The Buffalo Sabres signed forward Riley Sheahan to a one-year pact worth the league-minimum $700,000, the club announced Friday.
Sheahan is the first NHL player brought in on a professional tryout agreement this season to sign a contract, according to CapFriendly.
The 29-year-old contributed eight goals and seven assists in 66 games with the Edmonton Oilers in 2019-20.
Sheahan converts his PTO into a 1 yr, $700,000 deal with BUF (per @capfriendly)
— Sean Tierney (@ChartingHockey) January 8, 2021
His 5v5 impacts are, well, less than ideal. But he does get to high-danger areas, has a very positive penalty differential, blocks shots, doesn't turn the puck over, and can play the PK. pic.twitter.com/bOsjsnK7PC
The veteran center is particularly useful on the penalty kill, as he led Oilers forwards by averaging 2:21 in shorthanded ice time per game last season. The Sabres are in need of a boost in that department, having lost Zemgus Girgensons to a season-ending hamstring injury.
Sheahan previously played for the Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings. He spent his first six-plus campaigns with the latter club, which drafted him 21st overall in 2010.
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