Ratzlaff recorded a 25-save shutout in AHL Rochester's 4-0 win over Springfield on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

This was Ratzlaff's first shutout of the AHL season, coming in just his fifth appearance for the Americans. The 20-year-old has adjusted pretty well with a .902 save percentage in those games, going 3-1-0. Ratzlaff is poised for backup duties behind Devon Levi while with Rochester.

Ratzlaff was named the ECHL Rookie of the Month for October on Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Ratzlaff posted a 3-0-0 record, 1.29 GAA and .966 save percentage over three October appearances with ECHL Jacksonville. The Sabres prospect should have a better path to consistent playing time in the ECHL this year, as AHL Rochester's crease is occupied by Alexandar Georgiev and Devon Levi. Ratzlaff is likely a few years away from competing for NHL minutes in Buffalo, though the team's crowded goalie pipeline, which also includes Levi and Topias Leinonen, could lead to a trade for one of those goalie prospects to free up minutes for the others.

Ratzlaff was reassigned to AHL Rochester on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Ratzlaff signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Sabres in October, and he's spent the entire 2024-25 campaign with WHL Seattle. Over 49 regular-season appearances with the Thunderbirds, he went 23-19-4 with a 3.16 GAA and .910 save percentage. Now that the Thunderbirds have been eliminated from the playoffs, Ratzlaff will head to the AHL to close out the year.

Ratzlaff signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Sabres on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Ratzlaff has a 2.67 GAA and a .933 save percentage in three appearances with WHL Seattle in 2024-25. He finished the 2023-24 regular season with a 3.33 GAA and a .905 save percentage across 52 outings. Buffalo took Ratzlaff with the No. 141 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, and his development should be regarded as a long-term project.

Ratzlaff will return to WHL Seattle for the upcoming season, the team announced Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Ratzlaff got to see some shots in the preseason, stopping all 20 he faced in Saturday's 6-3 defeat to Columbus. There was little hope the 19-year-old backstop would even sniff NHL action, especially with James Reimer and Devon Levi already competing for the No. 2 job, but at least Ratzlaff was able to test the NHL waters. Barring a rough junior campaign, the Alberta native will likely be offered an entry-level deal at some point this season and could be in contention for a spot with AHL Rochester ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Ratzlaff will defend the road net in Saturday's exhibition contest against Columbus, according to Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers.

EDGE Analysis

Ratzlaff posted a 21-26-2 record with a 3.33 GAA and a .905 save percentage across 52 regular-season appearances for WHL Seattle in 2023-24. The 19-year-old netminder will likely return to the junior ranks this campaign.