Buffalo Sabres: Brandon Biro makes NHL debut

The Buffalo Sabres 2021-22 season has not gone the way they envisioned, having dropped four straight on the eve of a showdown in St. Louis

The Buffalo Sabres have yet another Rochester American making their long-awaited NHL debut. Twenty-three-year-old Brandon Biro took the ice for the first time in a Sabres uniform in his professional hockey career. He took two total shots and averaged 13:30 of ice time as a member of the third line, which also included Mark Jankowski and Rasmus Asplund.

Biro‘s NHL debut was foreshadowed earlier in the season when injuries and COVID-19 hit the Sabres hard. He and other Rochester standouts including J.J. Peterka (who made his NHL debut earlier this season) spent time on the team’s taxi squad.

Buffalo Sabres call up Brandon Biro from Rochester

While it will be a bit before Biro becomes a permanent fixture on the Sabres, his performance in Rochester further proves he’s worthy of playing at the NHL’s highest level. Having played 39 games in Rochester this season, Biro logged 36 points, including nine goals. He made his AHL debut last season, in which he logged five points in 15 games.

Having played college hockey at Penn State, Biro left the program ranked fourth all-time in scoring. Signed through the 2021-22 season, odds are Biro will sign an extension to stay within the team’s organization.

Given the Sabres struggles and the upcoming trade deadline, don’t be surprised if you see more of Biro, Peterka, and other up-and-comers moving forward. If the Sabres move older players for youth, Biro and company will have an opportunity to showcase their skills and convince the front office that they deserve to remain part of the organization long-term.

Sure, the growing pains will be inevitable. But if it means playoffs a season or two from today, the growing pains will be well worth it.

(All statistics provided by Hockey-Reference and Hockey DB)