Zucker signs 2-year, $9.5 million contract with Sabres

Jason Zucker signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres on Friday. It has an average annual value of $4.75 million.

The 33-year-old forward could have been an unrestricted free agent after the season. He sustained a lower-body injury during an 8-2 win against the New York Rangers on Feb. 22 and returned two nights later for a 3-2 victory against the Anaheim Ducks but has since missed five games.

The Sabres (24-31-6) have lost all five (0-4-1), are last in the Eastern Conference and visit the Florida Panthers on Saturday (6 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, MSG-B). On Friday, they acquired Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker in a trade with the Ottawa Senators for Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilbert and a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Zucker has 44 points 18 goals, 26 assists) in 54 games since signing a one-year, $5 million contract with Buffalo on July 1, 2024. The second-round pick (No. 59) of the Minnesota Wild in the 2010 NHL Draft has 414 points (214 goals, 200 assists) in 751 regular-season games for the Sabres, Nashville Predators, Arizona Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins and Wild and 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) in 52 Stanley Cup Playoff games.