Just a few minutes into the Sabres' first skate of training camp, Dahlin left with what head coach Lindy Ruff described as a middle-body injury. Dahlin experienced discomfort on a routine pass and did not return after being evaluated by trainers. Ruff did not have an update on Dahlin after the skate.
Krebs will remain a Sabre after agreeing to a two-year, $2.9 million ($1,450,000 AAV) contract extension on Tuesday morning. The 23-year-old was Vegas' 2019 1st-round pick (17th overall) but has spent the last three seasons in Buffalo. In 2023-24, he unfortunately failed to take an expected step forward but still put up four goals, 17 points, 67 PIMs and 74 SOG in 80 games played.
Buffalo solified its goaltending for years to come after it signed Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to a five-year, $23.75 million contract extension ($4,750,000 AAV). The 25-year-old was drafted by Buffalo in the 2nd round of the 2017 NHL Draft (54th overall) and set career highs in wins (27), appearances (54) and GAA (2.57) in 2023-24 as Buffalo's starter.
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.
Stanley has been a fringe player for the Jets the last two seasons, playing in just 44 of 164 games. The massive (6-foot-7, 231 lbs.) defenseman has just two goals and three assists (five points) in those two seasons combined. If given a full work load, Stanley would likely top 150 hits and 100 blocked shots.
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).
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.
Carrick is a fourth-line penalty killing centre who will help replace Barclay Goodrow in New York. He won't provide a lot of offence but scored double-digit goals for the second time in his career this past season.
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).
Carrick replaced Derek Ryan in the lineup in Game 5, but it looks like Ryan could be back in for him in Game 6. Carrick remained on the ice with the scratches during Sunday's morning skate, an indication that he's coming out of the lineup, although no changes were confirmed by head coach Kris Knoblauch.
Carrick was a healthy scratch for Game 4 after failing to pick up a point in any of Edmonton's previous six games but will draw back into the lineup on Friday as he replaces Derek Ryan for Game 5. The 32-year-old is expected to centre the Oilers' fourth line and has no goals, one assist, four SOG and a -1 plus/minus in eight playoff games so far.
