Buffalo signs a forward, 3 defensemen, and a goalie.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres announced today that the team has signed forward Sean Malone to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2021-22 season.
Malone, 26, returns for his second stint with the organization after recording 65 points (28+37) over 169 career games with the Rochester Americans from 2017-20. During the 2019-20 campaign, his third year with the Amerks, the 6-foot-0, 197-pound forward tallied a career high 30 points on 12 goals and 18 assists in 58 games. His 30 points were tied for second among all Amerks skaters while his 18 assists ranked fourth.
A native of West Seneca, N.Y., Malone has totaled 80 points (33+47) in 192 career AHL contests, including 15 points (5+10) last season as a member of the Chicago Wolves. Additionally, Malone has registered a pair of helpers in three career Calder Cup Playoff contests.
Malone, who made his NHL debut during the 2016-17 season for the Sabres, was originally drafted by Buffalo in the sixth round (159th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft. In his only game at the NHL level last season, Malone notched his first NHL point with an assist for the Nashville Predators on Feb. 9.
Prior to turning pro, Malone played four years at Harvard University (ECAC), where he produced 31 points (42+57) in 115 career games for the Crimson. As a senior, Malone finished third on the team with 42 points (18+24) and was named to the All-ECAC All-Tournament Team while helping the club earn an ECAC Championship.
The Sabres re-signed defenseman Brandon Davidson to a one-year contract for the 2021-22 season.
Davidson appeared in six games with the Sabres last season while also appearing in two contests with the Amerks.
A sixth-round pick (162nd overall) of the Edmonton Oilers in 2010, Davidson appeared in a combined 12 NHL games with the Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks in 2019-20 while also recording an AHL career-high 20 points (3+17) in 34 appearances for the Stockton Heat. He led all Stockton defensemen in points per game (.59) during the 2019-20 campaign (minimum five games played) and ranked third among team blueliners in overall scoring.
A native of Taber, Alberta, the 29-year-old Davidson has totaled 23 points (9+14) in 180 career NHL games with Buffalo, Edmonton, Montreal, NY Islanders, Chicago, Calgary and San Jose, while also adding 49 points (15+34) over 192 AHL contests with Rochester, Oklahoma City, Rockford and Stockton.
During the 2012-13 season, he received the AHL’s Fred T. Hunt Award in recognition of his sportsmanship, determination and dedication to the game of hockey.
Prior to turning pro, the 6-foot-2, 208-pound defenseman played three seasons with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League. He was named to the WHL (East) Second All-Star Team in 2012 after a 49-point campaign as the captain of the Pats in his last junior season.
Buffalo signed defenseman Jimmy Schuldt to a one-year contract for the 2021-22 season.
Schuldt, 26, joins the organization after spending the 2020-21 season with the Henderson Silver Knights (AHL), notching 14 points (6+8) in 38 games. His six goals led all Silver Knights defensemen while his 14 points finished second. His eight assists finished third-best.
The 6-foot-0, 203-pound blueliner spent his first full professional season with the Chicago Wolves (AHL), totaling 21 points on six goals and 15 assists in 52 contests in 2019-20. Schuldt ranked second in assists and points among all Chicago rookies.
In his NHL debut with the Vegas Golden Knights during the 2018-19 season, the Minnetonka, MN., native earned his first NHL point with an assist on April 6.
Prior to turning pro, Schuldt completed a four-year collegiate career at St. Cloud State University (NCHC), where he produced 118 points (38+80) in 156 games from 2015-2019. In addition to holding a school-record in overall scoring, he was also the Huskies’ first-ever three-time team captain. During the 2018-19 season, he was a Hobey Baker Award finalist and was named the NCHC Player of the Year.
The Sabres signed goaltender Aaron Dell to a one-year contract for the 2021-22 season.
Dell, 32, joins the organization after splitting the 2020-21 season between the New Jersey Devils (NHL) and Binghamton Devils (AHL), posting a combined 1-5-1 record in eight appearances and a .854 save percentage.
In 114 NHL career appearances with New Jersey and San Jose, the 6-foot-0, 205-pound veteran netminder posted a 49-39-12 record to go with a 2.83 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. Additionally, Dell boasts a 33-26-11 mark with a 2.31 goals-against average and .923 save percent in 73 AHL appearances with Binghamton, San Jose, Worcester, and Abbotsford.
Dell was named the Central Hockey League’s most outstanding goaltender in 2012-13 after leading the Allen Americans to a CHL championship as a rookie. He finished the regular season with 22 wins and three shutouts before going 12-7 during the postseason on his way to earning All-Rookie Team and All-CHL First All-Star Team honors.
Prior to turning pro, Dell played three years of collegiate hockey at the University of North Dakota (NCAA), where he compiled a 49-20-5 with a 2.15 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage while backstopping the Fighting Hawks to three consecutive WCHA titles.
During the 2010-11 season, he was named to the WCHA First All-Star team in addition to earning the NCAA goaltending title after leading all netminders in the nation with a 1.79 goals-against average and finishing the year with a 30-7-2 record in 40 appearances. His 30 wins that season remain a school record, surpassing the previous mark of fellow NHL netminder Ed Belfour.
Buffalo signed defenseman Ethan Prow to a one-year contract for the 2021-22 season.
Prow joins the organization after spending the 2020-21 season with Munich EHC of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) on loan from the Florida Panthers (NHL). In 26 games, the 28-year-old blueliner finished second amongst the club’s defensemen in both assists (16) and points (20). He spent the 2019-20 campaign with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL), where led all defensemen and finished third on the team in scoring with 32 points (9+23) in 42 games.
In his first full season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2018-19, Prow, who was named to the AHL All-Star Classic, topped all Penguins skaters with a career-high 50 points on 18 goals and 32 assists while skating in 74 games. His 50 points were tied for third in the AHL amongst all AHL defenseman with former Amerk Zach Redmond.
A native of Sauk Rapids, MN., Prow has totaled 116 points (32+84) in 220 career AHL games with Springfield and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton while also adding a pair of assists in four contests with the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL).
Prior to turning pro, the 6-foot-0, 183-pound defenseman played four seasons with St. Cloud State University (NCHC), amassing 99 points (19+80) in 149 games from 2012-2016. As a senior in 2015-16, he captained the Huskies to an NCHC championship while earning recognition as NCHC Player of the Year and a nomination as a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award