Doughtys Tooth Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 The Buffalo Sabres have signed defenseman Mattias Samuelsson to a seven-year contract extension worth $30 million, the team announced Wednesday. Samuelsson, 22, tallied 10 assists in 42 games with the Sabres last season. He finished the year playing on the top defense pair alongside Rasmus Dahlin, a role he has maintained this fall. "I've taken huge jumps," Samuelsson said in May. "Personally, I think just being up here for however many games it was, the style of play, we play with no hesitation. I think it allows you to develop and just play on instincts rather than thinking so much of systems or details or anything like that. I think I've grown a lot as a player this year and can carry that over into next year training camp, and just keep going." The Sabres drafted Samuelsson during the second round (32nd overall) in 2018. The son of longtime NHL defenseman and coach Kjell Samuelsson, Mattias was touted then for his leadership - he served as captain of Team USA at both the U-18 and U-20 World Championships and as an underclassman at Western Michigan University - and for his poise as a defender. He has established himself as a quick learner since turning pro ahead of the 2020-21 season, which he split between Rochester and Buffalo. He blocked a shot during the Prospects Challenge last September that cost him his training camp and a chance to make the Sabres' opening day roster, but quickly established himself as a full-time member of the defense corps upon joining the team in January. He averaged 21:19 of ice time in 22 games from March 10 on, during which he led the team in hits (63) and blocked shots (32). He showed a propensity for using his 6-foot-4 reach to strip the puck from opposing forwards when defending the rush. (That skill prompted Dahlin to refer to Samuelsson's stick as a "cobra.") "We don't talk about him enough," Dahlin said. "He's an amazing guy on and off the ice. … It's super easy to have a guy like that. He plays the right way and (goes) great places with the puck. He's a guy that you can really trust." Off the ice, Samuelsson has a reputation as one of the comedians in the Sabres' room (and a mic'd up star). "He's hilarious and never shuts up," Dahlin said. "So, it's amazing to have those guys in the locker room and he's amazing for us." https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-sign-defenseman-mattias-samuelsson-seven-year-contract/c-336273468 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DrJockitch Posted October 12, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted October 12, 2022 (edited) What’s with these teams drafting and developing defenceman. That’s not how it is done. What’s next drafting and developing bottom six players. Edited October 12, 2022 by DrJockitch 3 2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Master Mind Posted October 12, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted October 12, 2022 That's a big contract for someone who's only played 54 NHL games. 1 3 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HighOnHockey Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 1 minute ago, Master Mind said: That's a big contract for someone who's only played 54 NHL games. Yeah I've been pretty high on the Sabres lately (liked the Thompson contract, loved their draft this summer) and I'm a fan of Samuelsson, but I can't recall ever seeing anything quite like this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM_ Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Just now, HighOnHockey said: Yeah I've been pretty high on the Sabres lately (liked the Thompson contract, loved their draft this summer) and I'm a fan of Samuelsson, but I can't recall ever seeing anything quite like this. heck of a good deal for a guy thats not going to put up a lot of points, but good for Buffalo they could be a fun team to watch in a few years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dm_ranger Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Assuming he stays in the top 4 for the duration this is going to be a steal at just over 4.25 ish AAV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oregon.Duck Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 They are betting that he'll be a top pairing defensemen, but at worst a 3/4 or a 5/6 which at 4.25M would still be an okay gamble. 22 years old, chemistry with Dahlin. This seems a-ok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post -Vintage Canuck- Posted October 12, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted October 12, 2022 1 9 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devron Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 One of these contracts are going to burn a team something fierce 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caboose Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Meh. If he's a top 4 defenceman this will be a steal starting this season. Weird idea though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM_ Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 30 minutes ago, Oregon.Duck said: They are betting that he'll be a top pairing defensemen, but at worst a 3/4 or a 5/6 which at 4.25M would still be an okay gamble. 22 years old, chemistry with Dahlin. This seems a-ok Buffalo isn't a top UFA destination either, they have to lock players down that want to be there. Kind of like Ottawa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mustard Tiger Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Dude what even is this deal. Good way to skyrocket kids entitlement lmao. Yikes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mustard Tiger Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 51 minutes ago, DrJockitch said: What’s with these teams drafting and developing defenceman. That’s not how it is done. What’s next drafting and developing bottom six players. We let other teams do that now, We just sign them prior to their break out year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 The going rate to keep a player in Buffalo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bounce000 Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 This is almost the equivalent of giving Rathbone that kind of money. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rekker Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 1 hour ago, DrJockitch said: What’s with these teams drafting and developing defenceman. That’s not how it is done. What’s next drafting and developing bottom six players. Canucks are absolutely brutal at drafting D. Brutal, it's why we have no cup. RIP Luc, you were going to be a stud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biff Tannen Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 2 hours ago, Bounce000 said: This is almost the equivalent of giving Rathbone that kind of money. Come on, that's a slightly ridiculous comparison. Spoiler Rathbone's scored a goal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Provost Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Big, physical D man who can skate and at 23 is already a legit top 4 D man… for under $5 million a year. Yes please… 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyCuddles Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 4 hours ago, Bounce000 said: This is almost the equivalent of giving Rathbone that kind of money. Not even close. Samuelsson plays 20 minutes a game for them. On their top pair. Rathbone hasn't even proven to be a regular yet. They are paying on potential for sure. But over 7 years this'll look like a steal. I really wanted this guy at his draft. He's got potential, proven he can hang in the top 4 already and has chemistry with their best d-man. It's unusual, but the deal is fine imo. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Provost Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 15 minutes ago, N7Nucks said: Not even close. Samuelsson plays 20 minutes a game for them. On their top pair. Rathbone hasn't even proven to be a regular yet. They are paying on potential for sure. But over 7 years this'll look like a steal. I really wanted this guy at his draft. He's got potential, proven he can hang in the top 4 already and has chemistry with their best d-man. It's unusual, but the deal is fine imo. Ya… it isn’t even in the same realm. They are taking a swing but not a crazy one even remotely. Top 4D cost well over the price they are paying for this guy. He doesn’t even have to match what he did last year to be a good deal. If he progresses at all it is a crazy good deal going forward. If the cap goes up significantly in the next 7 years it becomes an insanely good deal. All of that upside vs. The risk he regresses to a bottom pairing guy is a decent chance to make. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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