The Sabres may be in the strangest position of any ‘bad’ hockey team as trade deadline day arrives. They’re the worst team in the Eastern Conference with just 54 points, but they’re adamant about keeping current talents in town.
Two days ago, it was Jordan Greenway signing a deal to stick around the City of Good Neighbors. Now, Jason Zucker has signed an extension to stay with the Blue and Gold, per TSN’s Darren Dreger.
Zucker extension done in Buffalo. 2 Years. $ 4.75 per
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) March 7, 2025
Yes, Sabres fans, you can breathe easily now that the Blue and Gold have locked in a pair of productive contributors. While Greenway won’t put up big numbers on the stat sheet, his physicality sets him apart.
Jason Zucker returning to the Sabres is big news for the Blue and Gold
In Jason Zucker’s case, he can be one of the more physical wingers out there, but he’s been among the team’s most productive forwards. As of March 7th, Zucker is fifth on the team in points, with 44 in 54 games, and he’s got 18 goals.
Of those 18, nine have come on the power play and he’s got 16 points total on the man advantage, which has made him one of the Sabres more well-rounded players. While he hasn’t been as physical this season, Zucker’s still landed 52 body checks on opponents, so he’s been making his presence felt in Lindy Ruff’s system.
Anyway, Zucker’s new contact sits at a generous $4.75 million per season over two years, and look for him to keep going strong in the Sabres top six, where he’s spent most of his time. Overall, Zucker has 16:02 of average total ice time, and given his overall productivity this year, don’t be surprised if that number sails north.
Jason Zucker gives the Sabres a veteran presence for a young hockey team
The Sabres, by so many means, are still a young NHL team, so retaining Jason Zucker gives them a strong veteran presence as they try to add talent and once again look to end their soon-to-be 14-year playoff drought. That probably won’t happen this season, hence the number 14, but keeping players like Zucker and Greenway, who serve the team in varying roles, may work wonders.
But now, the question is: Who will general manager Kevyn Adams acquire to make this team play better hockey so they can bust through the drought? That’s been a question fans have asked for a while, and it’s clear that neither Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, Rasmus Dahlin, or JJ Peterka have been enough.
Still, it’s great to see that the Sabres value their veterans and, despite their abysmal showing so far this season, aren’t afraid to take a more unconventional route. Most of the time, you’ll see teams in their position, teams that have regressed, push the reset button and start over. Yet, when left up to Kevyn Adams, he’s got a different game plan in mind.