Buffalo Sabres Re-Sign Mark Pysyk

The Buffalo Sabres roster for the upcoming 2015-2016 NHL season continues to come together, with another piece back in the fold as of Tuesday.

That’s when the Buffalo Sabres announced the re-signing of defenseman Mark Pysyk. Pysyk’s deal is a bridge contract for two years. Financial teams were not disclosed.

Pysyk, 23, was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres with their lone first-round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, 23rd overall.

Pysyk is a product of the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings, having played there between 2007 and 2012. He made the jump to the AHL in the 2012-13 season, starting off the season with the Rochester Americans, in large part due to the NHL lockout that kept players off NHL ice until January.

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In 57 games with the Amerks, he registered 18 points and 20 penalty minutes. He’d go on to make his NHL debut with the Sabres, spending 19 games with the team and notching five points, including his first NHL goal.

The next season (2013-14), Pysyk spent most of the year with the Buffalo Sabres. He registered seven points and 16 penalty minutes in 44 NHL games. He also had 12 points and 28 penalty minutes in 31 AHL games with the Amerks.

This past season was largely spent in Rochester, as Pysyk found himself squeezed out of a roster spot with guys like Tyson Strachan, Andrej Meszaros and Andre Benoit filling up all the extra slots.

He registered 17 points, including 14 assists, in 54 games with the Amerks this past season. He also registered three points in seven NHL games with the Buffalo Sabres.

In late February, Pysyk suffered a mystery ailment that caused him to collapse on the court in a pick-up basketball game with teammates. Doctors were unable to find a cause, and Pysyk was eventually shut down for the season by both the Sabres and Amerks.

He’s since been cleared and should be good to go this coming season/

Pysyk is a hard worker poised for a solid season with the Buffalo Sabres; he’s earned an NHL spot and should easily be one of the Sabres’ top defensemen, if given the opportunity.

As it stands right now, Pysyk should be in place for an NHL spot. Other defensemen on the Sabres roster right now include Bobby Sanguinetti and Matt Donovan, who are both likely AHL-bound. There’s also newcomer Carlo Colaiacovo, who is likely to be one of the Buffalo Sabres’ bottom-two defensemen.

Chad Ruhwedel could be in the NHL, but could also find himself back in Rochester.

Josh Gorges, Rasmus Ristolainen, Mike Weber and Zach Bogosian are also returning to the team.

Can Pysyk find himself an NHL spot somewhere in there? We’ll have to wait and see, but I’d say it’d be well-deserved at this point.

Next: Elmira Jackals Roster Taking Shape

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