Las Vegas, Nev. (WGR Sports Radio 550/WBEN) - In the moments before Day 2 of the 2024 NHL Draft commenced from The Sphere in Las Vegas, the Buffalo Sabres made a trade to acquire some help to the bottom-six of the roster.
The Sabres have acquired forward Back Malenstyn from the Washington Capitals in exchange for the 43rd overall selection in Round 2 of the 2024 NHL Draft.
Malenstyn was a former fifth-round pick (145th overall) of the Capitals in the 2016 NHL Draft.
After spending several years coming up through the ranks and paying his dues in the American Hockey League with the Hershey Bears, Malenstyn finally cemented a spot for himself at the NHL level in Washington last season, scoring six goals and adding 15 assists for 21 points in 81 games.
The 2023-24 campaign also saw Malenstyn being a force defensively, being on the ice for 562 defensive-zone faceoffs at 5-on-5, which ranked third in the NHL. He also ranked fifth among all NHL forwards in ice-time while shorthanded (211:32), and led the Capitals this past year with 241 hits and 93 blocked shots.
In 105 career NHL games over parts of five seasons with the Capitals, Malenstyn has eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points.
During his 2022-23 season in Hershey, Malenstyn was a key piece to the Bears' success in the Calder Cup Playoffs. He put up eight points (4+4) in 20 games, helping the Bears to a Calder Cup title, which included an Eastern Conference Final win over the Rochester Americans.
The Sabres will first pick 42nd overall in Round 2 of the NHL Draft, followed by one pick in the third round, two picks in the fourth round, and picks in Round 6 and 7.