Prospect Info: Zach Metsa - RHD - Signed PTO + 2 yr AHL deal starting in 2023-24

[Dirty Dog]

He will become a group 6 UFA next summer if he signs just a yr contract.

And the bidding war would start!

 

[Ace]

He will become a group 6 UFA next summer if he signs just a yr contract.

I don’t know all the rules of it but don’t you have to have accrued more pro seasons for that designation?

 

[jfb392]

He will become a group 6 UFA next summer if he signs just a yr contract.

Nope, would need three pro seasons to qualify for group 6. Would just be a normal group 2 RFA.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

My Metsa read is 100% from his playoff performance. I'll be interested to see him in regular season mode, but he's got NHL upside for sure, even if it bloomed late.

Pilut replacement at the very least ?

 

[Gabrielor]

 

[Kulich Man]

Moving like Campbell.

Just call him Metsa Ball Soup.

 

[old kummelweck]

They are going to love this guy in roch.

 

[Gabrielor]

Pilut replacement at the very least ?

Pilut had a wealth of pro experience and a previous roch run / NHL run.

It's hard to say someone's automatically replacing that this year. It's more on rookies to show something (Johnson, Novikov, Metsa*)

 

[paulmm3]

Great Twitter handle @MetsaWorldPeace

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Looked good at the challenge, of course he had considerably more experience than most there.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

Him and Johnson seemed real steady throughout the tourny (Metsa seemed real steady in his short stint with Roch aswell). He very well could be a bottom pair/#7 d man in the league.

 

[Zman5778]

Him and Johnson seemed real steady throughout the tourny (Metsa seemed real steady in his short stint with Roch aswell). He very well could be a bottom pair/#7 d man in the league.

I see a lot of Chad Ruhwedel/Mark Pysyk in Metsa's game....hell, even Ryan Johnson. Smooth, calm, deliberate and reliable. Doesn't do anything at a real high level, but only has the glaring "weakness" of size.

Could easily see him go on to have a long career on an NHL roster as a 6/7 type.

 

[Ralonzo]

Bryson is an AHL defensemen under NHL contract.

I think there's room in the org to have Metsa on an NHL contract or Bryson on an NHL contract, but not both. I hope they can move Bryson's contract out of the org but they'd probably have to add more sweetener than you'd want.

 

[Jacob582]

I think there's room in the org to have Metsa on an NHL contract or Bryson on an NHL contract, but not both. I hope they can move Bryson's contract out of the org but they'd probably have to add more sweetener than you'd want.

Adams has contract spots available this season.

 

[Zman5778]

I think there's room in the org to have Metsa on an NHL contract or Bryson on an NHL contract, but not both.

We're at 43 contracts at this point, per CapFriendly. Nowhere near the limit of 50.

No real reason to not give Metsa an ELC before some other team does.

 

[Dingo44]

Zach Metsa hopes to turn playing for Amerks into NHL contract

The Buffalo Sabres didn’t win the 2023 Prospects Challenge thanks to their 3-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, but there was a lot to like during the three-game event, including the play of defenseman Zach Metsa. Paul Hamilton has more:

www.audacy.com

 

[SharkInABoloTie]

I'd like to have seen Metsa signed by now. What's the likelihood he looks for opportunity elsewhere?

 

[old kummelweck]

I'd like to have seen Metsa signed by now. What's the likelihood he looks for opportunity elsewhere?

Sabres need to find a place for a lot of NHL defensemen. Maybe if he would sign an AHL deal, but the article above has him looking for a shot at the NHL somewhere, and the Sabres just may not be willing to give him a two-way contract or any contract at all until they see what happens with Bryson and Clague.

I like the player, but I don't see a fit right now.

 

[SundherDome]

I think there's room in the org to have Metsa on an NHL contract or Bryson on an NHL contract, but not both. I hope they can move Bryson's contract out of the org but they'd probably have to add more sweetener than you'd want.

Sitting at 42 contracts, going to 43 should not be a remote issue.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Sabres need to find a place for a lot of NHL defensemen. Maybe if he would sign an AHL deal, but the article above has him looking for a shot at the NHL somewhere, and the Sabres just may not be willing to give him a two-way contract or any contract at all until they see what happens with Bryson and Clague.

I like the player, but I don't see a fit right now.

He’s already on an AHL deal

 

[Nozlen]

I hope they invite Metsa to camp next year and offer him a Sabres contract, because hands down he has looked great in Rochester.

I know some will see he is 5'9, but trust me he plays great and his vision and Hockey IQ are off the charts, and want to know his impact thus far, well two words, Jackob Bryson...what does Jackob Bryson have to do with anything you ask, well Jackob Bryson is 5'9" and was completely awful until he went back down to the AHL and spent time on the same lines as Metsa and how has Bryson played since??

The one thing that Metsa has going against him is........OMG Sabre front office wait for this shocker.....Metsa is right handed, THE HORROR.

Metsa is currently under a Rochester American contract (yes Rochester can sign players) until the end of next year so you wont see him on Cap Friendly Sabres contracts, but hands down I see him as the best D Man playing for Rochester at the moment (Novikov as well) and has earned a chance for a contract, so please do not let this guy slip away because a RH Defenseman with skills and hockey IQ is at a premium.

 

[Gabrielor]

Yeah, I've been campaigning for him to get a NHL contract since the Amerks signed him.

He's consistently one of their 2 best D in any given game.

 

[Chainshot]

He's already signed to a contract for Rochester for next year so he will very much be at camp. And if they decide to give him an NHL contract, I'd love that. He was on my shortlist for UDFA for two straight springs and signing him was a nice treat for me.