New York Rangers: Who in the world is Daniel Catenacci?

NHL Draft and AHL experience

Over the summer of 2011, Catenacci was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the third round (77th overall) of the NHL Entry Draft. Later on in that summer, the forward was traded to the Owen Sound Attack in exchange for Andrew Fritsch, Michael Schumacher, and a second-round draft pick.

He came out of the gate swinging for his new team, with 72 points (33 goals and 39 assists) in 67 games in his first season there (2011-2012). The year after, he surpassed the prior year’s total by seven points, with 79 points (38 goals and 41 assists) in the same amount of games.

The Owen Sound Attack qualified for playoffs in both of those years, with Catenacci putting up four points (one goal and three assists in five games) in 2012 and nine points (three goals and six assists in 12 games) in 2013.

The then 20-year-old made his debut for the AHL-affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres, the Rochester Americans, in the 2013 playoffs. Though he only played in two games, his presence was definitely felt. He put up three points (one goal and two assists). After that performance, he was made a regular member of the Americans.

In his first full season with Rochester, Catenacci recorded 20 points (10 goals and 10 assists) in 79 games. The Americans made the playoffs, but he was held scoreless in the two games he appeared in.

The season after (2014-2015), he exceeded the year before’s point total by nine in eight fewer games. That makes 29 points (15 goals and 14 assists) in 68 games.