Sabres aren’t going to be pushovers anymore, Kekalainen says
Stanley, who stands at 6-foot-7, 231 pounds, had 21 points, including an NHL career-high nine goals, in 59 games for the Jets this season. The 27-year-old is in the final season of a two-year, $2.5 million contract ($1.25 million average annual value) he signed with Winnipeg on July 6, 2024, and can become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Schenn (6-2, 225) had seven points (one goal, six assists) and led the Jets in hits (139) in 46 games this season. The 36-year-old, who helped the Tampa Bay Lightning win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021, is in the final season of a three-year, $8.25 million contract ($2.75 million AAV) he signed with the Nashville Predators on July 1, 2023, and can become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
“I’m a big believer that the further you get into the spring (playoffs), you need that size that protects the front of the net,” Kekalainen said. “Luke Schenn has a Stanley Cup, and he knows what it takes to go through the grind the further into the spring and summer you can get.
“Logan Stanley is obviously a huge man at 6-foot-7 and has the length and the size and ability to clear the front of the net. Again, the further you get into the springtime here, and we’re in a battle to make it to the postseason, I think that’s really important. We tightened up the defensive game by being real strong in front of our own net.”
Stanley and Schenn are joining a blue line that is led by captain Rasmus Dahlin, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. But the talent doesn’t stop there as the defensive group also features Mattias Samuelsson (the No. 32 pick in the 2018 draft), Bowen Byram (the No. 4 pick by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2019 NHL Draft) and Owen Power (the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft).
“We have a lot of skill on our defense, mobility, the ability to join the rush, offensive-minded defensemen,” Kekalainen said. “I think we can use the defensive side of things with the big two trees that we got in these trades.”
In Carrick and Pearson, Buffalo added depth to its forward group. Carrick, 34, had 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 60 games for the Rangers, and Pearson, 33, had 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 52 games for the Jets.
Carrick has one season remaining on the three-year contract he signed with New York on July 1, 2024, and Pearson is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.
“We added Sam Carrick, who is a very good face-off man,” Kekalainen said. “He’s a right-handed shot and can take D-zone face-offs, crucial face-offs, penalty-killing face-offs.”
More importantly to Kekalainen, though, is his belief that all four players will only serve to enhance, not disrupt, the chemistry the Sabres have developed throughout the season.
“I think that ties with the faith we have in the group,” he said. “We don’t want to disrupt something that’s going really well, the chemistry. They have fun together. They believe in each other and they trust each other, and you can see that. They’re having the time of their lives.”
NHL.com independent correspondent Heather Engel contributed to this report.
