KOPFF LOOKING TO ‘MAKE AN IMPRESSION’ AT DEVELOPMENT CAMP
Rookie forward entering two-year, entry-level contract in 2025-26
Jun 30, 2025
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48
Tyler Kopff is the only player with American Hockey League experience under his belt at the Buffalo Sabres’ 2025 Development Camp.
After signing a two-year, entry-level contract with the Sabres in April, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound forward hitched a ride with the Rochester Americans at the tail end of the 2024-25 campaign on an Amateur Tryout, skating in six games for Buffalo’s AHL affiliate.
Now, the 22-year-old is wearing blue for the first time, but it’s not his first camp dawning gold. A summer ago, Kopff sported a Vegas Golden Knights jersey as an invite for the team’s Development Camp.
“Last year was super cool,” said Kopff reflecting on his time in Vegas. “It was my first Development Camp, so that first time putting on NHL gear was surreal. It was definitely a pivotal moment in my career.”
The experience with Vegas can be viewed as a taste. An appetizer for Kopff, who used that NHL experience to his advantage when returning to school at Brown University for his sophomore season last fall. A year after posting 18 points (6+12), Kopff scored nine goals as part of a 28-point season to earn him Ivy League honors, while also receiving ECAC Third All-Star Team recognition.
“I think that camp helped because it was the first time I was playing against guys on contracts and playing against high draft picks. Being able to go there and compete gave me a lot of confidence coming back to Brown.”
While Kopff enjoyed a pair of seasons at the NCAA level, pro hockey presents a learning curve practically universal to any player that has made the jump. Kopff was no exception.
“It’s different. No matter what college you come from or what pro team you go to, it’s going to be a step up. Playing those few games in Rochester and being around that group really helped.”
After tallying an assist through six regular season games, Kopff went from player to spectator once the Calder Cup Playoffs began. He served as what’s often referred to as a black ace in hockey: a player who participates in practice during the playoffs, but doesn’t find their name in the lineup. It can be a daunting task. For as tough as hockey is physically, the mental aspects of the sport are often cited as even greater challenges.
Kopff, however, took it in stride.
“We had a great team in Rochester, and as a competitor, you want to be on the ice, but it was fun to cheer my teammates on. They were so supportive and welcoming to me. You definitely see a different type of hockey come playoff time. You see guys come to life in the playoffs, like Josh Dunne for example when he had that four-point night in Laval. Those kind of players tend to really succeed when they do the little things right, so I’m just trying to focus on my details and how I approach every day. I want to get better and prepare myself to be one of those players one day.”
We are halfway to Christmas, but that didn’t stop Kopff from getting into the holiday spirit. The rookie forward had an exit interview (as all players do) at the end of May following Rochester’s run to the North Division Finals. After that, he went home and began making his wish list.
“I wrote down a list of everything that I’m going to come back and be better at. I’m looking forward to making an impression whenever I get the opportunity.”
Atop that list is establishing an identity.
“I’m trying to become more physical on the ice. You have to adapt to every league you go to and play in. I was the player who wanted to do what it took to help my team win the most at Brown. At a higher level, I realized that I need to use my frame and physicality to be a threat to opponents. Becoming a chameleon is the advice that I’ve gotten. The people that do that best tend to last the longest.”
That sentiment is shared by Amerks head coach Michael Leone, who along with the Sabres development staff, is overseeing the on-ice instruction at this week’s camp at Harborcenter.
“He just needs to build an identity of who he’s going to be as a player at this level,” said Leone. “I think at college he played close to 22-23 minutes a night. He was on the power-play and playing big minutes. He probably played a little more freely just because he was one of their best players. You’re allowed to get away with a little more.”
“I think when he got to the pro level I saw he has some traits that could make him really good on the forecheck. He’s got a really long stick. Establishing that kind of game and figuring out how to make an impact on the game consistently is going to be really important for him at this level. He’s a big power forward that has all the tools to have a huge impact on the game. Now it’s just about developing those traits.”
Kopff doesn’t know where his destination will be come October when the 2025-26 season opens across all levels of hockey. What he does know now that he didn’t a year ago is that he has found an organization to call home.
At Development Camp, he is wearing a Sabres jersey while skating on ice that is literal steps away from KeyBank Center. The focus is now, not then, and the Ridgewood, New Jersey, native is doing everything he can to seize this moment.
“I’m really trying to make an impression on the organization,” said Kopff. “I’m trying to learn everything I can about what the Sabres organization can offer and there’s a lot of tools that a player can use to develop. I’m trying to maximize those.”
