SAMUELSSON'S EXAMPLE: EMBRACE YOUR TIME AS AN AMERK

Oct 12, 2022

By Emily Wade

The Buffalo Sabres announced a seven-year contract extension worth $30 million for Mattias Samuelsson today, after the defenseman played a top-pair role at the end of last season. The entire coaching staff was thrilled at the news, and Coach Appert addressed the media after practice.

"I was really excited seeing that news because that's a special young man that I've loved coaching."

Samuelsson, originally the 32nd-overall pick by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2018 NHL Draft, has spent time in both Buffalo and Rochester the last two seasons. in 45 total games with the Amerks, Samuelsson recorded 28 points (five goals, 23 assists), but it was his leadership and buy-in to the organization that made him stand out.

"I think it shows how Kevyn [Adams], Jason [Karmanos] and Donny [Granato] have seen what we've seen: what a special young man he is, what a great teammate he is, and what a tremendous defender that's miserable to play against."

Appert also coached Samuelsson for two seasons with the US National Team Development Program, where he served as team captain. Samuelsson also served as team captain of both the 2018 U-18 men's team that won World Championship silver and the 2016 Youth Olympic team that won gold. 

"Mattias' consistency has grown so much from the NTDP to now... He's that miserable-to-play against, phyiscal defender that's in your face on a night-to-night basis," Appert said on Tuesday.

A seven-year contract extension for a player that spent so much time in Rochester is also a testament to what the organization is building from top to bottom. "It's great to see that players that have spent time here, have developed here, earned that opportunity to go to Buffalo... And how important that is." Appert emphasized.

"It helps build a love for the organization, and a love for your teammates. They go through adversity together, they support each other. They hang out off the ice together. They get to have success together. That's just a great thing for our organization: that cohesion between Buffalo and Rochester becomes stronger."

Coach Appert has often emphasized the importance of embracing being an Amerk: embracing your role, your teammates, and your time in Rochester. "If you do that, and you're all in here," Appert explained, "That's your best chance to get there. Sammy's a great example of it."

The biggest testament to Samuelsson embracing his teammates: he showed up to then-Rochester and now-Buffalo teammate Jack Quinn's first NHL game... wearing a No. 22 jersey. This was days before Samuelsson and Quinn connected for a game-tying goal in Rochester, which was also Quinn's first professional hat trick.

Last season, Samuelsson secured his spot in Buffalo in January, and appeared in 42 games for the Sabres. He recorded 10 points, but more importantly, as his defensive partner Rasmus Dahlin told Sabres.com: "He's a guy that you can really trust. He's an amazing guy on and off the ice... It's super easy to have a guy like that."

His defensive poise is matched only by personality off the ice. Don't let his often-expressionless face fool you: Samuelsson is full of antics. He is the star of mic'd up segments and notably has worn an Entourage-lined suit. He even proved to have some football prowess on the turf at Development Camp over the summer as well.

It's clear that Mattias Samuelsson was a special part of the Amerks family, and why he's being embraced by Sabres fans as well. Opening Night in Buffalo, on Thursday, October 13, is slated to be Sammy's 100th professional game. Here's to many more years of success for the defenseman — on and off the ice.