While it's no surprise the Buffalo Sabres decided to re-sign Beck Malenstyn, a stalwart member of the team's fourth line, few expected general manager Jarmo Kekalainen to give the winger a six-year contract extension before he could hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent.
Malenstyn is now linked to the Sabres through the 2031-32 NHL season as part of the $17.5 million deal ($2.92 million AAV). He's played two seasons with the organization since being acquired from the Washington Capitals for a second-round draft pick in June 2024.
Adam Gretz of Bleacher Report questioned whether it was a wise use of financial resources by Buffalo while giving the extension a C- grade.
"But why do you need to sign a depth player like this for six years? These guys are always available and they are always affordable," Gretz wrote. "There is also not much upside here to be more than what he has already showed himself to be. It's not a terrible contract, but it's the type of little thing where if you make too many of them they eventually add up into a big problem."
Malenstyn is undoubtedly a limited 5-on-5 contributor. He'll likely never move up from the fourth line, especially on a club with as much forward depth as Buffalo. He's also never scored more than 21 points in a season, which he did with the Caps in 2023-24.
Yet, the Sabres still likely envision a bigger role for the 28-year-old Canadian in 2026-27.
Most of the focus since Kekalainen sent Alex Tuch to the Capitals in a sign-and-trade deal has been on the lost point production, but Tuch was also second among the club's forwards in penalty-killing minutes last season behind only center Ryan McLeod. Who was third? Malenstyn.
As a result, there's a strong chance the 6-foot-3, hard-hitting winger will move up to the top PK unit alongside McLeod during the upcoming season. That's a critical role, and one that'll make his contract far more palatable if he's able to help replace Tuch for the long haul.
Add in the NHL's rising salary cap and there's a decent chance the Malenstyn extension is mostly a nonfactor, unless his level of play drops off significantly in the near future.
Beck Malenstyn is a lock but who will join him on the Buffalo Sabres' fourth line?
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Sabres training camp will be what the first set of lines are when the Blue and Gold take the ice in September.
As it stands, Buffalo essentially has 10 forwards for nine spots on the top three lines, which is going to create a lot of internal competition. Will someone like Noah Ostlund end up on the fourth line because of his defensive prowess? Could Jiri Kulich start with the AHL's Rochester Americans to get back up to full speed after missing most of last season? Time will tell.
Although those are the most interesting battles, there are also questions about how the fourth line will shake out.
Malenstyn will be there, and Peyton Krebs figures to land within the bottom trio, too. Sam Carrick, Justin Danforth, Tyson Kozak and Conor Sheary will be trying to make their case, though.
The overcrowded nature of the depth chart, especially if the Sabres decide to keep all of Ostlund, Kulich and prized prospect Konsta Helenius on the NHL roster, is why there was so much speculation about dealing some of the excess for an upgrade elsewhere this offseason (Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck?).
That hasn't happened, however, which will leave head coach Lindy Ruff and his staff with some tough decisions over the next month.
Ultimately, Buffalo's best option for the fourth line is probably Krebs, Carrick and Malenstyn. All three are defensively responsible forwards, and Carrick brings much-needed faceoff acumen to the lineup.
It probably won't be that triumvirate every night because Ruff tends to juggle his lines (and injuries always arise) but, when the going gets tough late in the campaign, that trio makes the most sense.
We'll find out soon enough as the Sabres ramp up preparations for their Oct. 1 season opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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