First round of cuts include one Sabres goalie from last year

The Buffalo Sabres are now halfway through their preseason schedule after last night’s 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins inside KeyBank Center. Buffalo is now 1-2 in their three preseason games thus far. The Sabres announced their first round of cuts today, which included 12 players, one of which played in a few games in Buffalo last season.

Michael Houser, a name that will sound familiar to the die-hard Sabres fans that continued to watch games late into last season, was part of the first round of cuts that the Sabres announced this morning. The 28-year-old goaltender started four games at the end of last season when it seemed that every goalie in Buffalo was injured.

In those four games, Houser had two wins and two losses. He posted a save percentage of .901% and a 3.46 goals allowed average. With Buffalo bringing in Aaron Dell and Craig Anderson this offseason and having high hopes for prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, there was not much room for Houser to be in Buffalo. So this move is certainly not a surprise.

Houser will report to camp in Rochester for the Americans. Camp for the Americans opens up on Monday in Rochester with physicals and medical testing.

Including Houser, 12 players were cut by the Sabres and will be reporting to Rochester. If any players do not make the roster for the Americans, there is a chance they could play for the Cincinnati Cyclones. The other players that were cut are Dominic Franco, Brendan Warren, Michael Mersch, Ryan Scarfo, Mason Jobst, Matthew Cairns, Nick Boka, Josh Teves, Mitch Eliot, Peter Tischke, and Mat Robson.

The Sabres will be making more cuts as the preseason rolls along to get to the required number of rostered players before the October 14th regular-season opener against the Montreal Canadiens.