Creating a refreshing vibe for the Sabres

When a team comes off a bad season, the first thing it tries to sell to the fans is hope. Hope for the future. Hope that, somehow, some way, better days are coming.

Buffalo Sabres new general manager Jason Botterill wants to do more than just sell hope for the future. He wants to see those promises of better days through.

In Botterill’s eyes, the only true way to build toward a better future is to make sure that all of your bridges along the way are strong and secure. In this case, it means strengthening the ties between the Sabres and their longtime American Hockey League affiliate, the Rochester Americans.

That relationship began when the Sabres owners, brothers Seymour and Northrup Knox, purchased the Amerks prior to the 1979-80 season. The Amerks won three Calder Cups and were runners-up another six times while associated with the Sabres. But that partnership suffered under the watch of former Sabres GM Tim Murray as they languished near the bottom of the league. Getting things back on track with their top farm club was one of the main topics Botterill addressed when he was first hired.

Botterill, who spent the previous 10 seasons as assistant GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins, said their strong relationship with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was the foundation for their success at the NHL level.

When players arrived at Harbor-Center for the Sabres’ rookie development camp, July 8-11, there was a definite sense among the young players that the organization as a whole had a better sense direction.

“Obviously there’s a lot of new faces around,” forward Hudson Fasching said during camp. “I feel like there’s a really good vibe around. It’s more positive. It’s more upbeat this year. I think guys are excited. Obviously new faces help with that, but I feel like in general guys are having more fun and we’re really enjoying ourselves.”

Last season, as the Amerks struggled through another losing season, rumors persisted that far too many players were worried about their own stats and getting the call to Buffalo.

Now, under Botterill and Sabres new head coach Phil Housley, there seems to be a renewed sense of faith. That sense of caring about the minor league system was strengthened when the Sabres announced that one of the main duties of Botterill’s new assistant GM, Randy Sexton, would be to oversee Amerks operations. The team also hired former Amerks great Chris Taylor as the AHL team’s new bench boss.

Forward Nicholas Baptiste, who the Sabres took with the 69th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, said he foresees better days for the Amerks.

“That’s what you want down there,” Baptiste said. “You look at the top-end NHL teams and they have really good AHL teams as well. You look at Pittsburgh, they have a Stanley Cup-winning team and Wilkes-Barre is right there contending for a championship in the AHL. So that’s how you’ve got to build, and obviously that’s the mantra here and that’s what we look forward to.”

Fasching agreed that he can sense a greater emphasis on winning in Rochester and how that will translate to success for players as individuals and the organization as a whole at the NHL level.

“Obviously Rochester is always a priority, but I feel like this year it’s definitely a bigger priority,” Fasching said. “It’s something that they’re focused on. Like Botterill said many times, he wants it to be a winning culture and it shows. He’s put a lot of priories on us winning not only in Buffalo, but winning in Rochester, and that can translate to the next level.”

Defenseman Brendan Guhle, who the Sabres took with their next pick (third round, 51st overall) after Jack Eichel in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, made a good accounting of himself in his three games with the Sabres last season, good enough to where it looked as if Guhle could make the Sabres out of camp this season.

But the addition of experienced blueliners Marco Scandella, Nathan Beaulieu and Viktor Antipin means that barring any unforeseen circumstances, Guhle will start in Rochester. Knowing that the Sabres’ front office is focused on creating a winning atmosphere at all levels is music to the ears of young players like Guhle.

“Yeah, that’s awesome to hear,” said Guhle. “Whereever I’m playing my number one goal is to help the team win games. That’s our goal for Buffalo and Rochester. If I end up in Rochester for the start of the season, and the whole season, then I’m gonna work on my game and develop it and help the team try to win.”

While some young players in Guhle’s situation might worry about getting lost in the shuffle, Guhle said he is using the situation as motivation. Guhle said the competition for rosters spots being that much stronger means he will have to play harder. The fear of falling on the depth chart will make him work even harder to get better.

“Going into the summer I’m going to prepare my hardest. It’s probably the most importantly summer for me,” he said.

For players like Baptiste and Fasching, who have experienced time with the Sabres, the desire to land a full-time spot with the big club is obvious. Even though they were not drafted by Botterill, both Fasching and Baptiste saw this development camp as a fresh start and chance to make a strong first impression on the new coach and GM.

“First impression is kind of the big thing for me,” Fasching explained. “Just show all the guys here that I’m ready. I’m gonna work hard and do whatever it takes to get to the next level and help with the depth.”

Baptiste, who hails from Ottawa, the same hometown as Sexton, said he thinks the new GM will feel at home in Rochester with its passionate fan base. He added that Taylor’s experience as a player and his ability to teach also will pay big dividends for the organization.

Most of all, Baptiste reiterated that knowing that the Sabres care about everyone who is wearing Amerk red, white and blue will be a plus for everyone’s development as they look to create that winning culture throughout the system.

“It’s huge,” Baptiste said. “When you’re winning in the AHL and Buffalo is winning as well, you come up and it’s the same culture. … It’s a winning attitude no matter where you are.”

Sabres Notes

Chris Hajt, son of former Buffalo Sabre Bill Hajt, was recently hired as the Sabres’ newest assistant coach. Hajt had spent the past three seasons with the Manchester Monarchs, helping them win the Calder Cup in 2014-15. …

The Sabres also announced that they will host their third annual prospects camp at HarborCenter Sept. 8-11. This year’s tournament has been expanded to four teams as the prospect from the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins will join the Sabres, Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils.