Jacob Markstrom received a six-year contract from Calgary. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres sign three depth players during odd day of free agency

The COVID-19 pandemic promised to make this offseason unusual.

NHL teams have generated little or no revenue over the past seven months. The league has frozen the salary cap at $81.5 million for 2020-21, a season it would like to start in January. That, of course, could be difficult.

The uncertainty surrounding the season created an odd opening day of free agency Friday. Many teams are operating on internal budgets far below the cap.

Instead ... Read the full article

Matt Irwin defends Buffalo’s Drew Stafford while a member of San Jose in 2014. ©2020, Dan Hickling, Hickling Images

Sabres sign Matt Irwin to one-year contract; Brandon Davidson inks deal

The Buffalo Sabres added some depth late this afternoon, signing left-shot defenseman Matt Irwin to a one-year, $700,000 contract, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Update: The Sabres have officially announced the deal.

Irwin, 32, helps balance the blue line a bit. The Sabres now have three left-handed defensemen and four righties.

The 6-foot-1, 207-pound Irwin compiled zero goals, three assists and a minus-15 rating in 36 total games last season with the Nashville Predators and ... Read the full article

Kevyn Adams is a rookie general manager. ©2020, Hickling Images

Sabres sign Tobias Rieder to one-year contract

More than three hours after free agency opened, new Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has added his first player, signing winger Tobias Rieder to a one-year, $700,000 contract, according to The Score’s John Matisz and The Buffalo News’ Lance Lysowski.

Update: The Sabres have officially announced the deal.

The 5-foot-11, 186-pound Rieder, 27, scored four goals and 10 points in 55 games with the Calgary Flames last season. He also scored three short-handed goals ... Read the full article