Casey Nelson

May 2020 – The 27-year-old defenceman is no longer a prospect, and he has also just completed the final year of his two-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres. He is, thus, a pending unrestricted free agent. He played the 2019-2020 season with the AHL’s Rochester Americans, scoring four goals and 12 points in 48 games. He plays an offense-oriented style of play and is a quick skater. In spite of his speed and offensive ambitions, he does not leave an impact on the ice. He does not carry the puck up the ice with any significant degree of authority. He also likes to shoot the puck on goal, and will often direct it on net upon receiving the puck at the point. In his own end, he is prone to positional mistakes and turnovers, some of which result in high-quality chances for the opposition. Kevin Wong

November 2019 – The 27-year-old defenseman is having a solid season in the AHL for the Rochester Americans. In 16 games played, Nelson has tallied three goals and six assists. Even though his fantasy value is not too appealing, he is having a ton of success from the point and is on pace for a 35-point season. Unfortunately for Nelson, his chances of being recalled is slim-to-none. With the acquisitions that Sabres general manager Jason Botterill pulled off this off-season, the Sabres have quite a bit of right handed depth including Henri Jokiharju and Colin Miller. In fact, the Sabres have so much depth that Miller has been a healthy scratch for a few contests. If Miller is seeing some time in the press box, it is hard to imagine that the Sabres will call up Nelson and plug him in over Miller. But, if injuries do pop up, Nelson might get another chance at the NHL level. Josh Tessler

April 2018 – Another up down year for Nelson, however things may be looking up for the 25 year old defenseman. He played in 38 NHL games this year for a very weak Buffalo squad, and notched three goals and five assists, good for eight points. He also spent 40 games with Rochester in the AHL collecting two points and nine assists. Nelson has found some power play time and has looked sharp in different situations including transitioning out of his own zone and moving the puck well. Nelson doesn’t have elite potential, but next year should be a year where he can come in a play full time on Buffalo’s bottom pair. Marcus Griep

December 2016 – While Casey Nelson showed much promise at the tail end of last season in the NHL, the beginning of this year was not the same for the two-way defenseman. After a sluggish start with the Sabres, Nelson was sent down to the Rochester Americans of the AHL where his game is starting to turn around. Nelson has become a key piece for the Amerks on the blueline and breakout, move the puck up style of play fits well with the Amerks offensive weapons. Nelson has even found himself to be an important player on the powerplay, playing in a quarterback type of situation. Hopefully, if his development remains consistent, Nelson will be NHL ready by the late portion of the season. Max Marko

June 2016 – Nelson has signed a two-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres worth $1,300,000, annual cap hit of $650,000. Nelson will lead the defense corps in Rochester this up coming season with first dibs at an NHL callup when/if an injury occurs. Paul Zwambag

March 2016 – Casey Nelson has foregone his final year of college eligibility and signed an Entry Level contract with the Buffalo Sabres. Nelson had attended the Philadelphia Flyers prospect camp last summer and the two-way defenceman was named as a first team All-Star this season. With only five goals and 21 points in 28 games his stats are not extremely impressive, but he shoots right, has good size, skates well and moves the puck. Peter Harling