The former Capitals forward signed a two-year, $2.70 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres worth an annual average value of $1.35 million.

Malenstyn was a restricted free agent who had elected for salary arbitration. With the two sides coming to an agreement on July 23, they now avoid that process completely. The Sabres now have Malenstyn under control through his final restricted free agency season and his first unrestricted free agency year in 2025-26 per Puck Pedia.

We have agreed to terms with forward Beck Malenstyn on a two-year contract with an AAV of $1.35 million.

Details → https://t.co/OoPjs90Zma pic.twitter.com/JtFppnkGmz

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) July 23, 2024

The new contract is a $587k raise over Malenstyn’s last contract with the Capitals.

Malenstyn landed in Buffalo after the Capitals traded him to the Sabres on the second day of the 2024 NHL Draft. In return, Buffalo sent back its second-round pick. The Capitals then used that selection to take promising defenseman Cole Hutson 43rd overall.

Adding Malenstyn was one of six major moves the Sabres made over the offseason, including adding Malenstyn’s past linemate on the fourth line in DC, Nicolas Aube-Kubel.

The Buffalo Sabres have their sights set on ending their 13-season playoff drought.

What grade would you give their offseason moves? #LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/fCrKJtiaXC

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) July 13, 2024

“It was a joy playing with him the whole year,” Aube-Kubel said. “He’s a really hard player to play against. That’s something I learned when I played against him in the American League. Also, while playing with him, it’s not just how many shots he blocks, (it’s) how many little details. He plays safe, he plays the right way. So, it was a pleasure to play with him this year.”

After helping the Hershey Bears win the 2023 Calder Cup, Malenstyn set career highs in goals (6), assists (15), and points (21) during the 2023-24 season — his first full year in the NHL. The 6-foot-3 forward had the third most shorthanded time (211:32) and the 12th most hits in the NHL (241) last season. He also had 93 blocked shots, leading all Capitals forwards.

Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery used Malenstyn almost entirely in a defensive role, having him on the ice for 562 defensive-zone faceoffs at 5-on-5, the third-highest total in the NHL.

“This guy is a player who’s direct, hard, finishes checks – and not just finishes checks, but finishes checks hard,” Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said after acquiring Malenstyn. “There was a real need for that.”

The Sabres have missed the playoffs 13 consecutive seasons and re-hired Lindy Ruff to be their head coach in April. They have two important signings left in restricted free agents Peyton Krebs and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.