Former Sabres First-Rounder Signs in Finland
© John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images - Former Sabres First-Rounder Signs in FinlandCanadian defenseman Mark Pysyk, 32, has signed a contract to play the remainder of the current season with SaiPa Lappeenranta, the Finnish Liiga club announced on Thursday.
“Pysyk brings the best possible reinforcement to our defense,” said SaiPa sports director Harri Aho. “An experienced player who can play big minutes even in critical moments. We have heard a lot of good things about him as a person and team player as well.”
A native of Sherwood Park, Alta., Pysyk played junior hockey for the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings, serving as team captain for two seasons. He was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, 23rd overall.
Between 2012 and 2023, Pysyk played 521 NHL regular-season games for the Sabres, Florida Panthers, Dallas Stars and Detroit Red Wings, scoring 28 goals and adding 76 assists for 104 points with 162 penalty minutes. He also played four post-season games for Florida in the 2020 Toronto playoff bubble.
Pysyk spent the 2023-24 season in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Calgary Wranglers, recording four assists in 43 regular-season and playoff games combined. This season, he attended the training camp of the Anaheim Ducks on a PTO.
Pysyk is SaiPa’s second major acquisition this week, having signed goaltender Michael Hutchinson on Tuesday.
“It’s really wonderful that we quickly reached an agreement with such an experienced player who would have had plenty of interest from other clubs in Europe,” said Aho. “We can therefore be very satisfied with the timing of both Hutchinson’s and Pysyk’s contracts.”
SaiPa currently sits fourth in the 16-team Liiga with 37 points in 21 games and is currently on a seven-game winning streak.