Buffalo Sabres News

Buffalo acquired Beck Malenstyn's rights on June 29th in a trade with Washington for a 2024 second-round pick and have signed the 26-year-old forward to a two-year, $2.7 million contract ($1,300,000 AAV). The left-winger is entering just his second full NHL season after playing in only 24 games in his first three years in the NHL before completing 81 games played in 2023-24. He set career highs last season in all statistical categories with six goals, 21 points, 25 PIMs and 98 SOG.

Helenius was selected with the No.14 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft after posting 36 points (14G / 22A) in 51 games with Jukurit Mikkeli (Liiga). He also represented Finland at the World Juniors, registering two points (1G / 1A) in seven games. Expect the 18-year-old to remain in Finland to start the 2024-25 season.

McLeod settled in on the Oilers third line and penalty kill during the 2024 season. The 24-year-old centre had career-highs in goals (12), assists (18) and points (30) but became expendable this offseason when the Oilers signed Viktor Arvidsson, Jeff Skinner, Adam Henrique, Mattias Janmark, Connor Brown and Corey Perry. In Buffalo, he should serve as their No.3 centre and provide the Sabres with additional speed and penalty-killing prowess.

Anaheim added to its bottom six on Wednesday as they added Carson Meyer on a one-year, two-way contract. The 26-year-old had spent the last three seasons with the Blue Jackets after being drafted by them in the 2017 sixth round (179th overall). In 2023-24, he appeared in 14 games with Columbus, scoring a goal, two points, two PIMs and a -2 plus/minus.

Rochester added to its team depth on Monday as Buffalo signed Josh Dunne to a two-year, two-way contract. The 25-year-old last appeared in the NHL in 2022-23 and has no points in 14 games of experience under his belt. In 2023-24 he had two goals and seven points in 25 games played with Cleveland (AHL).

Bryson will remain a Buffalo Sabre after four successful seasons after signing a one-year, $900,000 contract extension on Monday. The 26-year-old was Buffalo's 2017 4th-round pick (99th overall) and has appeared in 206 career games, picking up four goals and 36 points.

Zucker spent 2023-24 between Arizona and Nashville but earned himself a one-year deal worth $5 million with the Buffalo Sabres. The 32-year-old will join his fifth NHL team in his 14th season after putting up 14 goals, 32 points, and 81 PIMs in 69 games between the Coyotes and Predators.

Buffalo made the first splash of Saturday as they acquired left-winger Beck Malenstyn from Washington for the 43rd overall draft pick. The 26-year-old appeared in 81 games with Washington in 2023-24 and had six goals, 21 points, 98 SOG and 25 PIMs.

Kesselring broke out in 2023-24 with five goals and 21 points in 65 games played and has earned himself a two-year, $2.8 million contract extension with the Utah Hockey Club. The 24-year-old is in his 2nd NHL season and has 74 NHL games under his belt to go with his 24 career points.

Norris had successful shoulder surgery in March, but Senators GM Steve Staios expects him to be ready for training camp in the fall. Norris has appeared in just 58 games over the last two seasons, posting 18 goals and 15 assists (33 points).

St. Louis has secured their goaltending tandem in Springfield (AHL) for the 2024-25 season after they re-signed Colten Ellis to a one-year, two-way contract extension on Tuesday. The 23-year-old netminder was St. Louis' 2019 third-round pick (93rd overall) and was sensational in 2023-24, posting a .923+ SV% in both the ECHL with Orlando (21 games) and AHL with Springfield (16 games).

McLeod was a healthy scratch for the Oilers' previous game but is expected to draw back into for Sam Carrick ahead of Game 4 on Wednesday. The 24-year-old centre had 30 points in 81 games during the regular season but has yet to pick up a point in 14 playoff games while averaging 13:47 TOI/GP.

McLeod has yet to pick up a point in his first 14 games of the playoffs. He will be replaced by Adam Henrique, who will be suiting up for the first time since Game 2 vs. the Canucks.

Georgiev allowed four goals on 33 shots (.879 SV%) for a third straight loss but was far and away Colorado's biggest problem in Game 4 and will take the crease again on Wednesday. The 28-year-old has had a very up-and-down playoffs so far, with his 5-4-0 record, 3.10 GAA and .891 SV%. He will head to Dallas to take on the Stars, who are looking for their second-straight series win on Wednesday.

Georgiev stopped 19 of 22 shots in the Avalanche's come from behind win in Game 1. Georgiev was absolutely lit up in his first start of the playoffs but has gone 5-0 with 2.12 GAA and .921 SV% in five games since. Tonight he'll backstop the Avalanche as +118 road underdogs, who are looking to take the series back to Colorado up 2-0.

Despite allowing seven goals in Colorado's playoff-opening loss, Georgiev led the Avalanche to four straight wins and a series-opening victory over Winnipeg with his stellar play and 4-1-0 record, .900 SV% and 3.03 GAA. The 28-year-old will unsurprisingly take the crease on Tuesday for Game 1 in Dallas after leading the NHL in wins (38) for a second straight season in 2023-24. He will head to Dallas to take on the Stars, who finished a hard-fought seven-game series vs. Vegas on Sunday with a 2-1 victory at home.

No surprise here as the Avalanche will roll with their starting netminder as they look to eliminate the Jets in Winnipeg on Tuesday night. Georgiev has rebounded admirably since a dreadful performance in Game 1, winning three straight games and posting a .938 SV% in the process. The 27-year-old now owns a 2.70 GAA and a .907 SV% in 13 career playoff games. He and the Avalanche enter action on Tuesday as slight favourites at -120.