Mar 27, 2025; Buffalo, New York, USA; The Buffalo Sabres celebrate a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

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Buffalo Sabres Reassign Joshua Dunne to AHL Rochester

The Sabres send forward Joshua Dunne back to AHL Rochester, adjusting their roster as they navigate the season's final stretch.

Mar 27, 2025; Buffalo, New York, USA; The Buffalo Sabres celebrate a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

The Buffalo Sabres have made another roster adjustment, sending forward Joshua Dunne back to the AHL’s Rochester Americans. Dunne was in action for Buffalo during their recent 7-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, logging 6:55 of ice time but finishing with a minus-one rating. His reassignment comes as the team welcomes back veteran winger Jason Zucker, who had been away for personal reasons. With Zucker set to return to the lineup, the Sabres’ active roster now stands at 24 players.

This move marks Dunne’s second NHL stint of the season. He was recalled earlier this month, spending six days with the Sabres and making his team debut during that time. His first appearance with Buffalo was a physical one, as he dropped the gloves in his first regular-season NHL fight. However, his impact on the scoresheet has been limited; he has yet to register his first NHL point across 15 career games, including his previous appearances with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Sabres Recall Joshua Dunnehttps://t.co/nrDZY9Qx3s
— Pro Hockey Rumors (@prohockeyrumors) March 26, 2025

Dunne’s NHL experience has been sporadic. He played six games with Columbus in 2020-21 and eight more in 2022-23 before signing with Buffalo. While he hasn’t been able to carve out a consistent role in the NHL, his performances in the AHL tell a different story. This season with Rochester, he has put up nine goals and 26 points in 58 games while maintaining a plus-11 rating. Though he has played with physicality, he hasn’t been an enforcer type in the minors, accumulating just 44 penalty minutes so far. That’s a notable drop from the career-high 71 penalty minutes he racked up last season.

Also Read: Vancouver Canucks Recall Max Sasson to Strengthen Roster

Dunne’s 2023-24 campaign has been a challenging one. A significant injury sidelined him for most of the year, limiting him to just 25 games and seven points. Before that setback, he had a breakout 2022-23 season, where he tallied 20 goals and 37 points for Rochester. Despite his limited NHL production, the Sabres continue to call upon him when needed, recognizing his value beyond scoring. His versatility and defensive awareness make him a reliable option as an extra forward.

For now, Dunne will return to Rochester, where he will look to continue his strong AHL season. But given Buffalo’s ongoing injury concerns, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him back in the NHL lineup before long.

Image Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

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Anamika Shrivastava

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