Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – The Rochester Americans have now lost both their assistant coaches on head coach Seth Appert's staff to the NHL. First it was Mike Weber, and now it's Michael Peca.
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Jeff Marek of Sportsnet is reporting that Peca will be joining Peter Laviolette’s staff with the New York Rangers.
Peca is just what Buffalo Sabres head coach Don Granato needs on his staff, because of what he brings. Peca was one of the best penalty killers and two-way players in the NHL while playing with Buffalo. He also won the Selke Trophy twice as the NHL's best defensive forward, once with the Sabres and once with the New York Islanders.
It’s not known if the Sabres tried to keep Peca by offering him a job on Granato’s staff.
Last season, Buffalo was the fifth-worst penalty killing team in the NHL, and the seventh-worst defensive team, giving up an average of 3.62 goals per-game.
There is some familiarity between Peca and Laviolette, as Peca played for the new Rangers coach when he was the bench boss with the Islanders from 2001-03.
Peca did a great job in helping develop players like JJ Peterka and Jiri Kulich. He also helped Jack Quinn add a good defensive game to his already good offensive game.
The 49-year-old played 363 games with the Sabres, while playing 222 games with the Islanders and 136 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Peca also spent playing time with the Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs.
As for Weber, he left the Amerks this past Wednesday to join the St. Louis Blues' coaching staff with head coach Craig Berube.
