Cole Schneider is a Williamsville native. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres make 7-player AHL trade with Senators

BUFFALO – The Sabres sent three AHL players to the Ottawa Senators late Saturday night in exchange for four other minor leaguers, including Williamsville native Cole Schneider, the Binghamton Senators’ leading scorer.

Gone from the Rochester Americans are forwards Phil Varone and Jason Akeson and defenseman Jerome Leduc.

In addition to Schneider, who has 17 goals and 42 points in 54 AHL games this season, the Sabres also acquired forwards Eric O’Dell and Alex Guptill and defenseman Mike Sdao.

More on the new acquisitions:

– The 6-foot-1, 199-pound Schneider, 25, has 83 goals and 191 points in 263 career AHL games. He played two seasons at UConn.

– The 6-foot, 195-pound O’Dell, 25, led Binghamton with 18 goals and was second behind Schneider with 37 points in 50 games. He played 41 games over the last two seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, compiling three goals and eight points.

– The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Guptill, 23, has 14 goals and 24 points in 41 contests this season between Binghamton and two ECHL teams.

– The 6-foot-4, 229-pound Sdao, 26, has two assists in 17 games this season. He had 171 penalty minutes two years ago.

While the deal doesn’t change the current makeup of the Sabres, general manager Tim Murray tried to address some needs on the farm before the trade deadline hits Monday at 3 p.m.

The Amerks, who are in a playoff fight, lost 10-5 on Saturday in Toronto. Akeson (30 points) and Varone (29) rank first and second in team scoring. Varone’s 12 goals are tied for the team lead.

Varone, 25, led the Amerks in scoring twice in five seasons, compiling 67 goals and 221 points in 305 games. He played 42 contests with the Sabres, scoring five goals and nine points.

While Varone had a goal and two points in five NHL appearances this season, it appeared his time in the organization would be ending. Despite his scoring prowess, a team-worst minus-21 rating helped him get benched earlier in the campaign.

Meanwhile, Akeson, 25, was a disappointment with the Amerks, scoring only nine times. He had 67 goals over the previous three seasons with Philadelphia’s AHL affiliates.

Leduc, 23, the 68th overall pick in 2010, never played for the Sabres. He has 19 goals and 57 points in 227 AHL games.

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