ROCHESTER, N.Y. — On a Rochester Americans team loaded with scorers and high-end AHL talent, goalie Scott Wedgewood’s exploits often got overshadowed.
But for much of the 2018-19 campaign, Wedgewood was the Amerks’ backbone, tending some of the league’s best goal.
After Christmas, Wedgewood won 16 of his first 21 appearances. Overall, he enjoyed a career season, compiling 28 victories and five shutouts in 48 games.
Still, it was evident Wedgewood, 26, would be moving on. The seven-year veteran never had much of a future with the Buffalo Sabres.
So on July 1, Wedgewood signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning worth $700,000 in the NHL and $250,000 in the AHL, according tocapfriendly.com.
He will likely start the year as the No. 1 netminder for the Amerks’ arch rival, the Syracuse Crunch.
Wedgewood, who has played 24 NHL games, only showed up in Buffalo last season to dress as a backup.
Carter Hutton and Linus Ullmark stayed entrenched as the NHL goalies. Even as they began struggling in the winter, the Sabres stuck with the duo.
The Sabres also havetop goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen ready to start his pro career in Rochester this season.
Here are where some other former Amerks signed this month:
–Forward Danny O’Regan signed a one-year, two-way deal with the New York Rangers worth $700,000 in the NHL and $225,000 in the AHL, according tocapfriendly.com.
O’Regan, one of the Amerks’ top forwards, compiled 20 goals and 48 points in 70 games last season.
Curiously, the Sabres, whose forward depth has been weak for years, never rewarded the Boston University product a long look.
O’Regan played only two NHL games afterarriving from the San Jose Sharks in 2017-18 and just one last season.
Since O’Regan is 25 and has fewer than 80 games of NHL experience (25 over three pro seasons), he was a free agent this summer instead of a restricted free agent.
–Defenseman Matt Tennyson signed a two-year, two-way contract with the New Jersey Devils worth $700,000 each season in the NHL and $350,000 in the AHL. The deal guarantees Tennyson at least $400,000 per year.
Tennyson, 29, played 19 games with the Sabres over the last two seasons. Former coach Phil Housley’s reliance on Tennyson early in 2017-18 drew the ire of fans.
Tennyson spent most of his time in Rochester, compiling seven goals and 32 points in 97 games.
–Winger Wayne Simpson signed a one-year contract with ERC Ingolstadt, a team in the German DEL.
Simpson, 29, scored 21 goals and 45 points in 72 contests last season.
–Center Kyle Criscuolo signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Philadelphia Flyers worth $700,00 in the NHL and $200,000 in the AHL.
Criscuolo, 27, grew up in Southampton Township, about 18 miles outside Philadelphia.
The Harvard product played hisfirst nine NHL games with the Sabres in 2017-18.
–Forward Myles Powell, 24, signed a one-year AHL contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Powell enjoyed a monster rookie season with the Cincinnati Cyclones in 2018-19, scoring 31 goals and 66 points in 57 outings with Buffalo’s ECHL affiliate.
The R.I.T. product went pointless in seven outings with Rochester.
–Defenseman Jack Dougherty signed a one-year AHL contract with the Belleville Senators, Ottawa’s affiliate.
Dougherty, 23, compiled two goals, 12 points and a plus-15 rating in 56 games last season.
The Sabresacquired Dougherty, a former second-round pick, from the Nashville Predators last year.
– Defenseman Arvin Atwal signed a one-year AHL contract with the Milwaukee Admirals.
Atwal, 23, enjoyed a terrific ECHL campaign with the Cyclones in 2018-19, compiling 10 goals, 39 points, a gaudy plus-44 rating and 214 penalty minutes in 65 games.
He registered two assists in three games with the Amerks.
