Rochester Americans 2025-26

[Porous Five Hole]

Not that anyone was worried, but the Rochester Amerks have locked themselves in for five more American Hockey League seasons at Blue Cross Arena. 
 

“Monday, the Amerks and the city are officially announcing a five-year lease agreement with a company called VenuWorks, and the 70-year-old hockey franchise will now simply be a tenant.”

This is pertinent given the Pegula’s had given up their rights to run the arena and own the Knighthawks. 
 

https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/lacrosse/2025/06/23/rochester-knighthawks-looking-for-new-owners-after-pegula-divest/84319445007/

[PromoTheRobot]

Not Amerks news exactly, but the Abbotsford Canucks won the Calder Cup 4-2. So the Amerks lost to Laval, who lost to Charlotte, who lost to Abbotsford. 🤷‍♂️

[MISabresFan]

5 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Not Amerks news exactly, but the Abbotsford Canucks won the Calder Cup 4-2. So the Amerks lost to Laval, who lost to Charlotte, who lost to Abbotsford. 🤷‍♂️

Sabres lost to Florida who won the Stanley Cup!!

[Porous Five Hole]

Rochester Americans General Manager Jason Karmanos announced today that the team has re-signed forwards Brendan Warren and Graham Slaggert, and defensemen Noah Laaouan all to two-year American Hockey League contracts. Additionally, forward Jagger Joshua has re-signed a one-year deal with the Amerks. 
 

https://www.amerks.com/news/detail/amerks-re-sign-foursome-to-ahl-contracts?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLKUqJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHj50Pr346n4u55PmrjcIzwS8plPFgLzjaIdZJl9Hcp4TSLSqL4ULy_Q4tl46_aem_mMS0q4rOrN2dVduT4EDhmw

[shrader]

53 minutes ago, Porous Five Hole said:

Rochester Americans General Manager Jason Karmanos announced today that the team has re-signed forwards Brendan Warren and Graham Slaggert, and defensemen Noah Laaouan all to two-year American Hockey League contracts. Additionally, forward Jagger Joshua has re-signed a one-year deal with the Amerks. 
 

https://www.amerks.com/news/detail/amerks-re-sign-foursome-to-ahl-contracts?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLKUqJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHj50Pr346n4u55PmrjcIzwS8plPFgLzjaIdZJl9Hcp4TSLSqL4ULy_Q4tl46_aem_mMS0q4rOrN2dVduT4EDhmw

I’m too lazy to look it up. They were all on AHL deals previously, right?

[Porous Five Hole]

31 minutes ago, shrader said:

I’m too lazy to look it up. They were all on AHL deals previously, right?

Yes you nailed it 

[Brawndo]

 

[Scottysabres]

Epic last name.

[Taro T]

23 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

 

Half a mil to ride a bus around the Northeast and play hockey.

Reg Dunlap would be jealous.

[pastajoe]

44 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Half a mil to ride a bus around the Northeast and play hockey.

Reg Dunlap would be jealous.

[Porous Five Hole]

Some Amerks depth signings from today:

“Rochester Americans General Manager Jason Karmanos announced today that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Peter Tischke and forward Trevor Kuntar on one-year American Hockey League contracts for the 2025-26 season.”

Tischke exclusively played in the east coast league last year. I don’t expect him to make the Amerks roster.

Kuntar is a former Jr Sabre and son of former Amerks goalie Les Kuntar. Brings grit and is not afraid of PIMs.  

[Ctaeth]

23 hours ago, Porous Five Hole said:

Some Amerks depth signings from today:

“Rochester Americans General Manager Jason Karmanos announced today that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Peter Tischke and forward Trevor Kuntar on one-year American Hockey League contracts for the 2025-26 season.”

Tischke exclusively played in the east coast league last year. I don’t expect him to make the Amerks roster.

Kuntar is a former Jr Sabre and son of former Amerks goalie Les Kuntar. Brings grit and is not afraid of PIMs.  

