On Tuesday, the Buffalo Sabres announced that they have reached an agreement with forward Beck Malenstyn on a two-year contract. This deal is valued at an average annual amount of $1.35 million.

On June 29, the Sabres made a trade with the Washington Capitals to acquire Malenstyn. Last season, the 26-year-old had a remarkable performance in 81 games, achieving personal bests in goals (6), assists (15), and points (21), all while fulfilling a physical, defense-oriented role for Washington.

The forward, who stood at 6 feet 3 inches tall, participated in 562 defensive-zone faceoffs during 5-on-5 play, which was the third-highest number in the NHL. Additionally, he held the third position among NHL forwards in terms of time spent on the ice during shorthanded situations, accumulating a total of 211 minutes and 32 seconds.

Malenstyn’s 241 hits and 93 blocked shots led the Capitals players, and the Sabres believe that these qualities will be valuable in strengthening their forward group.

“In June, Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams expressed the significance of having a player who is assertive, aggressive, and consistently delivers powerful checks. This player’s ability to finish checks with intensity was exactly what the team required.”

Last season, Malenstyn consistently faced off against skilled forwards from opposing teams in the defensive zone, often paired with his fellow Sabres offseason addition, Nicolas Aube-Kubel.

Aube-Kubel expressed his delight in playing alongside him throughout the year, highlighting his challenging style of play. Aube-Kubel learned firsthand the difficulties of playing against him in the American League. Additionally, he appreciated not only the number of shots he blocked but also his attention to detail and commitment to playing safely and correctly. Overall, Aube-Kubel found it a true pleasure to have the opportunity to play with him this year.

Forward Peyton Krebs and goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen are the two remaining restricted free agents for the Sabres.