ZACH METSA #73

Notes accurate as of Sept. 1, 2026

PRONUNCIATION: MEHT-sa, ZAK 

CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through 2026-27 ($812,500)

CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Signed by the Rochester Americans on April 13, 2023; Signed by the Buffalo Sabres on July 1, 2025.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:  

  • Led all Rochester defensemen with 46 points (7+39) in 69 games during the 2024-25 season. Ranked third among all Amerks skaters in points.
  • Ranked fourth among AHL defensemen in assists and tied for eighth among AHL defensemen in points during the 2024-25 season.
  • Recorded 24 points (7+17) in 54 games with Rochester during his first full professional season in 2023-24.
  • Named Rochester’s IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year in both 2023-24 and 2024-25 for his contributions to the Greater Rochester community.
  • Made his NHL debut on Oct. 20, 2025 at Montreal.
  • Recorded the first goal of his NHL career on Jan. 6, 2026 vs. Vancouver.
  • Notched his first NHL assist on Jan. 12, 2026 vs. Florida.
  • Registered the first multi-point game of his NHL career on Feb. 28, 2026 at Tampa Bay (1+1).
  • Appeared in 43 games with the Sabres during the 2025-26 season and recorded six points (2+4).
  • Posted a plus-16 rating in 2025-26, the highest plus/minus by a first-year defenseman in Sabres franchise history and the second-best plus/minus by a first-year Sabres skater all-time.

AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS:  

  • Captained Quinnipiac University to the program’s first NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey National Championship in 2023.
  • Recorded 121 points (31+90) in 177 career games during five seasons at Quinnipiac.
  • Posted 37 points in each of his final two collegiate seasons, including 37 points (10+27) in 42 games in 2021-22 and 37 points (9+28) in 41 games in 2022-23.
  • Won ECAC Hockey’s Best Defensive Defenseman Award in 2021-22 after leading the nation with a plus-38 rating.

INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS:  

  • N/A

NHL FIRSTS

Game: 10/20/25 at MTL

Goal: 1/6/26 vs. VAN

Assist: 1/12/26 vs. FLA

AWARDS & HONORS

Professional:

2023-24 IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year - Rochester Americans

2024-25 IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year - Rochester Americans

International:

N/A

Amateur:

2023 NCAA National Championship - Quinnipiac University
2023 NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team
2021-22 ECAC Hockey Best Defensive Defenseman
2021-22 AHCA East First Team All-American
2020-21 ECAC Hockey First Team All-League
2021-22 ECAC Hockey First Team All-League
2022-23 ECAC Hockey Second Team All-League