Sabres’ Jason Zucker signs extension; Buffalo makes two minor trades

When Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams first discussed a contract extension with winger Jason Zucker almost two months ago in Seattle, he challenged him a little bit.

Adams asked Zucker, 33, why he wanted to stay with the Sabres.

“He just said, ‘I’ve fallen in love with this town and the locker room and these young guys, and I want to see this through. I know how good this team can be, and I want to be part of what could really happen in a special way here and turn this thing,’” Adams told reporters Friday in Florida after the Sabres signed Zucker to a two-year contract extension worth $4.75 million per season.

Adams said Zucker’s words meant a lot to him.

“I think that was a really important signing, and I give him credit because he would have been a pretty sought-after guy on the open market, for sure, with the year he’s had,” he said.

Zucker signed a one-year, $5 million contract as a free agent July 1 and could’ve become unrestricted again following the season. He would’ve been an attractive rental option for a contender if he hadn’t inked a new deal before Friday’s 3 p.m. deadline.

The American, the Sabres’ oldest and most experienced player, has fit in nicely on and off the ice, providing offense and much-needed veteran leadership. He has scored 18 goals and 44 points in 54 games this season.

Adams said Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who’s in his first season as captain, often consults Zucker.

“The guys in the room respect the career he’s had, the teams he’s played on,” Adams said. “He’s been tremendous.”

Zucker has missed the last five games with a lower-body injury.

The Sabres play a road game Saturday against the Panthers.

In addition to trading center Dylan Cozens to the Ottawa Senators, the Sabres made two small deals Friday.

Winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel, who has been playing for the Rochester Americans, went to the New York Rangers in exchange for defenseman Erik Brannstrom. Defenseman Henri Jokiharju later went to the Boston Bruins in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2026 that belonged to the Edmonton Oilers.

Brannstrom, 25, spent his brief tenure in the Rangers organization playing with the Hartford Wolf Pack, their AHL affiliate.

Incredibly, this is the third time he has been traded this season.

He began year with the Colorado Avalanche before being dealt to the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 6. After playing 28 games for the Canucks and eight with their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford, they traded him to the Rangers on Feb. 25.

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Brannstrom, a left-handed shot, played six games for Hartford. Adams said he will report to the Amerks, who began Friday ranked first in the AHL and hope to have a long run in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

The Swede, the 15th overall pick by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, has spent most of career with the Senators.

He has compiled 10 goals and 77 points in 294 career NHL games, including three goals and eight points in 23 contests this season.

Meanwhile, Aube-Kubel, 28, began the season on the Sabres’ revamped fourth line after signing a one-year, $1.5 million contract. But after suffering a knee injury in the season opener, he never got on track.

He played 19 games, compiling one goal and two points, before the Sabres waived him and assigned him to Rochester in late January. He scored four goals and eight points in 12 contests for the Amerks.

Jokiharju, who has been scratched throughout this season, was expected to be traded. He joined the Sabres in 2019 and mostly enjoyed regular duty until earlier this year.

The Finn, 25, has registered three goals and six points in 42 games this season.

Adams said the Sabres on Friday assigned center Jiri Kulich to Rochester in a paper transaction to make him eligible for the AHL postseason.

“It’s not a slam dunk that we will, but let’s have the conversation,” he said of the rookie joining the Amerks in the spring. “Let’s at least make sure that we’re in a position where we’re able to if we want. He’ll be here with us obviously through the rest of the season.”

The Sabres could have some lineup trouble tonight. Adams said besides winger Jack Quinn, who left Thursday’s 6-5 road loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning because he was feeling ill, other players are sick.

“So it’s going to be a bit dicey here over the next 24 hours,” he said.

Update: The Sabres have recalled forwards Josh Dunne and Isak Rosen from the Amerks on an emergency basis.