The Buffalo Sabres have officially signed Josh Doan to a seven-year, $48.65 million contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2032-33 season, as announced by the organization on Wednesday.
This agreement averages out to $6.95 million per year and includes $7 million in signing bonuses over the initial two seasons, sources reported to ESPN. plus, it features a seven-team no-trade clause for when Doan becomes eligible.
The 23-year-old Doan was poised to become a restricted free agent this summer. He joined the Sabres last season along with defenseman Michael Kesselring in a significant trade that sent JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth.
“Josh is a player who makes an impact for us both on and off the ice,” said general manager Jarmo Kekkalainen in a statement. “He possesses a strong work ethic, competitiveness, and skill, and we expect his game to keep improving. We believe he will be a key asset for our team moving forward, and I am thrilled to have him as a long-term member of the Buffalo Sabres.”
Currently, Doan ranks third on the Sabres with career highs of 15 goals and 35 points in 49 games this season. He also leads the NHL with 35 takeaways.
“Hey Sabres fans, thank you so much for your support since I arrived,” Doan expressed in a message on X. “I can’t wait for the next seven years. Let’s go Sabres.”
This extension marks the first significant move by Kekkalainen, who took over from Kevyn Adams in December. The Sabres have significantly improved their season, boasting an NHL-best record of 16-3-1 since December 9, positioning themselves solidly in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt.
although this turnaround, the Sabres still hold the NHL record for the longest playoff drought, having missed the postseason for 14 consecutive years.
Doan, selected as the No. 37 pick in the 2021 NHL draft by the Arizona Coyotes, has tallied 27 goals and 63 points over 111 career games. He is the son of Coyotes legend Shane Doan, who now serves as an executive with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
