Rochester Americans: Expectations and how to adjust them

Years ago, just making the playoffs was good enough. Things have changed in a hurry.

Lukas Rousek hits the ice after firing his shot past Laval’s Jacob Fowler that made it 3-3 late in the second period of Game 2 (Photo: Rochester Americans)

ROCHESTER – It’s hard to remember that it hasn’t been so long that the Rochester Americans have been expected to go this far in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

There was a time when poor drafting in Buffalo and the desperation to do something to help out the fans in Rochester and get winning started early for the up-and-coming players that were getting AHL time went through a rough spell. Veterans were signed for depth for the Sabres but were wink-and-nod earmarked to go to Rochester. It wasn’t a recipe for success at any level.

It’s been different though the past few years.

What started under Chris Taylor in 2017-2018 by just making the playoffs and grew under Seth Appert that led to the Americans making the Eastern Conference Finals two years ago has evolved. That season they got a taste of what it’s like to face a veteran team that’s coached extremely well and plays hockey the way it works best in the AHL. It wasn’t a series they got blown out of, but as close as many of the games were, the Bears always seemed to find the edge to win.

Last year’s second round loss to Syracuse wasn’t an “aw shucks, we’ll get ‘em next year” type of defeat, it was a bitter pill to swallow, especially since they had home ice advantage.

The quality of young players available to Rochester increased dramatically, as did the responsibilities given to them. From J-J Peterka to Jack Quinn to Lukas Rousek to Jiri Kulich, Isak Rosén and Devon Levi and now Noah Östlund and Anton Wahlberg, it’s turned things in Rochester to a mental state of “it’s nice to make the playoffs again” to “we can win the Calder Cup.”

After Appert graduated to the bench in Buffalo as Lindy Ruff’s assistant coach, Mike Leone was hired into a job that came with suddenly very high expectations. Going from coaching in the USHL to the AHL all at the age of 37 is a hell of a thing.

It’s not always easy to pick up and keep things going and yet that’s just what Leone’s Americans are doing. Their 92-point season (.639 points percentage) tied them for the fifth best record in the league, but they didn’t win the North Division because the team with the AHL’s best record, the Laval Rocket, also reside there.

This season was their best since 2018-2019 when they had 99 points and a .651 points percentage. That Americans team was led by Victor Olofsson, C.J. Smith, Zach Redmond and Scott Wedgewood in goal. What a wild concept -- getting hits on draft picks while making good signings and trades pays off.