Buffalo Sabres center Ryan McLeod has parlayed a breakout season in which he set new career highs by scoring 20 goals and 53 points into a four-year, $20 million contract.
He inked the deal Tuesday shortly after becoming a restricted free agent.
McLeod, 25, fit in nicely in his first season in Buffalo, moving up and down the lineup while being utilized for faceoffs and as a penalty killer.
He won 630 draws, a whopping 177 more any teammate. His 52.3 percent faceoff percentage ranked first on the team.
McLeod’s 33 assists and plus-13 rating in 79 games also set career highs.
The Sabres on Tuesday re-signed two other RFAs: defenseman Ryan Johnson and forward Tyson Kozak. Each player inked a three-year, $2.325 million contract ($775,000 average annual value).
Johnson’s contract becomes a one-way in years two and three, according to Puckpedia.com. He will earn $350,000 in the minors next season as part of a two-way deal.
Johnson, 23, spent most of last season with the Rochester Americans, recording two goals and 13 points in 66 games. He played three contests for the Sabres.
The Sabres drafted him 31st overall in 2019.
Kozak, 22, scored three goals and five points in his first 21 NHL games last season. He also registered eight goals and 14 points in 31 games with the Amerks.
The Sabres drafted him in the seventh round in 2021, 193rd overall.
With those players locked up, the Sabres have three unsigned RFAs: goalie Devon Levi and defensemen Bowen Byram and Conor Timmins.