JULY 1 • PANTAGRAPH.COM
BUFFALO SABRES
Sam Lafferty returns to Chicago Blackhawks — for a 3rd time — as free agency opens The Chicago Blackhawks acquired Sam Lafferty from the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, trading a 2026 sixth-round draft pick for the former Blackh...
Blue Jackets Lose Justin Danforth Bob McKenzie has reported that forward Justin Danforth has signed with the Buffalo Sabres on a two-year deal with an AAV of $1.8 million.
JULY 1 • THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM
Tyson Kozak - Secures three-year contract Kozak put pen to paper on a three-year, $2.325 million contract with Buffalo on Tuesday.
Impact Kozak's new deal starts out as a two-way contract for the first two years before switching to a one-way contract for the 2027-28 campaign. Given the nature of the deal, the 22-year-old center should probably be expected to spend the bulk of 2025-26 in the minors with AHL Rochester. During his rookie campaign, Kozak notched three goals and two assists in 21 regular-season tilts.
JULY 1 • ROTOWIRE
Justin Danforth - Secures two-year deal Danforth signed a two-year, $3.6 million contract with Buffalo on Tuesday, Bob McKenzie of TSN reports.
Impact Danforth still reached the 20-point threshold this past season despite playing in just 61 games due to injury. If the Ontario native can secure a top-six role with the Sabres, in addition to earning a spot with one of the power-play units, he could challenge his career-best 26 points set back in 2023-24 with the Jackets.
JULY 1 • ROTOWIRE
Alex Lyon - Secures two-year deal Lyon inked a two-year, $3 million contract with Buffalo on Tuesday.
Impact Lyon put up decent numbers in Detroit last season, going 14-9-1 with a 2.81 GAA, .896 save percentage and one shutout in 30 regular-season outings. The problem for Lyon was the crowded goalie room with the Red Wings, a situation that won't be much different in Buffalo, as Devon Levi is pushing to be a full-time NHL option.
JULY 1 • ROTOWIRE
Mason Geertsen - Grabs two-year pact Geertsen inked a two-year, two-way contract with Buffalo on Tuesday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Impact Geertsen hasn't played in the NHL since the 2021-22 campaign when he logged 25 games for the Devils. In those appearances, the 30-year-old defenseman averaged a paltry 6:57 of ice time, understandably failing to register a point along the way. It's unlikely to get any better in Buffalo, as fantasy players should anticipate the Alberta native playing the majority of his games for AHL Rochester this year.
JULY 1 • ROTOWIRE
Ryan Johnson - Staying with Buffalo Johnson signed a three-year, $2.325 million contract with the Sabres on Tuesday.
Impact The first year of Johnson's new deal is two-way, while the last two years are one-way, so that suggests the defenseman will see most of his playing time with AHL Rochester in 2025-26. The 23-year-old had two goals, 13 points and a plus-13 rating over 66 regular-season games with the Americans last season.
JULY 1 • ROTOWIRE
Jacob Bernard-Docker - Will hit open market Tuesday Bernard-Docker wasn't tendered a qualifying offer from the Sabres on Monday, according to Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald.
Impact After appearing in 25 regular-season games with Ottawa last season, Bernard-Docker was dealt to Buffalo at the trade deadline. He put up four points with each club, albeit in 10 fewer games with the Sabres. The 2018 first-round selection, No. 26 overall, will now be an unrestricted free agent, and he should have no problem finding a new home in a depth role for the 2025-26 campaign.
JUNE 30 • ROTOWIRE
Sabres Deals Addressed Needs, But Were Budget-Conscious The Buffalo Sabres made a pair of trades before and during the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles which were as much about changing the makeup of...
JUNE 30 • THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM
Jack Rathbone - Inks two-year deal with Buffalo Rathbone signed a two-year, $1.6 million contract with the Sabres on Sunday, per PuckPedia.
Impact Rathbone made 63 regular-season appearances with AHL Rochester in 2024-25, registering six goals, 23 points, 51 PIM and a plus-9 rating. The 26-year-old blueliner will most likely continue to provide organizational depth for the Americans next season. His last NHL appearance came with Vancouver in 2022-23.
JUNE 30 • ROTOWIRE
What Could've Been For Buffalo: Looking Back At The Sabres' 2020-21 Roster GM Kevyn Adams and the Buffalo Sabres have moved on from another promising player before they reached the pinnacle of their career. On Wedne...
