NEWS NOW;’ Sabres make a very tough decision by recalling a promising young winger….
After being called up from AHL Rochester on an emergency loan late last night, winger Lukas Rousek was back in the lineup for the Sabres’ shootout victory over the Oilers today, according to CapFriendly.
Rousek, 24, is a professional hockey player in his third season in North America with the Sabres. Prior to today’s action, he had suit up in eight major league games after being selected by the organization in the sixth round of the 2019 draft. The skating winger, who averages 10:55 per game and has established himself as a top-line player in the minors, hasn’t exactly blown everyone away in the NHL, but he has scored once and assisted on four attempts on goal. Despite not finding the scoreboard in today’s match, he played for about 13 minutes, had one shot on goal, and an even rating.
But he’s improved every season since joining Rochester, so there’s a good chance he’ll contend for a position on the Sabres’ 2024–2025 opening night roster. With 10 goals, 38 points, and a -8 rating in 48 games with the Amerks this season, the 5-foot-11 winger has maintained his pace with the totals from the previous season, averaging about 0.8 points per game. Inked by Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams last summer, Rousek will not be eligible for restricted free agency until 2025. The two-year agreement has a $775K budget hit. Once it expires, he will have rights to arbitration.
Since Rousek’s recall was carried out in an emergency, it is not deducted from the Sabres’ four post-deadline recall total. With Rousek starting today, Buffalo would have been without a forward due to Jordan Greenway’s unspecified ailment.