The Rochester Americans announced today that the team has signed goaltender David Leggio, forward Mark Mancari, and defensemen T.J. Brennan, Joe Finley and Drew Schiestel to American Hockey League contracts.
Leggio, a native of Williamsville, N.Y., set career-highs in 54 games for Rochester last season, compiling a 28-24-2 record with a 2.63 goals-against average. Leggio led the AHL in saves (1,721) and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player.
He joined the Sabres organization when he was signed by Portland as a free agent in 2010-11 after spending the previous season in Finland. Through 92 AHL games, Leggio has earned a 50-38-2 record and a 2.75 goals-against average.
Mancari played in six games with the Vancouver Canucks and 69 games with their AHL club, the Chicago Wolves, last season. With the Wolves, Mancari tallied a team-high 58 points on 30 goals and 28 assists.
Originally drafted by the Sabres in 2004, Mancari played parts of six seasons with Buffalo and its AHL affiliates, Rochester and Portland, and has totaled 181 goals and 238 assists for 419 points in 487 career AHL games, including six consecutive 20-goal seasons. In 42 NHL games played, the London, Ont., native has recorded 13 points (3g, 10a) and 22 penalty minutes.
Brennan was Buffalo’s second-round pick (31st overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. After spending the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons with Portland, Brennan finished the 2011-12 season with 30 points (16g, 14a) and 39 PIM for Rochester. His 16 goals were an AHL career-high and led all Amerks defensemen, despite appearing in only 52 games for the team.
Brennan also scored a goal in his NHL debut on Nov. 23, 2011 vs. Boston. The Willingboro, N.J., native went on to appear in 11 games for the Sabres last season.
Finley recorded six points (1g, 5a) in 57 games with Rochester last season while leading the team with 143 PIM. He also appeared in five games with the Buffalo Sabres, making his NHL debut on Dec. 2, 2011 vs. the Detroit Red Wings. Finley, who spent parts of the 2008-09 and 2010-11 seasons with the Hershey Bears, has appeared in 65 career AHL games, posting seven points (1+6) and 165 PIM.
The Edina, Minn., native was originally selected by the Washington Capitals in the first round (27th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
Schiestel was selected by the Sabres with the 59th overall pick in the second round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Through three seasons in the AHL, Schiestel has appeared in 156 games, tallying 52 points (8g, 44a) and 71 PIM.
Last season, the Hamilton, Ont., native notched 17 points (2g, 15a) in 59 AHL games between Rochester and Texas. He was selected to the AHL All-Star Classic in 2011 while with Portland, but missed the event due to injury.
