Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) – It hasn’t been an easy season for Buffalo Sabres forward Tyson Jost.
The 25-year-old started his 2023-24 campaign in Buffalo with the Sabres, where he played 28 games before being waived and sent to the Rochester Americans. There, he played 25 games, scoring four goals and 10 assists for 14 points.
Before this season, Jost had spent just 13 games in the American Hockey League while with the Colorado Avalanche.
Jost was the 10th overall pick by the Avalanche in the 2016 NHL Draft and played 321 games for Colorado before being traded to the Minnesota Wild in March of 2022.
After just 33 games with the Wild, Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams claimed him off waivers on Nov. 19, 2022.
This offseason saw Jost sign a one-year deal to stay in Buffalo, but he certainly is not happy with the way this year has gone.
'It’s been an extremely difficult year. It hasn’t been easy," said Jost on Wednesday. "There’s been a lot of dark days, a lot of lonely days and lonely nights. I just try to be a pro about it, stay ready, and I was just hoping I’d get back up here. I’ve been playing really well.
"I’ve proved I’m an NHL player, and I know I am. It’s been nice to be back in the NHL where I belong, for sure."
There’s no question that Jost has persevered through the experience, despite how angry he has been with this season.
"It’s just part of my character and who I am. I love hockey, I want to get better, I’m dedicated to be the best player I can be," Jost said. "I just went down there to Rochester and worked really hard, and found the love for the game again. The coaching staff, especially 'Apps' [head coach Seth Appert], so it’s just fun playing hockey again. I knew I was going to get back to the NHL one way or another, and I knew my chance would come."
Jost actually scored a goal against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, but it was challenged and taken off the board for an offside.
Sabres head coach Don Granato has mentioned Jost multiple times since he’s been back. He says he likes how Jost has handled the whole ordeal.
"It wasn’t easy for him, but like everything else that Tyson does in life, he looks at it and accepts it. Accepts challenges, and has a very positive mind frame," said Granato on Wednesday following practice. "He went down there with a healthy mind and said, 'OK, I don’t like it. I would rather be in the NHL, but this might be an opportunity to work on some things that I can get better at.'
"And he’s come back and really focused on some things that we asked him to, and he’s better at them."
Granato used a good example from the win against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.
"I told him the other night on the bench along with [Lukas] Rousek and Victor [Olofsson], if you’re out there against [Connor] McDavid, stay out there. You guys are on it right now, and don’t worry about a thing. Just go, and I don’t know that I would’ve been comfortable with that three or four months ago," Granato said.
The only Eastern Conference team playing on Wednesday night is the Washington Capitals, as they visit the Oilers. The Caps are two points ahead of the Sabres in the standings, but have three games in-hand.
Washington is three points out of the playoffs, but have two games in-hand on the New York Islanders.
The Sabres will host the Islanders on Thursday, while the Red Wings are home against the Arizona Coyotes. In addition, the New Jersey Devils are in Dallas to face the Stars, while the Tampa Bay Lightning are home against the New York Rangers.
