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Buffalo Sabres Make Roster Cuts, Send 12 to Amerks

By Melissa Kania

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The Buffalo Sabres have cut 12 players from their NHL training camp, sending several players to the AHL’s Rochester Americans. The Amerks open their training camp on Monday.

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First, Matt Garbowsky and Matt Prapavessis were both released their tryouts with the Buffalo Sabres. They’ll now report to Rochester for camp.

Garbowsky spent most of the last four years playing with the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he had 114 points in 128 games. At the end of his college career, he joined the Amerks and played eight games at the AHL level. The 25-year-old St. George, ON native earned one assist and will now join the Amerks for his first full AHL season.

Prapavessis spent the last four years playing for Bemidji State University. The defenseman earned 70 points in 150 games; he then joined the Amerks for 10 games last season, earning on assist and two penalty minutes.

Other (somewhat) newcomers to the Amerks: Justin Bailey, Nick Baptiste, Jack Nevins and Jean Dupuy.

Bailey, a Williamsville native, spent the last four years in the Ontario Hockey League with Kitchener and Sault Ste. Marie.

In 168 regular-season OHL games, Bailey registered 148 points (76-72) and 98 penalty minutes. He also earned a plus-16 rating. He also appeared in 24 playoff games throughout his OHL career, notching 17 points in that time.

Baptiste, 20, has been playing in the OHL since 2011. He spent just over three seasons with the Sudbury Wolves before joining the Erie Otters in the midst of last season. Overall, he notched 260 points in 286 games throughout his junior hockey career (regular season and playoffs inclusive.) Last season with the Otters, Baptiste notched 53 points in just 41 regular season games, playing alongside top NHL prospects Connor McDavid, Dylan Strome and Alex DeBrincat.

Nevins, 22, split last season between the Hamilton Bulldogs and Rochester Americans. He appeared in 13 games with the Amerks, notching 10 penalty minutes. In the past, the left-winger has played in both the OHL and QMJHL, spending time with Sarnia, Kingston and London, as well as Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown and Rouyn-Noranda.

Entering this season, he’s got 48 games of AHL experience under his belt; a full season with the Amerks will give him a chance to really test the waters playing at a higher level.

Dupuy, 20, just finished his OHL career after playing in that league since 2011. Between Kingston and Sault Ste. Marie, he appeared in 217 regular-season and playoff games.

The left-winger registered 89 points in 217 games. He exploded on the offensive scene last season, putting up a career-high 46 points, including career-highs in goals (18) and assists (28) in just 54 regular season games. He finished the season a plus-40 and went on to notch six points in 10 playoff games.

William Carrier, Dan Catenacci, Justin Kea and Andrey Makarov have also been sent to the Amerks after spending most of last season there.

Carrier, 20, made his AHL debut last season after spending the previous four seasons in the QMJHL. In 63 games, he registered 21 points, including seven goals and 14 assists. He finished the season a plus-1.

Catenacci, 22, has spent the last two full seasons in Rochester. Last year, he had 29 points in 68 games, including 15 goals and 14 assists. Overall, he’s notched 52 points in 146 AHL games since 2013.

Kea, 21, split last season between the Amerks and the ECHL’s Elmira Jackals. In 26 games with the Amerks, he registered two goals and 56 penalty minutes, finishing the year a minus-6. With the Jackals, Kea put up 12 points (5-7) in 35 games, also notching 65 penalty minutes and finishing a minus-15.

Makarov spent most of last season with Rochester, also making his NHL debut with the Buffalo Sabres.

In 39 games with the Amerks, Makarov had a 2.91 GAA and .905 save percentage. He went 16-18-3 and had three shutouts.

Two other players potentially headed to Rochester: Jerry D’Amigo and Philip Varone, both of whom need to clear waivers in order to report to the Amerks.

D’Amigo, 24, split last season between the Amerks and the Springfield Falcons. In 59 AHL games, he registered 26 points, including 19 in 31 games with Rochester. He also played in nine games for the Buffalo Sabres after being called up as a result of numerous injuries at the NHL level.

Varone, 24, has been with the Rochester Americans organization since 2011. He split last season between Rochester and the Buffalo Sabres.

In 55 games with the Amerks, Varone notched 44 points (15-29). He has continually been a leader in Rochester, putting up a total of 198 points in 273 AHL games since 2011. Last season, he also appeared in 28 gamesw ith the Buffalo Sabres, notching five points and 10 penalty minutes; he finished his NHL stint a minus-14.

These cuts leave the Buffalo Sabres with 38 players remaining in camp.

Next: Kane Stands Out for Sabres

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