Kozak’s recall to Sabres shows ‘how valued he is’

Rochester, N.Y. — Tyson Kozak doesn’t have the dash and flash of the top prospects in the Buffalo Sabres organization.

Nor does he have the resume that says he’ll someday be an NHL player. He was, after all, a seventh-round draft pick, chosen after 192 others had heard their names called.

But what he does have is an undeniable desire to succeed, which is why he joined the Sabres on Friday night for their trip to Long Island. The recall, prompted by an injury to Sam Lafferty, is the first for the third-year forward.

“He’s a winner,” Rochester Americans coach Michael Leone said. “He’s going to play for a long time and he’s going to help somebody win.”

Kozak learned of the promotion shortly before warmups and was scratched from the Amerks lineup for the game against the Syracuse Crunch. READ MORE.