Buffalo Sabres: How does Malcolm Subban fit into the organization?
The Buffalo Sabres signed Malcolm Subban to a one-year, two-way contract for an AAV of $850,000, with a minors salary of $300k.
The Buffalo Sabres keep adding more depth at goaltender, this time by re-signing fan favorite Malcolm Subban. Subban, missed most of last season with an injury, but he became a well-known face around the Cities of Buffalo and Rochester, often attending Amerks games with others from the Sabres organization.
During his limited time on the ice, Subban struggled, posting a 4.85 GAA, a 0.871 save percentage, and an 0-2-1 record. However, you can attribute many of his struggles last season to the injury bug and COVID-19 bout that affected the entire organization to the point they needed to employ taxi squads on a near-nightly basis.
What does Malcolm Subban bring to the Buffalo Sabres?
Subban is most likely going to be a depth piece. Odds are, he will head down to the AHL ranks if the Sabres sign a goaltender in free agency. Depending what they do with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Subban will either see a lot or a little playing time in the AHL.
But, unlike last season when he arrived via trade from the Chicago Blackhawks for future considerations, Subban will also have a full season in the system, which will further help his game. He will serve as a reliable figure in the AHL regardless of how much ice time he gets because of his experience and past success at the NHL level.
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Overall, the Sabres re-signed a serviceable player whose best season came in 2017-18 with the Vegas Golden Knights. That year, Subban posted a 13-4-2 record, a 0.910 save percentage, and a GAA of 2.68. Subban has always brought experience and depth to every roster he has signed with, and you can expect the same thing to play out in Buffalo.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)