Jost Determined To Return To NHL

CHARLOTTE, NC - While there is disappointment in returning to the American Hockey League (AHL) after nearly five calendar years in the NHL, Rochester Americans forward Tyson Jost is relishing in the opportunity to play big minutes and re-instill his love for the game.

"No, you're absolutely right. It's about finding that joy again. It's just nice to be involved and be a part of it and feel like you're contributing to the team," Jost told InsideAHLHockey.com after a January 12 win in Charlotte in which he helped set up what ended up being the game-winning goal in the third period.

It's every hockey player's dream to be an every day NHL player, and that is no different for Jost, but after beginning the season as the Buffalo Sabres' 13th forward and a regular healthy scratch as the extra body it just seemed like he was never able to get into a rhythm as the 2023-24 season progressed.

Even when dressed, Jost was seeing limited ice time.

"Like you said in and out line up getting scratched, it's tough as a player. There's not a lot of practices at all, so I was doing a lot of extra work myself," Jost said of the NHL's schedule being much different than that of the AHL's where games are mostly on weekends and it allows for more team practices during the week.

The hard reality began to set in, and was cemented, when the Sabres placed Jost on waivers toward the end of December.

After recording four points (two goals, two assists) in 29 NHL games, Jost cleared waivers and was assigned to AHL-Rochester in advance of the Americans December 29th home game against the Hershey Bears.

"Sometimes when you're in the NHL and you're in and out of a lineup, it's not that fun. Yeah, being an NHL is fun but being in and out of the lineup or playing eight minutes a night isn't that fun," Americans' head coach Seth Appert explained of Jost's situation with the Sabres to begin the year.

The disappointment of being assigned to the AHL has only fueled Jost's determination to prove he's an every day NHL'er.

"Yeah, it's not what I wanted. Yeah, I definitely want to be in the NHL," Jost said of being in the AHL again for the first time since February of 2019. "I'm not happy about it by any means, but it is what it is. I'm gonna go out and work as hard as I can."

The best way for him to do that is to help lead the way in Rochester, and he has really hit the ground running with the opportunity and increased role - tallying a goal and an assist in that December 29 game against Hershey and six points (two goals, four assists) in his first five games with Rochester.

"He's been outstanding, both in play, but also in attitude," Appert said of Jost's arrival to the team and what he's brought, adding, "He's come down - and [Jacob] Bryson the same - they've come down to help us win. They haven't come down just to put up points or play skilled, they've come down to help us win. And when you have guys with NHL experience, we haven't had a lot of those guys last couple of years. We've been a really, really young team. so to have a few of those types of guys to lean on in big moments has been important for us."

While in Rochester, Jost plays big minutes with added time on special teams. The increased role is allowing him to get some confidence back into his game as well.

"It's just nice when you are getting reps again, getting in a rhythm and playing regular shift," Jost explained, adding, "any player is going to play better when they're doing that, so just want to keep that up. I'm playing good hockey right now and just keep working and hope something works out."

"You can't make excuses. That's just the circumstance I'm in, and I'm going to do everything I can to get back to the NHL because I know belong there."

It's that mentality that Appert referred to when he said he didn't really need to have a deep 1-on-1 conversation with Jost when he first arrived to Rochester like he normally would for a younger player being sent down to the AHL.

"I mean, his attitude, his work ethic have been amazing," Appert said of Jost. "He's a great role model for our younger prospects. And here's a guy that is a first round pick, has played a long time in the NHL and they just see how well he's handled the situation how hard he works. He's just a great example for our guys."