Sabres acquire RPI's Kasdorf from Jets

It doesn’t matter to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute junior goalie Jason Kasdorf where he gets the opportunity to play in the National Hockey League someday. Just as long as he gets a chance, he will be happy.

Kasdorf won’t be receiving that opportunity from his hometown team, the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets traded Kasdorf’s rights to the Buffalo Sabres. The rights were part of the blockbuster trade that sent left winger Evander Kane and defenseman Zach Bogosian to the Sabres in exchange for defenseman Tyler Myers, forwards Joel Armia and Drew Stafford, the rights to 2014 second-round pick Brendan Lemieux and Buffalo’s first-round pick in the June draft. That pick will be later in the first round.

“I’m excited,” Kasdorf said. “It’s a great opportunity.”

The Jets selected Kasdorf in the sixth round of the 2011 draft. It would have been a great story had Kasdorf gotten the chance to play for his hometown team.

Kasdorf isn’t disappointed that he won’t get that opportunity.

“Right now, at this point in my life, my goal is just to try and make the NHL,” Kasdorf said. “Whether that’s with my hometown team or not, at the end of the day, my dream is just to play in the NHL. Where ever that happens, that’s where I want to be.”

Kasdorf is 9-14 this season with a 2.94 goals-against average, a .900 save percentage and one shutout. He was ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year in 2012-13, when he went 12-2-2 in league play with a 1.39 GAA, a .945 save percentage and three shutouts. His 2013-14 season was cut short after two games because of a dislocated shoulder.

While Kasdorf hopes to make the NHL one day, he’s focused on trying to help the Engineers earn home ice in the first round of the ECACH tournament. RPI is in ninth place, three points behind Colgate and Cornell, who are tied for seventh and the final two home-ice slots.

“I’ve thought about it, but I haven’t put too much thought into it,” Kasdorf said. “I want to try and finish off this season strong. We’ve got six more games left in the regular season. I want to help my team win as many games as we can, and then go to the playoffs and, hopefully, have a good run.”

union connection

The trade has a tie to Union. Dutchmen volunteer assistant coach Aaron Bogosian is the brother of Zach Bogosian. They are from Massena.

“I was excited,” Aaron Bogosian said. “It’s closer to home. A lot of people will get to see him play. I’m going to try to get to as many games as I can. It will be a good situation for him.”