The Buffalo Sabres made a roster move, announcing a one-year contract extension for defenseman. The new deal comes with an average annual value of $900,000 and will keep him in Buffalo through the 2025-2026 season. A native of London, Ontario, he will stay relatively close to home for at least another year. He originally re-signed with the Sabres last summer on a one-year deal as a free agent.
Top star at 27, has spent his entire professional career with the Sabres after being selected in the fourth round (99th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft. Over five seasons with Buffalo, he has appeared in 243 games and recorded 43 points, with his best offensive output coming in the 2021-22 campaign when he notched 10 points. While not known for his scoring, Bryson has provided steady depth on Buffalo’s blue line. At 5’9” and 174 pounds, he is the smallest defenseman on the Sabres’ roster.
What it Means for the Buffalo Sabres
Currently, Bryson is skating on Buffalo’s third defensive pairing alongside Connor Clifton. His re-signing raises some eyebrows, as the Sabres already have an abundance of left-shot defensemen, including standout young talents like Owen Power, Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, and Bowen Byram. The recent addition of Jacob Bernard-Docker, a right-handed shot acquired in the Dylan Cozens trade, also adds to the blue line depth.
Given the wealth of young defensemen in Buffalo, extending Bryson is somewhat surprising. While he’s unlikely to crack the top-four rotation behind the team’s core group, Bryson remains a dependable option for the third pair or as a seventh defenseman when needed. With just a one-year term at $900,000, the deal is low-risk and has minimal impact on the Sabres’ cap situation or defensive depth chart.