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Big day for Buffalo Sabres, as team acquires Jimmy Vesey, Curtis Lazar, John Gilmour, Andrew Hammond, Jean-Sebastien Dea

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Mon, Jul 1st 2019 01:20 pm

Sabres Acquire Vesey from Rangers

The Buffalo Sabres on Monday announced the team acquired forward Jimmy Vesey from the New York Rangers in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Vesey (age 26, 6’3”, 199 pounds) totaled 35 points (17 goals, 18 assists) last season, including 31 at even strength, which ranked third among all Rangers skaters in 2018-19. For the second consecutive season, 16 of his 17 goals were scored at even strength.

In three career NHL seasons with the Rangers, Vesey has totaled 90 points (50/40) in 240 regular-season games, adding five points (1/4) in 12 playoff contests. Of his 50 career goals, 43 have been scored at even strength, ranking third among Rangers skaters since he entered the league.

Prior to beginning his professional career, the North Reading, Massachusetts, native played four seasons at Harvard University, where he totaled 144 points (80/64) in 128 games. His collegiate career culminated with the 2016 Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s top player following a senior season during which he led all Crimson skaters and finished third in the ECAC with 46 points (24/22) in 33 games.

Vesey has also represented the U.S. internationally on two occasions. He won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship and took home a bronze medal at the 2015 IIHF World Championship.

Sabres Sign Lazar to One-Year Contract

The Buffalo Sabres announced the team signed forward Curtis Lazar to a one-year contract with an average annual value of $700,000.

Lazar (age 24, 6’0”, 205 pounds) has spent the past two full seasons as a member of Calgary’s organization after the Flames acquired him from the Ottawa Senators in March 2017. In parts of five seasons for the Flames and Senators, Lazar has recorded 51 points (15/36) in 246 career NHL games.

Drafted by the Senators in the first round (17th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Lazar was a member of the Edmonton Oil Kings teams that captured WHL titles in 2012 and 2014 and a Memorial Cup in 2014. The Salmon Arm, British Columbia, native also represented Canada at two IIHF World Junior Championships, including in 2015 when he captained the team and tied for the tournament lead with five goals en route to a gold medal.

Sabres, Gilmour Agree to One-Year Deal

The Buffalo Sabres signed defenseman John Gilmour to a one-year contract with an AAV of $700,000.

Gilmour (age 26, 6’0”, 190 pounds) has spent the past three seasons as a member of the New York Rangers’ organization. He was named to the 2018-19 AHL First All-Star Team after finishing the season among the AHL’s top 10 defensemen in goals (second, 20), assists (eighth, 34), points (second, 54) and game-winning goals (second, 5). Gilmour, who also participated in the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic, has recorded 105 points (32/73) in 190 career AHL games and five points (2/3) in 33 NHL contests.

Drafted by the Calgary Flames in the seventh round (198th overall), Gilmour played collegiately for four years at Providence College and was a member of the Friars team that captured the 2015 NCAA National Championship. The Montreal native notched 65 points (22/43) in 141 career NCAA games for Providence.

Sabres Sign Goaltender Hammond

The Buffalo Sabres signed goaltender Andrew Hammond to a one-year contract with an AAV of $700,000.

A six-year veteran, Hammond (age 31, 6’2”, 223 pounds) has 56 games of NHL experience with the Ottawa Senators and Colorado Avalanche, including two extended stays with the Senators in 2014-15 and 2015-16. During those two seasons, Hammond went 27-12-6 and ranked among the NHL’s leading goaltenders with a minimum of 15 games played in save percentage (second, .927) and goals-against average (eighth, 2.21).

In addition to his time in the NHL, Hammond has appeared in 132 AHL contests for the Binghamton Senators, Belleville Senators, San Antonio Rampage and Iowa Wild. The Surrey, British Columbia, native has a 62-55-6 career AHL record.

Sabres Ink Dea to Two-Year Deal

The Buffalo Sabres also signed forward Jean-Sebastien Dea to a two-year contract with an AAV of $700,000.

Dea (age 25, 5’11”, 175 pounds) split time between the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins in 2018-19, posting six points (4/2) in a career-high 23 NHL games. He also appeared in 46 AHL games last season, recording 44 points (17/27) in those contests.

In his career, Dea has totaled seven points (5/2) in 29 NHL games spent with the Devils and Penguins. Through parts of six professional seasons, the Laval, Quebec, native has also played in 308 regular-season AHL games, totaling 185 points (83/102) for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Springfield Thunderbirds.

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