East Notes: Forton, Bergeron, Colliton, Alnefelt

In preparation for a busy offseason, the Buffalo Sabres are also ironing out the hierarchy in their front office. Earlier today, the team announced that Jerry Forton had been promoted to Assistant General Manager and Chris Bergeron has been hired as an amateur free-agent scout.

The promotion is a long time coming for Forton, as he has spent the last decade with the Sabres organization in a variety of positions. Originally brought to Buffalo as an assistant coach for the 2013-14 NHL season, Forton has also spent time as an amateur scout, the Director of Collegiate Scouting, and his most recent role as Director of Amateur Scouting. Forton will oversee the entirety of the Amateur Scouting and Professional Scouting Departments in his new capacity.

Bergeron, on the other hand, is stepping into his first opportunity with an NHL organization. Even though his coaching career began in the 2000-01 NCAA season as an assistant coach for Miami University of Ohio, Bergeron spent nine years (2010-2019) as head coach of Bowling Green State University’s hockey team before returning to Miami University of Ohio as a head coach until this past season.

Other notes:

• Recently named as an associate coach for the New Jersey Devils, Jeremy Colliton’s primary responsibilities have already been made public. Shortly after the hiring was made official, team reporter for the Devils, Amanda Stein, shared that Colliton will oversee the team’s forwards and powerplay. During his tenure as head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks, the team finished 22nd and 23rd in the AHL in powerplay percentage under Colliton. However, with the Devils boasting some of the best top-end talent, the team’s powerplay should still be an efficient part of the organization.
• Just over a month ago, it was reported that goaltending prospect, Hugo Alnefelt, would be leaving the Tampa Bay Lightning organization for an opportunity in his native Sweden. In an interview with Martin Jansson of HockeySvierge, it does not appear Alnefelt will be home for good, as he envisions returning to North America at some point. The 23-year-old goaltending prospect was quoted, “It’s hard to know if you’re ready or not and I don’t know if you can really be ready if you do something you’ve never tried. But there is absolutely nothing I regret that I went over so early. The plan now is not to be at home for good, it is to develop and take the step back“.