Buffalo Sabres sign Brian Gionta to three-year contract

The Buffalo Sabres today announced the team signed forward Brian Gionta to a three-year contract.

Gionta (age 35, 5'7", 176 lbs.), a 12-year NHL veteran, has spent the past five seasons playing for the Montreal Canadiens, serving as the team's captain since the 2010-11 season. Prior to the Canadiens, Gionta played seven seasons with the New Jersey Devils, including the 2002-03 Stanley Cup-winning Devils squad. With the Canadiens in 2013-14, he totaled 40 points (18 goals, 22 assists) through 81 regular-season games played and added seven points (1/6) in 17 playoff games.

In his 12 NHL seasons, Gionta has amassed 485 points (249/236) in 776 regular-season games. He has also recorded 45 game-winning goals, 74 power-play goals and a plus-65 rating. He has appeared in 112 playoff games, registering 68 points (32/36). In the 2005-06 season, Gionta set the Devils franchise record for goals in a season with 48.

A Rochester native, Gionta was drafted by the Devils in the third round (82nd overall) of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He played four seasons at Boston College (1997-98 - 2000-01), captaining the Eagles to a national championship in 2000-01.