The Buffalo Sabres were busy on the first day of NHL free agency.
On Saturday, the team announced its signing of goaltender Chad Johnson to a one-year contract worth $2.5 million.
Johnson (age 31, 6'3", 196 pounds) appeared in 36 games for the Calgary Flames in 2016-17, posting an 18-15-1 record with a .910 save percentage, a 2.59 goals-against average and a career-best three shutouts. A native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Johnson returns to Buffalo after logging career highs in games played (45) and wins (22) with the Sabres during a 2015-16 campaign, which saw him record a 22-16-4 record with a .920 save percentage and a 2.36 goals-against average.
Since being drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fifth round (125th overall) of the 2006 NHL Draft, Johnson has appeared in 137 career games in seven seasons with the Flames, Sabres, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Phoenix Coyotes and the New York Rangers. In his career, Johnson has compiled a 68-45-12 record with a .915 save percentage and a 2.44 goals-against average.
The Buffalo Sabres announced the signing of forward Benoit Pouliot (POO-lee-aht) to a one-year contract worth $1.15 million.
Pouliot (age 30, 6'3", 204 pounds) joins the Sabres after three years with the Edmonton Oilers in which he recorded 84 total points (41 goals, 43 assists) in 180 regular-season games. In his time with the Oilers, Pouliot averaged 1.81 points and .88 goals per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time.
A native of Alfred, Ontario, Pouliot was selected by the Minnesota Wild in the first round (fourth overall) of the 2005 NHL Draft. In 11 NHL seasons, he has totaled 244 career points (117/127) in 551 regular-season games, including at least 30 points in five of his six full NHL campaigns. He also added 20 points (8/12) in 34 games during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season.
The Buffalo Sabres announced the signing of defenseman Matt Tennyson to a two-year contract. The first year of the contract is a two-way deal, and the second year is one-way.
Tennyson (age 27, 6'2", 205 pounds) played a career-high 45 games for the Carolina Hurricanes last season, posting six assists and six penalty minutes. During his 105-game NHL career, Tennyson has recorded 20 points (3/17) and 24 penalty minutes while playing for the Hurricanes and San Jose Sharks.
A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Tennyson also has 72 points (20/52) and 112 penalty minutes in 178 career AHL games. Before signing with the Sharks, the defenseman played for Western Michigan University (CCHA) for three seasons, where he helped lead the team to a CCHA Tournament Championship in 2012.
The Buffalo Sabres announced the signing of forward Seth Griffith to a one-year contract worth $650,000.
Griffith (age 24, 5'9", 191 pounds) spent time the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers last season, combining to record five assists and a plus-6 rating in 24 games. He also played 38 games for the Toronto Marlies in 2016-17, where he posted 44 points (10/34) and led the team in points per game (1.16).
Drafted by the Boston Bruins in the fifth round (131st overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft, Griffith has totaled 16 points (6/10) in 58 career NHL games. A native of Wallaceburg, Ontario, he led the AHL in assists (53) and ranked second in the league in points (77) during the 2015-16 season. In 203 career AHL games, Griffith has 202 points (66/136) and has added 28 points (9/19) in 31 career AHL playoff games.
The Buffalo Sabres announced the signing of forwards Kevin Porter and Kyle Criscuolo each to two-year, two-way contracts.
Porter (age 31, 5'11", 191 pounds) led the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins with 35 assists in the 2016-17 AHL regular season and tied for third on the team with 46 points. His six points (0/6) in five AHL playoff games also tied for the Penguins' team lead. The Detroit native has tallied 250 total points (95/155) in 357 games through seven AHL seasons.
In 249 career NHL games, Porter has totaled 58 points (29/29), including 10 points (4/6) in 43 games with the Sabres from 2012-13 to 2013-14. In those seasons, he added 80 points (34/46) in 98 games with the Rochester Americans.
Criscuolo (age 25, 5'9", 175 pounds) joins the Sabres after winning a Calder Cup with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) during his first full professional season in 2016-17. The Philadelphia native recorded 41 points (17/24) in 76 regular-season games as a rookie with the Griffins, adding nine points (5/4) in 19 playoff contests.
Before joining the Griffins, Criscuolo totaled 113 points (53/60) in 124 games during four NCAA seasons for Harvard University (ECAC), earning both ECAC Second All-Star Team and ECAC Hockey Student Athlete of the Year honors after his junior season.
The Buffalo Sabres announced the signing of goaltender Adam Wilcox to a one-year, two-way contract.
Wilcox (age 24, 6'0", 189 pounds) combined to play 47 AHL games for the Syracuse Crunch and the Springfield Falcons last season, posting a 25-13-7 record with a .906 save percentage and a 2.63 goals-against average. A sixth-round pick (178th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft, Wilcox has compiled a 34-27-15 record with a .900 save percentage and a 2.90 goals-against average in 76 career AHL games.
Before turning pro, the St. Paul, Minnesota, native played three seasons for the University of Minnesota (Big Ten), where he was named the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2013-14 and backstopped the Gophers to two Big Ten regular-season titles and one Big Ten Tournament title.
The Buffalo Sabres announced the signing of forward Jacob Josefson to a one-year contract worth $700,000.
Josefson (age 26, 6'0", 190 pounds) recorded 10 points (1/9) and 16 penalty minutes for the New Jersey Devils during the 2016-17 season. A seven-year NHL veteran, Josefson has totaled 60 points (18/42) and 78 penalty minutes in 276 career games, all with the Devils.
Drafted by New Jersey in the first round (20th overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft, Josefson has added 40 points (15/25) in 60 career AHL games for the Albany Devils. Before turning pro, the Stockholm, Sweden, native represented his country at two IIHF World Junior Championships, winning a silver medal in 2009 and bronze in 2010.
