Sabres Secure Veteran Goalie for Rochester
The Buffalo Sabres announced the signing of Matt Villalta to a one‑year, two‑way contract, a move designed to shore up the goaltending depth of their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. The agreement, whose financial terms remain undisclosed, brings a seasoned presence to a crease that was left thin after the recent trade of Devon Levi.
Villalta, 27, arrives after three seasons with the Tucson Roadrunners, where he logged more than 120 starts and earned AHL All‑Star honors in 2023‑24. He has compiled a career .903 save percentage across 235 AHL games and posted a .911 mark in his best professional season, while also appearing in three NHL games.
The Sabres’ decision to part ways with Levi earlier in the week created a clear opening for a No. 1 netminder in Rochester. With that vacancy, the organization sees Villalta as the player who can shoulder the bulk of the workload, allowing the team to maintain stability while younger prospects develop.
Rochester will also field Topias Leinonen and Scott Ratzlaff alongside Villalta. Leinonen, a 22‑year‑old second‑round pick from the 2022 draft, appeared in 15 games last season, while Ratzlaff, a 21‑year‑old fifth‑round selection in 2023, saw action in 28 games. One of them is expected to serve as Villalta’s backup, providing depth should injuries or fatigue arise.
Although other goalies such as Ukko‑Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis remain on the roster, the Sabres anticipate Villalta will dominate the starter role in Rochester unless a transaction involving those players occurs. The move reflects a strategic shift toward relying on an experienced AHL veteran rather than promoting an unproven option to the third‑string spot.
Villalta’s contract will likely see him split time between the AHL and occasional NHL call‑ups, but his primary responsibility will be to anchor the Amerks’ lineup and deliver consistent performances that could translate into future opportunities at the NHL level.