Thursday, November 3, 2011

Tropp gets the call

With Patrick Kaleta suspended for four games and Jochen Hecht still sidelined, the Sabres have recalled second-year pro Corey Tropp from the AHL's Rochester Americans.

From the Sabres website:

Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier announced today that forward Corey Tropp has been recalled from the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League.

Tropp (6’0”, 195 lbs., 7/25/89) will join the Sabres on his first career recall. He spent the 2010-11 season in Portland, posting 40 points (10+30) in his first professional season. In 10 games with Rochester this season, Tropp has seven points (4+3), tying for the Americans’ lead in goals.

Tropp was selected by the Sabres in the third round (89th overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.


Here's the capsule on Tropp from last spring's rankings:

A gritty forward with a scoring touch, Tropp left Michigan State a year early to get his pro career going in 2010-11 with the AHL's Pirates. The six-foot wing is a productive gamer, fearlessly entering the mix to make plays and willing to escalate the physical forays to make a point. Posting four fighting majors in Sioux Falls (USHL) before his three-year stay in E. Lansing, Tropp led all Sabres prospects this past season with nine scraps while contributing a clutch 10 goals and 30 assists in 76 games.

By no means is Tropp's value to the Sabres as a pugilist, but the willingness rounds out a balanced middle-line package that isn't too far off from getting a crack. Tropp, who also cashed four game winning goals in the shootout (tied for the AHL lead), continued his rookie ramp-up in the first round of the playoffs, scoring seven points (2+5) while the Pirates main cogs (Mark Mancari and Gragnani) were up in Buffalo.

The Detroit-area product likely has a few more goals in his stick (20 in 2009-10 as Spartans MVP), so expect his quick-release offense to keep gaining traction while adding to the overall team toughness shift-by-shift. Realistically Tropp is a year away from campaigning for a full-time gig, but don't be surprised if he makes some noise as camp battles heat up this fall. He's an underrated effort guy whose talent can take on many different roles.


Shortly after that write-up, Tropp soldiered on with an excellent effort in July's development camp. His upward trajectory would continue in Buffalo's main camp where he scored a goal in two pre-season appearances.