Sabres Sign Malenstyn, Avoid Arbitration

The Buffalo Sabres announced Tuesday that they have signed forward Beck Malenstyn to a two-year deal worth $1.35 million annually. Malenstyn was acquired from the Washington Capitals on day two of the 2024 NHL Draft for the second-round pick used to select Cole Hutson. The contract leaves the Sabres with two remaining restricted free agents to sign – Peyton Krebs and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

Malenstyn and Luukkonen were the only Buffalo RFAs eligible for arbitration, both electing to head that route. The two-year deal means the Sabres avoid arbitration with Malenstyn, leaving the focus on their starting netminder. Salary arbitration hearings are set to run through August 4th, although the NHLPA has not made each player’s specific hearing date public as in years past.

Evolving-Hockey’s contract projections are based on recent trends and stat categories. They projected the most likely contract to be a three-year deal. Malenstyn was expected to net $1.568 million per season on a two-year deal, suggesting that the Sabres inked the big forward at a slight discount.

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New-Look Fourth Line

The Sabres now have what is expected to be their brand new fourth line intact, with Malenstyn on the left wing with center Sam Lafferty and right wing Nicolas Aube-Kubel. Buffalo’s new trio brings a lot of speed and physicality into the mix, which the Sabres focused on adding this offseason.

Aube-Kubel was Malenstyn’s linemate in Washington last season, and the two were deployed in heavy defensive-zone starts and faceoffs. With defense being the focus, the two, along with center Nic Dowd, formed one of the better shutdown fourth lines in the NHL.

Malenstyn joins Lafferty, Aube-Kubel, Jason Zucker, and Ryan McLeod as the new faces up front to bolster the forward group. The biggest backend addition to the team was local product Dennis Gilbert, who will battle for a spot with the Sabres.

Malenstyn recorded six goals and 21 points in 81 games last season for the Capitals.