Report: Sabres sign Andre Benoit to 1-year, $800K contract

The Buffalo Sabres have reportedly signed journeyman unrestricted free agent defenseman Andre Benoit to a one-year, $800,000 contract, according to TSN's Aaron Ward.

Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2006, the 30-year-old defender is extraordinarily well-traveled. Benoit appeared in over 300 AHL games with the Hamilton Bulldogs and Binghamton Senators in his professional career, while spending full seasons in the KHL, SHL and Finnish Liiga. 

Benoit signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Colorado Avalanche last summer and went on to have a career year for the upstart club. Avalanche rookie head coach Patrick Roy leaned on Benoit to play in all situations and the journeyman blue-liner scored seven goals and 28 total points while logging top-four minutes at even-strength. 

Including Benoit, the Sabres have five defenseman signed to one-year contracts. That probably explains why the Sabres were looking to add a veteran defender like Benoit to the roster, to insulate talented young players like Nikita Zadorov, Rasmus Ristolainen, Chad Ruhwedel and Mark Pysyk.