Sabres sign defenseman Zach Metsa to one-year contract extension

Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR) - The Buffalo Sabres announced on Friday they've signed defenseman Zach Metsa to a one-year contract extension that has him locked in with the team through the 2027-28 season.

Metsa was entering the final year of his rookie contract with the Sabres this year with a cap hit of $850,000. His extension will see him making $900,000 for the 2027-28 campaign.

The 27-year-old made his NHL debut this past season after signing his first NHL contract during the 2025 offseason. Metsa suited up for 43 regular season games, scoring two goals and adding four assists for six points, while also registering a plus-16 rating in 10:58 of average ice-time.

In the playoffs, Metsa was a healthy scratch most of the way until the final two games of Buffalo's second-round series with the Montreal Canadiens. He managed to net a goal and was a minus-1 in 7:52 of average ice-time before the Sabres were eliminated in seven games.

In 19 games played last season as captain of the Rochester Americans, Metsa was stellar with two goals and 13 assists for 15 points.

The native of Delafield, Wis. signed with the Amerks as an undrafted free agent out of Quinnipiac University, shortly after Metsa helped captain the Bobcats to an NCAA title. In 142 career AHL games over four seasons, Metsa put up 85 points (16+69), while also tacking on seven points (1+6) in 26 postseason contests.

It is likely Metsa will, once again, compete for a bottom-pair role on the Sabres' back end with the likes of Conor Timmins and newcomer Louis Crevier. If he does not make the team this year, Metsa would have to clear waivers in order to be assigned to the Amerks.