The Buffalo Sabres have been fairly quiet on the player acquisition front since the signings of Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Jason Zucker, Sam Lafferty, and James Reimer and the trade with Edmonton for center Ryan McLeod in early July, but some of their Atlantic Division rivals have been busy taking free swings on unsigned unrestricted free agents on professional tryout contracts.
After rumors of them bringing in veterans Blake Wheeler and Kailer Yamamoto did not come to fruition, the Boston Bruins extended a PTO to veteran center Tyler Johnson. The 34-year-old Cup winner had 17 goals in 67 games with the Chicago Blackhawks last season.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings have also dipped into the tryout pool for some size, bringing in 2024 Stanley Cup winner Steven Lorentz and veteran winger Austin Watson on PTO’s.
The grandson of former Buffalo Sabres commentator Jim Lorentz was drafted by Carolina, was traded to San Jose in 2022, and in 2023 was dealt to Florida. Lorentz had one goal in 38 games for the Panthers last season and three points (2 goals, 1 assist) in 16 playoff games in Florida’s run to their first Stanley Cup Championship and could be a candidate for a fourth-line job with Toronto. Watson had 93 penalty minutes in 33 games for Tampa Bay last season.
Former Calder Trophy nominee Dominik Kubalik, who played last season for the Ottawa Senators, was unable to find an NHL home and signed a one-year deal with HC Ambri-Piotta of the Swiss League, while former Detroit Red Wings first-rounder Filip Zadina signed a two-year deal with HC Davos.
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