RATHBONE EAGERLY RETURNING TO ‘A SPECIAL PLACE I DEFINITELY WANTED TO BE’
Amerks defenseman returns to Sabres organization on two-year contract
Aug 28, 2025
Last October, Jack Rathbone experienced newness and uncertainty. The West Roxbury, Massachusetts, native arrived in Rochester, a city new to him. He signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres, an organization he hadn’t been with prior.
Then came the unfamiliarity of a new staff as Rathbone would be led by the team’s new head coach, Michael Leone, who was behind an AHL bench for the first time in his career.
In October, Rathbone was unsure. Seven months later, his nerves were quelled. His questions answered. Rochester, New York was the place to be.
“We had a really positive exit meeting after the season ended,” said Rathbone when speaking about his conversations with the Amerks coaching staff. “I knew with the experience I had over the course of the year that this was a special place I definitely wanted to be.”
That’s why on the first day of NHL Free Agency, Rathbone wasted no time. The five-year pro will look to spend at least seasons six and seven under the Sabres umbrella, signing a two-year, two-way contract extension.
“My agent knew this was where I wanted to be and we had some conversations with Buffalo. They showed mutual interest and it was a really easy process. I was really excited that we got it done.”
Unrestricted free agents who largely spend their time in the AHL are often in a position where they take what they can get. It’s not foreign for a player to bounce from team to team on one-year deals. Such is life in minor league hockey. That’s what makes this multi-year contract all the more rewarding for Rathbone.
“It was something I was definitely interested in. The two years was something I really wanted just after last season and the special group we had last year. Knowing how many of those guys are coming back and with the staff staying the same, it was something I wanted to be a part of for as long as I could.”
Rathbone skated in 63 games for the red, white, and blue last season, amassing six goals and 23 points in his first year as an Amerk. Three years prior, the Harvard product had an All-Star season in Abbotsford with a 40-point campaign (10+30) in just 39 games.
The offensive side of Rathbone’s game has always been there, and always will be. Rathbone led Rochester in shots on goal with 174, finished third overall amongst AHL defensemen. But coming to the Amerks presented a new opportunity for the 26-year-old.
“Working closely with Paetscher (Nathan Paetsch) helped me grow my game on the other side of the puck. I got better as the season went on playing without the puck. I feel like over the years I’ve been adding layers to my game. I feel like they (coaching staff) had a lot of confidence in me in some of those other, more defensive situations as the year went on.”
Rathbone spent most of last season paired with Sabres prospect Ryan Johnson, who, too, re-signed with Buffalo this offseason. Johnson plays a more stay-at-home style, allowing for the pairing to play well off each other’s strengths. But their pairing wasn’t the only strength. The Amerks were dominant at times during the season and finished second in the North Division standings for a second year in a row. The team’s 92-point finish was its best in nearly two decades. Rochester was a win away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for a second time over the last three years.
“That was the best team I’ve been on. We had a really good balance of young talent with experienced guys. It played out in our room really well, too, like off the ice we were just as strong. When you have a group like that, you give yourself a chance to win every night. I think there’s a lot of potential here and we know what the standard is, so we’re going to push to get back to that spot.”
