Buffalo has signed Matt Villalta to a one-year, two-way contract.
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Buffalo Sabres News
The Sabres have signed Aidan McDonough to a one-year, two-way contract.
McDonough, a seventh-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, is coming off an impressive 2025-26 season in the AHL, scoring 44 points (23G / 21A) in 65 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The 26-year-old forward played six NHL games in 2022-23, but has exclusively played in the AHL since.
Buffalo has signed Jason Polin to a one-year, two-way contract.
Polin played four games with the Colorado Avalanche last season, but has primarily been an AHL player. The 27-year-old forward scored 21 points (10G / 11A) last season in 46 games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL).
Buffalo has signed Trevor Kuntar to a two-year, two-way contract.
Kuntar, a third-round pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, made his NHL debut last season, playing one game with the Buffalo Sabres. The 25-year-old forward spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, scoring 37 points (21G / 16A) in 37 games with the Rochester Americans.
Buffalo has signed Conor Sheary to a one-year, $850,000 AAV contract.
After spending most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, Sheary returned to the NHL in a bottom-six role with the New York Rangers, scoring 18 points (7G / 11A) in 62 games. The 34-year-old 5'8 forward rejoins the Buffalo Sabres, a team he spent two seasons with earlier in his career.
Buffalo has signed Dennis Gilbert to a one-year, $850,000 contract.
Gilbert has played 119 career NHL games, but only suited up in eight last season with the Ottawa Senators. The 29-year-old defenseman will provide some reliable depth on Buffalo's blueline after signing a one-year deal worth $850K.
The Sabres have signed Olen Zellweger to a three-year deal worth $3.1M AAV ($9.3M total).
Buffalo acquired the rights to Olen Zellweger last week for Anton Wahlberg and a 2026 2nd round pick and has now signed the defender to a three-year deal worth $3.1M AAV ($9.3M total). The 22-year-old will join Buffalo after three solid seasons in Anaheim which saw him surpass 7+ goals and 20+ points twice. He is expected to fill the void left by Bowen Byram being traded to Chicago for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
Buffalo has signed Beck Malenstyn to a six-year contract worth $2.9167 million AAV ($17.5M total).
In his two seasons with Buffalo, Malenstyn has impressed in a bottom-six role, earning himself a six-year contract extension worth $17.5 million ($2.917 AAV). The 27-year-old forward averaged 11:15 time-on-ice, recording 282 hits and 14 points (7G / 7A) in 81 games last season.
The Sabres have acquired Olen Zellweger from the Ducks for Anton Wahlberg and the No.45 overall pick.
Zellweger was drafted 34th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and had an impressive 2025-26 season with the Ducks, scoring 22 points (7G / 15A) and averaging 16:59 time-on-ice in 76 games. With Bowen Byram's recent departure from Buffalo, the 22-year-old Zellweger looks poised to see an elevated role in 2026-27 with his new team.
Buffalo has signed Zach Benson to a seven-year contract extension worth $7.5 million AAV ($52.5 million total).
Benson was drafted 13th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and made his presence felt with a breakout 2025-26 season, scoring 43 points (13G / 30A) in 65 games. The 21-year-old forward continued to gain attention in the postseason, where he scored nine points (5G / 4A) in 13 games. He should continue to see his role elevate in the upcoming season with the Sabres, especially with the recent departure of top-six forward Alex Tuch.
The Sabres have acquired Louis Crevier, the No.4 overall pick in 2026 and the No.45 overall pick in 2026 from the Blackhawks for Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway.
Crevier was a seventh-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, who is coming off his first full-time season at the NHL level. The 25-year-old defenseman scored 25 points (7G / 18A) and averaged 17:08 time-on-ice in 78 games last season.
Buffalo has signed Jake Richard to a two-year, entry-level contract.
Richard was a sixth-round pick, 170th overall, of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old American forward recently finished his third season with the University of Connecticut, scoring 27 points (10G / 17A) in 38 games.
Kulich (blood clot) has returned to skating and plans to make a return to the NHL eventually.
Kulich suffered a blood clot in early November and was sidelined for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. That said, the Sabres received encouraging news that Kulich is trending in the right direction and is expected to return. The 22-year-old Czech forward, the 28th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, has 29 points (18G / 11A) in 75 career games.
Goalie Start
Luukkonen will start Game 7 against the Canadiens.
After being pulled in favour of Alex Lyon in Game 5, UPL was thrust back into action in Game 6 when the Sabres suffered an early 3-1 deficit. Luukkonen performed spectacularly with Buffalo's season on the line, stopping all 18 shots he faced in relief as the Sabres fought back and ultimately forced Game 7 with an 8-3 victory. The odds on the money line for Game 7 are nearly dead even, but the Sabres do enter action as the slight favourites at -115.
Line Change
Metsa will draw into the Sabres lineup for Game 6 in Montreal.
Goalie Start
Lyon will start Game 6 in Montreal.
Lyon allowed one goal on three shots after replacing Ukko-Pekke Lukkonen in the crease in Game 5. Lyon was excellent vs. the Bruins in Round 1, but hasn't found the same success vs. Montreal. Through four games, he is 1-2-0 with a 3.79 GAA and .872 SV%. Lyon and the Sabres enter the must-win game as +150 road underdogs.
Goalie Start
Lyon was the first goalie off the ice at the Sabres' morning skate.
Lyon allowed one goal on three shots after replacing Ukko-Pekke Lukkonen in the crease in Game 5. Lyon was excellent vs. the Bruins in Round 1, but hasn't found the same success vs. Montreal. Through four games, he is 1-2-0 with a 3.79 GAA and .872 SV%. Lyon and the Sabres enter the must-win game as +150 road underdogs.
Power (undisclosed) will play in Game 6 in Montreal.
Power was nicked up in Game 5 and head coach Lindy Ruff said that he was receiving treatment on Friday for the undisclosed injury. On Saturday he said that Power is a "possibility" to play in the must-win Game 6 in Montreal. Power has picked up five assists in 11 playoff games so far.
Goalie Start
Luukkonen will start Game 5 against the Canadiens.
Luukkonen made his return to the crease in Game Four against the Montreal Canadiens after serving as Buffalo's backup for three weeks, and didn't miss a beat, saving 29 of 31 shots (.935 SV%) in a 3-2 win to help his team even the series at 2-2. Sabres' Head Coach Lindy Ruff has already set the trend of rolling with the hot goalie this postseason, and will continue that on Thursday, with Luukkonen set to tend the twine in Game Five. The Sabres enter the action as -117 home favourites.
Goalie Start
Luukkonen is in the starter's crease ahead of Game 5 vs. Montreal.
Luukkonen made his return to the crease in Game Four against the Montreal Canadiens after serving as Buffalo's backup for three weeks, and didn't miss a beat, saving 29 of 31 shots (.935 SV%) in a 3-2 win to help his team even the series at 2-2. Sabres' Head Coach Lindy Ruff has already set the trend of rolling with the hot goalie this postseason, and will continue that on Thursday, with Luukkonen set to tend the twine in Game Five. The Sabres enter the action as -117 home favourites.