Monday, June 3, 2013

Class of '11: Jacobs in, Lepkowski out

In case you missed it, the Sabres last week signed Colin Jacobs (2011, fourth round) to a three-year entry-level contract. The WHL product was the leading scorer for the Prince George Cougars in 2012-13  with 25 goals and 53 points. Following his junior campaign, Jacobs reported to the Rochester Americans on an amateur tryout contract (ATO), where he scored a goal and two assists in 11 games. A big playmaking forward, Jacobs did not see any action in the Amerks’ three playoff games. Improving his quickness out of the blocks will be the key for the Texan to rise through the ranks.

The Sabres were unable to reach an agreement with 2011 fifth-rounder Alex Lepkowski, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound stay-at-home defenseman for the OHL’s Barrie Colts. The West Seneca, NY native performed well in a shutdown role for the Colts en route to their run to the OHL Championship series, scoring six points (2+4) in 22 postseason tilts. He had gone through the regular season without a goal. With the Sabres’ late-season signing of Chad Ruhwedel and the on-going AHL development of Matt MacKenzie and Jerome Gauthier-Leduc, sheer numbers made it difficult for Lepkowski to earn a role in the organization.

The Jacobs signing means that the Sabres have inked four of their six picks from the 2011 draft. The final player from that year’s haul, Wisconsin forward Brad Navin, will enter his junior year this fall. The Sabres won’t have a decision due on Navin until 2015.