BUFFALO (LGS) — The Buffalo Sabres recalled right winger Patrick Kaleta from the Rochester Americans this morning after losing forward Daniel Paille for two-to-three weeks with a broken finger.
Paille became the sixth Sabre to go down with an extended injury in the past five games. He suffered the injury late in third period of Buffalo’s 6-3 win last night against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Kaleta is a hometown-product born and raised in Western New York where he attended St. Francis High School in Athol Springs just a few minutes south of Buffalo. The Angola native shuffled off to the Peterborough Petes of the OHL after a breakout sophomore season for the Red Raiders.
In 41 games this season with the Amerks, Kaleta has three goals and seven assists for 10 points to go along with his 87 penalty minutes.
The 20-year-old will wear number 36, and like a former “rat” that wore the same number for the Sabres, Kaleta has a way of getting under his opponents’ skin.
At six-foot, 200 pounds, he’s not the biggest player on the ice but he sure plays that way. Kaleta is known of his physical game, one that opponents and their fans have grown to dislike. He’s a player teams hate playing against but in turn would love to have on their side.
“He certainly frustrates people,” Amerks’ head coach Randy Cunneyworth told LetsGoSabres.com two weeks ago.
Hitting is such a part of his game that Doug Gibson, an Amerk hall of famer and current professional scout for the Montreal Canadians, said recently, “I’ve always thought he hit like a football player.”
LGS Rochester Reporter Stephen Sickles says there’s more to Kaleta’s game than just hitting.
“Saying that Kaleta is ’just a checker’ would be doing his game an injustice. Mix together a little bit of Vaclav Varada, Esa Tikkanen and Matthew Barnaby, and Kaleta is what you get. He is on his game when he is getting others off theirs.”
“He has the talent to play, and he’ll be in the NHL sooner rather than later,” added Sabres’ call-up Clarke MacArthur just two weeks ago.
While growing up a huge Sabres fan, Kaleta idolized Michael Peca and Pat LaFontaine. The Angola product said Peca had a tremendous influence on his game.
“He’s multi-dimensional,” Kaleta said of the current Toronto Maple Leaf. “He’s a true leader on and off the ice. He could score, get a big hit, and basically change a game.
“I’ve skated with him in the offseason, and I’ve picked up things from him even in pick-up hockey. He positions himself so well.”
Kaleta will get his first crack at the NHL Thursday night as the Buffalo Sabres host the Ottawa Senators. He will most likely play the right wing on a line with MacArthur and Andrew Peters.
CLICK HERE to read the Stephen Sickles' LGS exclusive on Patrick Kaleta from two weeks ago.
