Amerks re-sign Matt Mackenzie, Brayden Irwin

The Rochester Americans signed defenseman Matt MacKenzie and right winger Brayden Irwin to one-year American Hockey League contracts on Thursday.

Neither are projected to play in the AHL All-Star game, but both will give the Amerks quality minutes in a variety of situations.

MacKenzie, 22, returns for his fourth pro season. A third-round draft pick (83rd overall) of the Buffalo Sabres in 2010, he became a free agent in July when his entry-level contract expired and he was not given a qualifying offer.

He said there was interest elsewhere, but no team was offering an NHL contract.

"If it was going to be an American League contract, then I wanted to come back to Rochester," he said. "Rochester has been my home the last three years. I love the city, I love the team."

He said he also appreciates what the coaching staff has done for his game, and that was a factor in his decision.

"It was kind of a no-brainer to come back," he said.

Plagued by injuries and limited to a total of 50 AHL games in his first two seasons, MacKenzie played 64 games last season (2 goals, 8 assists, 10 points, and 84 penalty minutes). He was the team leader in plus/minus (plus-11).

"However you look at plus/minus, the fact is, he was on the ice when more good things happened than bad," Amerks coach Chadd Cassidy said.

"Whenever he has played, he has been effective."

MacKenzie is by no means flashy. But the coaching staff knows they will get the same give-it-all effort night after night.

The Amerks D-corps includes veterans Drew Bagnall, Tyson Strachan, Nick Petrecki, MacKenzie, and the other slots will be filled by prospects who don't earn NHL jobs.

Mark Pysyk surely will be with the Sabres, and Rasmus Ristolainen and Chad Ruhwedel will be given opportunities to earn a spot in camp. Jake McCabe went right from the University of Wisconsin to the Sabres last spring, but he needs AHL time. Also, Jerome Leduc returns for his third pro season.

Irwin, 27, earned a chance to come back with his solid play over the final four months of the 2013-14 season. He joined the Amerks in January, just after they returned from the Spengler Cup tournament in Switzerland, and gradually earned more ice time.

At 6-foot-5, 223 pounds, he is very effective on the wall and in front of the net in the offensive zone.

"Every time we gave him a little bit more responsibility, he to advantage," Cassidy said. "I think it's a huge depth signing for us. He can play anywhere from the first line to the fourth line, he can kill penalties and he can play on the power play."

In 45 games, he scored 7-17-25. He also scored three goals in the five-game playoff series against the Chicago Wolves.

Irwin has played four pro seasons, and he spent most of 2011-12 and '12-13 in the ECHL. He was playing for ECHL Greenville when the Amerks signed him to a tryout contract.

Cassidy said it's possible that the Amerks will add two more players "for depth in Rochester and Elmira." He did say they still want to talk with left winger Colton Gillies, who was their most effective forechecker last season.