The Buffalo Sabres have re-signed Sean Malone to a one-year, two-way contract that carries a $788K salary at the NHL level. Malone was a restricted free agent after finishing his entry-level contract and did not qualify for salary arbitration.
Malone, 23, was originally drafted in 2013 but spent four seasons at Harvard before joining the Sabres organization. After making his NHL debut at the end of the 2016-17 season, he spent last year with the Rochester Americans of the AHL where he recorded 22 points in 73 games. The two-way center struggled at times on an Americans team that relied on some more veteran players down the middle, but should return to Rochester and play an even bigger role next season.
The one year deal will keep Malone a restricted free agent next summer, and in the Buffalo system going forward. Though there isn’t a huge ceiling for the sixth-round pick, he does represent a legitimate depth option for the NHL squad going forward. Perhaps he’ll never be a full-time player, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him in the NHL at some point due to injury or other problems for the Sabres.