The Buffalo Sabres have bounced back in a big way after an ugly loss to the Calgary Flames with back-to-back home wins against the Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes over the weekend. One of the reasons for the improved play was the return of a few players, but with those returns, the team had to create some roster space, and that leads off this edition of some news and notes.
Buffalo Sabres send Isak Rosen down to Rochester
On Sunday, the Sabres would get back Zach Benson, who had missed the past 10 games due to an injury. They would need to create a roster spot and decided to send Isak Rosen back to Rochester to free up the space.
The decision to send Rosen back to the AHL is a little surprising because he had been playing well for the Buffalo Sabres. Through 10 games, he has had seven points with three goals and four assists.
After the game against the Hurricanes, Lindy Ruff was asked about Rosen and what the player could take away from it. "How well he played and the impact he had for us," Ruff said. "We told him that it's not the last we're going to see of him this year for sure. It's just the fact that the numbers are coming and got to make some decisions."
This was the type of impact fans had been waiting for from Rosen since he was drafted in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft. As tough as it is to see him not be on the NHL roster, he impressed the Sabres head coach and it really comes down to numbers.
Buffalo Sabres hold Jordan Greenway out for 'load management'
One of the surprises before the game against the Carolina Hurricanes was that Jordan Greenway was not suiting up for the game. He missed the start of the season due to offseason hernia surgery but has played in 11 games this season.
After the game on Sunday, Lindy Ruff noted that Greenway's strength isn't fully back after the surgery. The team has put together a load management plan to try and get that strength back with workouts and have him 'play every three or four days'.
The Sabres fortunately have some depth to manage Greenway's absence, and this should create some extra opportunities for Josh Dunne, who replaced Greenway in the lineup against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Rochester Americans place Alexandar Georgiev on unconditional waivers
Entering training camp, the Buffalo Sabres had a number of questions at goalie and with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen entering camp with an injury, the team felt the need to add more to the position. They would sign Alexandar Georgiev to a one-year contract as insurance to have on the roster with Alex Lyon.
However, near the start of the regular season the Sabres claimed Colten Ellis off waivers and didn't have a spot left for Georgiev and would place him on waivers. He would clear waivers and be assigned to Rochester.
His time in Rochester, though, didn't last long as the team announced on Sunday that they had placed him on waivers for the purpose of contract termination. Elliotte Friedman would tweet shortly after the news, confirming a report by Hockey News Hub that he was heading to the KHL.
Alexandar Georgiev is on waivers for contract termination. Per @HockeyNewsHub, he is en route to Spartak in KHL
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 23, 2025
The team may not be done making changes at the position quite yet, with three goalies on the NHL roster. It wouldn't be all that surprising if trade discussions are going on around the league, but it is unknown who might be made available by the Sabres, especially with the recent play of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.