The Sabres and Lightning have swapped minor league defensemen as Buffalo has acquired Matt Spencer in exchange for Devante Stephens. Both teams have announced the deal.
Spencer, a second-round pick in 2015, has been limited to just five games this season due to injury and has split that time between AHL Syracuse and ECHL Orlando. He has spent the bulk of his pro career at the ECHL level and had 15 points in 36 ECHL contests a year ago. The 22-year-old is in the final year of his entry-level deal and will need to show some improvement if he wants to be qualified in June. He has been assigned to Cincinnati of the ECHL.
As for Stephens, the 2015 fifth rounder has been limited to a total of three ECHL games this season but showed a bit of offensive upside a year ago with the Cyclones when he posted 25 points in 69 contests. He’s also in the final year of his entry-level deal and doesn’t appear to be a candidate to receive a qualifying offer as well.