is your thought-process going to be?"
Rochester hasn't been forgotten completely, however. In fact Sabres team president Ted Black just wielded a heavy hammer in the Amerks dispute with SMG over the lease at Blue Cross Arena. The Amerks are the primary tenant at Blue Cross arena and operated last year under an expired lease. With talks at an impasse during winter negotiations, Black said that the team may move half of the 38 Amerks home games to First Niagara Center, a statement that sent some shockwaves through the Rochester community.
According to officials, via the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, "that the Sabres haven't reached agreement on a long-term lease at Blue Cross Arena is an indication of how difficult the negotiations have been between the team, the city and SMG. All parties are losing money."
"We've got some issues here [in Rochester] they're trying to solve," said Stevens. "We're working on them. I think we're a very important part of the organization and they're going to do everything they can [to rectify the situation]."
The main thing that would help the situation is winning.
The Rochester Americans are coming off of a very poor season. After starting very strong they finished 27th overall and ended up firing head coach Chadd Cassidy. Although Cassidy's coaching didn't translate to the win column for a number of reasons, the former coach did an excellent job preparing his players for the NHL. "He was doing a great job," said Stevens. "All of the players that left here were certainly ready to play in Buffalo and everybody was very pleased with their progress." And there were a lot of players that played many games in Buffalo last year. Regardless of how players performed with the big club, losing is something that affects every aspect of the organization.
Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray mentioned last month that he believes the Amerks can develop young players while also competing for the Calder Cup. "You can teach and win at the same time," he said. "I'm confident we can develop there and win there. I hate losing down there."
Outside of the coach, who has yet to be hired, personnel has been the focus of Murray as he tries to build that winning culture in Rochester. Just prior to the trade deadline Murray said, "We have to go out and find a couple top-end guys, spend a little more money. Whether that's a high (dollar) AHL deal or a two-way deal with a guarantee, that seems to be these days the only way to find good vets to stay here (in the AHL as opposed to bolting for Europe)."
And that's exactly what he did when he signed forward Cal O'Reilly, brother of recently acquired and re-signed Ryan O'Reilly, and defenseman Bobby Sangunetti. Both have extensive experience in the AHL augmented by extended stints in the NHL and both will provide plenty of skill for the team and leadership for the youngins.
Cal O'Reilly, who's entering his 11th season as a professional has 519 games under his belt, 113 of them in the NHL. He is one of those "good vets" who Murray "spent a little more money on" to the tune of a one-way, $700k contract and will probably be one of Rochester's go-to guys as opposed to riding the bench in a depth role for Buffalo. "While O'Reilly can provide depth for the Sabres," wrote Amerks beat writer Kevin Oklobzija, "he'll be the focal point of the Rochester Americans offense. He's a dynamic passer, one of the American Hockey League's elite players and wore the captain's C last season with the Utica Comets."
Joining O'Reilly in that category of AHL eliteness is offensive defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti who brings "all-star quality to the defense," said Stevens. Sanguinetti finished sixth amongst defensemen in scoring last year and potted a career-high 16 goals. He has played in 383 professional games, 45 at the NHL-level.
In addition to those two, the re-signing of veteran forward Matt Ellis, was one of the biggest moves made by Murray, according to Stevens. "Although he's not the best player around," said Stevens, "he's very dependable and an excellent player in his own right. It's just a tremendous addition for us."
Stevens has been a big fan of Ellis for a long time and when I asked him if he was surprised Murray re-signed the 33 yr. old, he said, "No. I fully expected him to be around. I think he's the kind of guy you want in the organization, in some capacity, forever. I don't know if he'd venture into coaching or player development down the road, but I think he's a tremendous individual, a great leader and one that you're going to want to have around in your organization."
Funny Stevens should tie coaching with Ellis. As mentioned, the Sabres are still without a head coach and Murray had mentioned that the organization was contemplating a different approach in that area. Maybe Ellis as a player-coach?
Pure speculation, but something that would provide an interesting twist none-the-less.
The Rochester Americans are shaping up nicely up-front with the re-signings of Phil Varone who's lead the team in scoring in three of the last four years, and Tim Schaller who had a breakout AHL campaign with 43 points (15+28) in his second pro season. William Carrier is coming back for his sophomore season. Carrier started out slow, but "really came on strong in the second half," said Stevens.
They'll also have former Boston University winger Evan Rodrigues, Jack Eichel's linemate last season, as well as two wingers in Nicholas Baptiste and Justin Bailey who will be entering their rookie years, both of whom are coming off of strong development camps.
The "huge question" for the Amerks this season, according to Stevens is the blueline. "The organization is doing well offensively," he said, "but defensively, I think they're shaping up OK in Buffalo, but I'm not sure about depth and what we're going to have [in Rochester]."
Going through the potential lineup for Rochester, joining Sanguinetti on the back end is 2015 free agent signee Matt Donovan, who's one of those players that may or may not end up in Buffalo, and Stevens expects Chad Ruhwedel to at least start the year in Rochester. Brady Austin and Jerome Leduc will also be with the Amerks.
In addition there's the case of Jake McCabe who developed extremely well in his first pro season last year then followed it up with an exceptional development camp.
"You look at some of these guys and depending upon how many make Buffalo, it could be a questionable defense here in Rochester," said Stevens, "and if Sanguinetti makes Buffalo then what are we going to have here?"
Between the lease, the search for a coach and personnel, there are a lot of question marks this off season for the Rochester Americans. It's a transitional season for the club as they say goodbye to the Tom Golisano/Darcy Regier-era, but one question already answered is that "The Voice of the Rochester Americans," Don Stevens, will be back for his 30th season behind the mic. "I'm no spring chicken," he chuckled, "and I'm not sure how long they'll keep me around."
Probably as long as he wants to stay.
Join the Discussion:
»