Buffalo Sabres Prospects: Could Lukas Rousek return to Europe?

There is a report circulating that Buffalo Sabres prospect Lukas Rousek could wind up returning to Europe. But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. 

Before the Syracuse Crunch mauled the Rochester Americans earlier this evening, one report circulated regarding Buffalo Sabres prospect Lukas Rousek and a potential return to Europe to apparently play for the NL’s HC Ambri-Piotta. As of right now, the report, picked up by Pro Hockey Rumors via Klaus Zaugg of Watson, is the only one of its kind at the moment, but it could be worth keeping tabs on as the Sabres offseason unfolds.

Just last season, another Sabres prospect, Arttu Ruotsalainen, was rumored to return to Europe, and it became reality when he left North America to play for EHC Kloten of the NL. Could Rousek end up following Ruotsalainen?

Will Buffalo Sabres prospect Lukas Rousek head back to Europe?

Again, at this point, it’s just one report, so I’m not holding my breath here, so much that I even projected Rousek, at least for now, to potentially open the season on the Sabres roster. Rousek, who went from toiling through a pedestrian 2021-22 season in Rochester before enjoying a solid run in the Calder Cup Playoffs, broke out this past year, with 56 points in 70 outings for Rochester.

He also saw time in two NHL games, where he put up two points in his debut. Rousek returned for the final game of the year against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and enjoyed another solid outing, constantly displaying a high-energy edge to his game.

It’s still early in the offseason, so anything an happen. But unless more comes out of this, I’m chalking this one up as speculation. Rousek has become one of the Buffalo Sabres top prospects this season, so if and when he sticks around, he will get a long look to snag a spot on the roster in camp.

Source: Minor Transactions: 04/21/23 by Ethan Hetu, ProHockeyRumors.com

(Statistics provided by Amerks.com)