JUNE 29 • KANSASCITY.COM
Adams Playing Waiting Game On Byram The Buffalo Sabres pulled off a second trade in the last week on Day 2 of the NHL Draft, and it involved a defenseman, but not the blueliner...
JUNE 29 • THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM
After Sabres' Latest Trade, Don't Expect Much From New Buffalo Defenseman The Buffalo Sabres made a trade Saturday, but it wasn't the trade many were expecting, as star defenseman Bowen Byram remained a Sabre, at l...
JUNE 29 • THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM
Penguins Acquire Defenseman Connor Clifton and the 2025 39th Overall Pick from the Buffalo Sabres in Exchange For Conor Timmins and Isaac Belliveau | Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired defenseman Connor Clifton and the 39th overall pick of the 2025 NHL Draft from the Buffalo Sabres in e...
JUNE 28 • NHL.COM
Isaac Belliveau - Heads to Buffalo in trade Belliveau and Conor Timmins were traded to Buffalo on Saturday in exchange for Connor Clifton and a 2025 second-round draft pick, reports TSN.ca.
Impact Belliveau split last season between Pittsburgh's AHL and ECHL affiliates. The 2021 fifth-round pick has seven points (one goal, six assists) in 24 career AHL games. He is 22 years old. Belliveau's game has been developing -- his previous season was almost fully spent in the ECHL. And he will spend 2025-26 honing his craft in the AHL. Belliveau's upside is as a smooth-skating, transitional defender on the bottom pairing.
JUNE 28 • ROTOWIRE
Conor Timmins - Shuffles off to Buffalo in trade Timmins and Isaac Belliveau were traded to Buffalo on Saturday in exchange for Connor Clifton and a 2025 second-round draft pick, reports TSN.ca.
Impact Timmins is a 25-year-old journeyman offensive defender who split last season between Toronto and Pittsburgh, putting up three goals and 12 assists in 68 games, combined. He struggled to slot into lineups as a 6/7 defender over his career, but last season, Timmins saw more ice time as he simplified his game and focused on better decisions in his own zone. The Sabres have a lot of puck movers ahead of him, but the fact he's a right shot will give him a chance to shine on a team laden with lefties. Expect him to still start on the bottom pairing in 2025-26, with hope for more if he can finally consolidate his game.
JUNE 28 • ROTOWIRE
Clifton traded to Penguins by Sabres for Timmins | NHL.com Defenseman had 16 points this season; Pittsburgh also receives 2nd-round pick in 2025 NHL Draft
JUNE 28 • NHL.COM
Penguins trade back into 2nd round, draft big, right-shooting D Peyton Kettles The Pittsburgh Penguins entered Day 2 of the 2025 NHL Draft on Saturday without a second-round selection as a result of a trade with the Los...
JUNE 28 • TRIBLIVE.COM
Penguins acquire defenseman Connor Clifton, 2nd-round pick from Sabres The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired defenseman Connor Clifton and a second-round selection (No. 39 overall) in the ongoing NHL Draft from the B...
JUNE 28 • TRIBLIVE.COM
Sabres 2025 NHL Draft tracker: Buffalo's picks, at a glance The Buffalo News is keeping track of the Sabres' 2025 NHL Draft picks. The Sabres opened by selecting defenseman Radim Mrtka at No. 9, the f...
JUNE 28 • BUFFALONEWS.COM
Mike Harrington: As NHL turns draft into bizarre sideshow, Sabres can't make a deal with No. 9 pick On moving up or moving totally out of No. 9, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams said, "Ultimately, we didn't feel like we were comfortable with anything...
JUNE 28 • BUFFALONEWS.COM
NHL Trade Rumors: Penguins & Sabres Talking Potential Big Deal During a recent appearance on SN590, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman shared that the Pittsburgh Penguins have had discussions with the Buffalo...
JUNE 27 • THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM
Sabres Sign Quinn To Two-Year Extension The Buffalo Sabres took care of some contractual business before the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday, signing winger Jack Quinn to a two-year, $6.7...
JUNE 27 • THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM
Sabres sign Jack Quinn to a two-year contract extension The Sabres have signed Jack Quinn to a two-year contract extension. Quinn, a right wing, was set to become a restricted free agent July 1.
JUNE 27 • BUFFALONEWS.COM
Sabres' Jack Quinn gets $6.75 million contract update after JJ Peterka trade | Sporting News Buffalo is keeping this winger around.
JUNE 27 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM
