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Jerry D’Amigo, Newest Buffalo Sabres Prospect

By Melissa Kania

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The Buffalo Sabres organization better get ready to #FearDaBeard, as former Amerks-killer Jerry D’Amigo joined the team via trade Tuesday evening.

Buffalo Sabres general manager Tim Murray sent long-time prospect Luke Adam to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

In exchange, D’Amigo heads to the Sabres – or more correctly, the Rochester Americans, which is where he’ll report Wednesday morning.

So — who exactly is the newest member of the Buffalo Sabres organization?

D’Amigo, 23, was originally a 2009 draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs, having been selected by the team 158th overall that year.

First and foremost: D’Amigo is a good old USA Hockey boy.

The Binghamton native played for the USNTDP and U.S. National Under-18 teams, working with current Rochester Americans head coach Chadd Cassidy, who was an assistant coach with the USNTDP at the time. Cassidy will be one of the familiar faces greeting D’Amigo when he joins the Amerks.

He represented the United States at the U17 WHC in 2007-08 and won gold in the U18 World Juniors in 2008-09. He also represented Team USA at the IIHF World Junior Championships twice, including the 2011 tournament that was held in Buffalo.

D’Amigo won World Juniors gold in 2010 and bronze in 2011.

Other than his time with the USNTDP and representing the country on multiple levels, D’Amigo also spent time playing college hockey as well as playing in the Ontario Hockey League.

He spent one year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2009-10; his 34 points in 35 games led to his being named NCAA Rookie of the Year and being named to the NCAA All-Rookie Team.

He also played briefly with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League in 2011.

Where D’Amigo spent the majority of the past few seasons, however, was up in Toronto, largely with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.

D’Amigo became one of the Marlies’ best players and was notorious for being an Amerk-killer. Look up any of his highlights, and you’ll notice that many of them came against the Rochester Americans.

He was eventually named an assistant captain by the Marlies under captain Trevor Smith, and was arguably one of the team’s most-loved players both on and off the ice. If nothing else, he has a great personality, and quickly became known for his ability to grow a mean beard. Hence – the term “Fear Da Beard” was coined during his time with the Marlies.

Last season saw D’Amigo spend the majority of the year with the Marlies, where he put up 33 points in 51 regular season games and added 14 points in as many playoff games.

He also made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, notching a goal and two assists in 22 games with the Leafs. His NHL stint included a chance to play in the NHL Winter Classic against the Detroit Red Wings before eventually being returned to the AHL club.

After a solid few seasons with the Leafs organization, however, it was time for D’Amigo to move on, as he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 1 in exchange for former Leafs forward Matt Frattin.

When the 2014-15 NHL season rolled around, D’Amigo joined the Blue Jackets at training camp. His chances at making the NHL team seemed fairly high, but the return of Ryan Johansen to the club meant D’Amigo was a late cut. He then reported to the Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate in Springfield, Massachusetts.

With Springfield, D’Amigo had seven points (3-4) and 26 penalty minutes in 28 games.

Alas, on Tuesday, it was time for another trade in D’Amigo’s life, and now he’ll make the jump to Rochester – the closest to home he’s ever played; Binghamton is just two and a half hours drive.

This will be his first time playing for a team in New York State since his days at RPI.

Want to learn more about the newest member of the Buffalo Sabres / Rochester Americans organization? Here’s some further reading:

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