The Buffalo Sabres are making moves again, and this one speaks volumes about where they are in their season-and where they’re hoping to go. On Saturday, the team announced that forward Isak Rosén has been recalled from the Rochester Americans, their AHL affiliate. In a corresponding move, defenseman Zac Jones was reassigned to Rochester.
At first glance, it’s a simple roster swap: forward in, defenseman out. But dig a little deeper, and it’s clear this is more than just shuffling the deck.
By sending Jones down, the Sabres are now rolling with just six healthy defensemen on their active roster. That’s a tightrope walk, especially in a league where blue line depth is non-negotiable. Two of their regular defensemen-Conor Timmins and Jacob Bryson-are still on injured reserve, and neither appears close to returning.
Timmins has been out since mid-December with a broken leg. The original timeline put his return somewhere between six to eight weeks, and we’re now right in the heart of that window. Still, there’s been no public indication that he’s ready to lace up anytime soon.
Bryson, meanwhile, has missed four straight games with an upper-body injury and was placed on IR not long after. Head coach Lindy Ruff said back on January 22 that Bryson would be out for “some time,” and there’s been no sign that his return is imminent either. So, the decision to send Jones down isn’t about making room for a returning defenseman-it’s about making a calculated bet on Rosén.
And it’s a bet worth watching.
Rosén, the 22-year-old winger taken in the first round of the 2021 draft, is entering a pivotal stretch in his development. He’s a pending restricted free agent, and the Sabres need to figure out exactly what they have in him.
Is he part of the long-term core? Or is he a piece they’ll eventually move on from as they shift into win-now mode?
There’s no question Rosén has been productive in the AHL. He’s been one of Rochester’s most consistent offensive threats over the past few seasons.
But that hasn’t yet translated to a permanent NHL role. This season, he’s posted seven points in 13 games with the Sabres-solid numbers, but not quite enough to lock down a full-time spot.
This recall gives him another shot to prove he belongs. With Buffalo fighting to stay competitive in a tough Eastern Conference, every roster spot matters. If Rosén can make an impact, it could go a long way toward solidifying his future in the organization.
On the flip side, Rochester is getting a big boost with Jones returning. The Americans are in the thick of a playoff push, currently sitting fifth in the AHL’s North Division.
Getting their top scorer back-yes, Jones leads the team with 37 points in 32 games as a defenseman-is a huge lift. He’s been far and away their most productive blueliner, and his presence could be the difference in a tight divisional race.
It’s also worth noting that Buffalo seems comfortable using Zach Metsa as their sixth defenseman at the NHL level for now. That gives them the flexibility to keep Jones in Rochester, where he’s playing big minutes and driving results, rather than having him sit in the press box in Buffalo.
So this isn’t just a minor roster tweak-it’s a strategic move that reflects where both the Sabres and Americans are in their respective seasons. For Rosén, it’s another shot at sticking in the NHL.
For Jones, it’s a chance to keep leading the charge in Rochester. And for the Sabres organization as a whole, it’s a balancing act between development, depth, and the push for wins-both now and in the future.