Buffalo Sabres avert arbitration by agreeing to sign forward Beck Malenstyn to a 2-year contract

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Sabres averted salary arbitration by agreeing to sign newly acquired forward Beck Malenstyn to a two-year, $2.7 million contract on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old Malenstyn was a restricted free agent and had opted for salary arbitration earlier this month.

The Sabres acquired the hard-hitting left winger in a trade with the Washington Capitals during the second day of the NHL draft in Las Vegas last month. The Capitals acquired a second-round pick (43rd overall), which they used to select Cole Hutson.

For Buffalo, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound player adds a physical presence to what is expected to be a fully retooled fourth line under new coach Lindy Ruff, who rejoins the Sabres for a second stint.

Malenstyn was selected by Washington in the fifth round of the 2016 draft and is coming off his first full NHL season in which he had six goals and 21 points in 81 games. From Delta, British Columbia, Malenstyn has eight goals and 24 points in 105 NHL career games.