The Buffalo Sabres and Kevyn Adams have been quiet in free agency. However, they signed Justin Danforth from Columbus to a two-year contract. The contract comes in at $1.8 million AAV.
Buffalo Signs Free Agent Justin Danforth
Justin Danforth to the #Sabres. pic.twitter.com/lL7AT5rQFH
— PuckEmpire (@puckempire) July 1, 2025
This is the first signing Kevyn Adams and company have made to the forward group in free agency. A two year deal for a depth piece at a reasonable price. Not a flashy move at all but one that seems to be pretty low risk for Buffalo. Danforth will slide in as a bottom six forward for the Sabres and hopefully earn more ice time than he got in Columbus. He’s not going to move the needs for Buffalo or be the guy that gets them over the hump. But you have to start somewhere if you’re Buffalo.
Danforth’s first season with Buffalo will be close to his third full season in the NHL. In his 2024-2025 campaign, he had 9 goals and 21 points in 61 games played with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Not wowing numbers but if he can have that type of production on the fourth line that will be a step in the right direction for Buffalo’s depth.
What It Means
With this signing it seems like Buffalo has its bottom six set for next season. Beck Malenstyn, Peyton Krebs, and now Danforth will most likely make up the fourth line. With Tyson Kozak sliding into the lineup potentially as well. Recently acquired Josh Doan will likely be in the mix somewhere as well in the bottom six.
The forward depth is set in Buffalo, it’s up to Lindy Ruff and the coaching staff to ensure they are significantly out chanced the way they were last year. Danforth adds a little speed to play with Malenstyn. They should be a fast group of players out on the ice.
Out With the Old, In With the New
The Sabres traded away Sam Lafferty this morning. And Danforth is eerily similar in terms of production to what Lafferty was before coming to Buffalo. Hopefully the same regression that found Lafferty won’t find Danforth. Either way the depth in Buffalo needs to be better than it was. This signing doesn’t cement that it will be, but it is a positive move for Sabres management. New blood is needed when things are going poorly, and it’s going poorly.
So they moved on from Lafferty for a kinda better Lafferty. https://t.co/V7R6YmREqE
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) July 1, 2025
Main Photo: Russel LaBounty- Imagn Images
