The NHL's three-week break for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy came at a perfect moment for the Buffalo Sabres, who lost three of their last four games while trying to juggle an injury-riddled roster.
Meanwhile, the Rochester Americans, the Sabres' AHL affiliate, are fighting for a spot in the league's Calder Cup Playoffs. The Amerks are currently tied with the Belleville Senators at 48 points for the final postseason position in the North Division.
Rochester is scheduled to play seven games between now and Feb. 25, which is when Buffalo resumes play against the New Jersey Devils. The slate begins Friday night when the Amerks take on the Springfield Thunderbirds at Blue Cross Arena.
Let's examine a trio of Americans players to keep an eye on until the Sabres return to the ice.
Konsta Helenius (Forward)
Buffalo announced Helenius, winger Isak Rosen and defenseman Zach Metsa were sent down to the Amerks after Thursday night's loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. They'll provide a significant boost to Rochester's lineup for the time being.
Helenius stole the spotlight in the Sabres' Jan. 20 win over the Nashville Predators by scoring his first NHL goal and dishing out two assists. He tallied just one point (an assist) in his other eight appearances since being called up in mid-January, though.
The 19-year-old Finnish forward, who was Buffalo's first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, was putting together a terrific season with the Americans before the call up. He'd recorded 30 points (nine goals and 21 helpers) across 34 appearances.
Helenius' play in Rochester over the next couple weeks will determine whether he's recalled by the Sabres or ends up spending more time in the AHL as the Blue and Gold get players back from injury.
Zac Jones (Defenseman)
Jones may be a blueliner but he leads the Amerks in scoring with 37 points (six goals and 31 assists) in 33 games. His offensive contributions have been a pleasant surprise for the Sabres, who signed him as defensive depth over the summer. He previously played for the New York Rangers.
Buffalo has tried other options, namely Metsa and Jacob Bryson, to fill the void creates by injuries to Michael Kesselring and Conor Timmins in recent months. They've delivered lackluster results, however, and Kesselring has also underperformed since his return.
It could create an opportunity for Jones, 25, to climb the Sabres' organizational depth chart and play some NHL games during the stretch run of the regular season. Standout play during Buffalo's break would bolster the AHL All-Star's case before those key roster decisions are made.
Devon Levi (Goalie)
It's been a weird season for Levi. He was the focus of trade speculation earlier in the campaign, which centered around the Sabres' overcrowded goaltending depth chart, and he recently made headlines for being unknowingly interviewed as a "Rochester resident" for a man-on-the-street news segment.
His play for the Amerks also hasn't lived up to his previous standards. The 24-year-old netminder has compiled a .908 save percentage across 31 appearances in 2025-26. It's continued the downward trend that began from 2023-24 (.927 SV%) to 2024-25 (.919 SV%).
Buffalo hasn't signaled its lost faith in Levi but his short-term path to the NHL is uncertain with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis all on the Sabres' active roster. It could lead talks about his future with the franchise to resurface before this season's trade deadline or over the summer.
For now, Levi is trying to reestablish himself as one of the league's top goalie prospects.