The Buffalo Sabres have added their second depth defenseman on opening day of NHL Free Agency, signing left-hander Brandon Davidson to a one-year contract worth the league-minimum of $700,000.
The 29-year-old defenseman has been primarily a depth defenseman for his entire career in the NHL, amassing 174 games played in parts of six seasons. In stints with the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks, Davidson has scored nine goals and registered 14 assists for 23 points.
Originally drafted in the sixth round (162nd overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft by Edmonton, Davidson's professional career began with a cancer diagnosis during the 2012-13 season. He fought his way back on to the ice that season and was named as the Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award winner as the American Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey.
Davidson made his NHL debut in the 2014-15 season with the Oilers, where he played 12 games and scored a goal in that span.
The next season saw Davidson spend the entire season with Edmonton, where he put up career-high totals in goals (4), assists (7) and points (11).
After another part of a season with the Oilers, Davidson was traded to the Canadiens, where he spent a total of 23 games before heading back to Edmonton after being claimed off waivers in the 2017-18 season. After 23 games in Edmonton, Davidson was traded again at the deadline to the New York Islanders, where he played 15 games, but was not qualified in the offseason and was allowed to be an unrestricted free agent.
In the 2018-19 season, Davidson earned a professional tryout with the Blackhawks in the preseason and ended up earning a contract. He would split the season between Chicago and their AHL affiliate in Rockford, but Davidson ended up only playing 17 games total.
This past season saw Davidson back splitting time between the AHL and the NHL again with the Flames before being traded to the Sharks at the trade deadline. He got into five games with San Jose before the 2019-20 regular season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Davidson will likely compete for a depth role in Buffalo during training camp, but may find himself on the short end of the stick and back in the AHL with the Rochester Americans.
He joins Matt Irwin as Buffalo's other defensive free agent signing on Friday.