Tischke previously played for the amerks and was playing for the icemen last year.  I would be surprised if he didnt play a handful with the amerks next year

Edited July 18 by Ctaeth

[Porous Five Hole]

50 minutes ago, Ctaeth said:

Tischke previously played for the amerks and was playing for the icemen last year.  I would be surprised if he didnt play a handful with the amerks next year

 They’re pretty deep right now with RyJo, Rathbone, Komorov, Novikov, Metsa, and one of Bryson or Zac Jones being sent down. Laaouan got a two year AHL deal so that makes Tischke at least eighth on the depth chart. But injuries happen.

[inkman]

20 minutes ago, Porous Five Hole said:

 They’re pretty deep right now with RyJo, Rathbone, Komorov, Novikov, Metsa, and one of Bryson or Zac Jones being sent down. Laaouan got a two year AHL deal so that makes Tischke at least eighth on the depth chart. But injuries happen.

Unfortunately I think both Jones and Bryson are on the big club 

[dudacek]

Centre

Östlund

Helenius

Kozak

Leschsyshyn

Dunne

Costantini

 

Wing

Rosen

Meyer

Wahlberg

Neuchev

Geertsen

Fiddler-schultz

Warren

Slaggert

Joshua

Kuntar

Koppf

Nadeau

 

Defence

Jones/Bryson

Johnson

Rathbone

Novikov

Metsa

Komarov

Beliveau

Laaouan

Tischke

 

Goalie

Levi

Ratzlaff

Leinonen

[dudacek]

It’s interesting that 3 key veteran forwards from last year remain unsigned: Rousek, Murray and the captain Jobst.

Rousek has gone back to Europe and Meyer looks like his obvious replacement.

Geertsen and Leschyshyn aren’t direct parallels, but they may slide into the roster spots of the other two.

Neither Jobst, nor Murray have signed anywhere that I’ve seen.

I wonder if they could still re-sign, or if the idea is to lean on Helenius and Wahlberg more in their roles.

[shrader]

That goalie list looks like it could really use a veteran. 

[dudacek]

1 hour ago, shrader said:

That goalie list looks like it could really use a veteran. 

Both of last year’s backups, sandstorm and Houser, are without contracts.

I doubt Sandstrom returns, but Houser seems to resurface annually as the organizational number 5.

The plan seems to be rotating the two young guys between starting in Jacksonville and backing up in Rochester.

Their youth is a main reason why I’m pretty sure Levi is pencilled in for Rochester.

UPL spent most of the year in the ECHL when he was their age and Ullmark didnt come over until he was 22.

Can’t remember the last time the Amerks had a 20 or 21-year-old goalie playing regularly.

Edited 16 hours ago by dudacek

[Demoted]

6 hours ago, shrader said:

That goalie list looks like it could really use a veteran. 

TBH it just needs a good goalie, doesn't matter if they are a vet or not.

Edited 11 hours ago by Demoted

[K-9]

12 hours ago, dudacek said:

It’s interesting that 3 key veteran forwards from last year remain unsigned: Rousek, Murray and the captain Jobst.

Rousek has gone back to Europe and Meyer looks like his obvious replacement.

Geertsen and Leschyshyn aren’t direct parallels, but they may slide into the roster spots of the other two.

Neither Jobst, nor Murray have signed anywhere that I’ve seen.

I wonder if they could still re-sign, or if the idea is to lean on Helenius and Wahlberg more in their roles.

Yep, Rousek signed a two year deal in the Swedish league. I’m not terribly surprised about Murray as he’s been at his ceiling for a while now and management may feel he is blocking other prospects at this point. Same may be true for Jobst as well.

[Porous Five Hole]

14 hours ago, dudacek said:

It’s interesting that 3 key veteran forwards from last year remain unsigned: Rousek, Murray and the captain Jobst.

I wonder if they could still re-sign, or if the idea is to lean on Helenius and Wahlberg more in their roles.

Rousek went home when his NHL window closed. All good. He played hurt down the stretch and still performed in the playoffs.  
 

I don’t know if Jobst or Murray were playing hurt (neither missed any time down the stretch or in the playoffs), but they were both awful in the post season.

Murray had eight games, zero points, and a minus six.  Woof.
Jobst had two points and was a minus four. No points in the Laval series.

I think Jobst ran out of gas and while Murray had a good regular season, his playoff was absolutely unacceptable and as usual…allergic to contact.  Time to go veteran hunting elsewhere.