The Portland Pirates will have Luke Adam back in the lineup when they take on the Charlotte Checkers.

Adam, 20, was recalled on Saturday to replace an injured Nathan Gerbe. The former Pirates forward suffered a fractured jaw after taking a Tyler Myer’s slap shot to the side of the face.

Gerbe is still practicing with the Sabres while wearing a full face shield and forward Jason Pominville was cleared to play after passing his neuro-psych test. The move to send Adam back to Portland was necessary.

The St. John’s, NL native has had an impressive start to his season, earning two recalls to the Sabres in the first month of the season.

In nine games with the Pirates, Adam has six goals, seven assists for 13 points with a plus-6 rating.

The 2008 second round selection (#44 overall) of the Sabres is at or near the top of the AHL’s rookie leaderboard in goals (2nd), assists (T-1st), points (1st) and plus/minus (T-1st).

Adam has been awarded the AHL’s Player of the Week for the week ending Oct. 8, and earlier in the day he was named the AHL’s Rookie of the Month award.

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The Buffalo Sabres announced today they’ve signed 2009 first round draft pick (13th overall) Zack Kassian to a three-year entry level contract.

The 19-year old Windsor, ONT native is currently in his fourth season of junior hockey, playing with the Windsor Spitfires where he leads the team in scoring with seven goals, 13 assists for 20 points.

Kassian, 6-3, 226-pounds, has 135 points in 168 career games in the OHL with Windsor and Peterborough and was a key member of last year’s Memorial Cup championship with Windsor.

The Sabres were in position to sign the 19-year old at the end of last season, but Kassian was involved in altercation where he was charged with assault after punching a man during a bar fight in his hometown of Windsor.

At the time the Sabres opt to suspend negotiations with Kassian until he met certain requirements.

Once those requirements were met; Sabres’ GM Darcy Regier began contract talks once again. Kassian had an impressive camp earning an extended stay with the Sabres before being sent down to the Spitfires.

Last Wednesday, a provincial court dismissed the case against Kassian after both parties negotiated a deal. The charges against Kassian were dropped in exchanged he had to perform 25 hours of community service and make a $500 donation to charity as well as pay for the dental work of the victim, who suffered a chipped tooth during the early morning altercation back on May 30th.