The Buffalo Sabres displayed their usual inconsistency on defense and between the pipes, falling for the fifth straight game in Tampa Bay, as the recently acquired Oliver Bjorkstrand scored the game-winner in the third period for the Lightning in their 6-5 comeback victory over the Sabres at Amalie Arena on Thursday, but the results of the game were secondary to the speculation regarding the upcoming trade deadline.
After the game, a number of reporters indicated that there was a potential trade between the New York Rangers and the Sabres regarding winger JJ Peterka. At this point, that has not come to fruition, but the club has taken care of some other business, as winger Jason Zucker has signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract extension to stay in Buffalo.
The 32-year-old winger signed as a free agent with the Sabres last summer on a one-year deal and has 44 points (18 goals, 26 assists) in 54 games. Zucker has missed the last five games with a foot injury, which led to speculation that he was being held out to protect him before Friday’s deadline.
With the deal, the Sabres get a slight discount from Zucker’s current $5 million AAV to $4.75 million, but the veteran forward gets the benefit of an extra year.
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