With the Buffalo Sabres dealing with injuries in their forward ranks, Arttu Ruotsalainen is up from the Rochester Americans on the team's taxi squad.
Ruotsalainen has been a point per-game player with the Amerks this season with 13 points (5+8) in 13 games.
It's déjà vu for the Sabres. A European forward, who led his league in goals, comes to Buffalo and is sent to the minors.
This is Victor Olofsson all over again. The question is, did the Sabres learn a lesson?
After leading the Swedish Hockey League in goals during the 2017-18 season, Olofsson came to North America with an elite shot, and no other above average traits.
Three years later, Olofsson has an elite shot, and no other above average traits.
That is not to say Olofsson isn't a useful player. He can stand on the right flank of the power play and pot 20-30 goals per-year.
But did he develop anything in a full season with the Amerks? His getting run over at 5-on-5 and poor play in his own end would say no, he did not.
The most common defense of Ruotsalainen, and back in the day Olofsson, being in Rochester is "they need to get used to the North American game and the smaller ice surface."
So, obviously, Ruotsalainen has repeatedly found himself in the third row of the stands with the Amerks, right?
Ruotsalainen is 23-years-old and has five years of pro hockey experience in the Finnish Liiga. It's finally time to see what Ruotsalainen can do in the NHL. It is "finding out stuff season."
If the lines look the same as they did at practice on Monday, interim head coach Don Granato is giving Ruotsalainen a real chance to succeed right out of the gate, skating with Sam Reinhart and Victor Olofsson.
Twice this year the Sabres have lucked into getting a look at promising young players due to injuries. Would Jacob Bryson or Will Borgen have touched the ice in Buffalo this year without loads of injuries on the blue line?
If Ruotsalainen comes into the lineup and looks great, maybe general manager Kevyn Adams will realize the need to give young players a shot in the NHL over aged veterans with no upside.
***Photo: Micheline Michaelina - Rochester Americans