Done Deal: Buffalo Sabres completes signing of 28-year-old Veteran defenseman.

A seasoned minor-leaguer is making his first appearance with a new team.

On Tuesday, the Buffalo Sabres announced that defenseman Colton Poolman had signed a one-year, two-way contract. The deal includes a $775,000 cap hit for the 2024-25 season.

This is Poolman’s first franchise change in his professional career. In 2020, the undrafted defender signed with the Calgary Flames after attending the University of North Dakota for four years. However, he has never played in an NHL regular-season game, having spent his entire career with Calgary’s American Hockey League affiliates.

After two seasons with the Stockton Heat, the Flames relocated their farm team closer to home, becoming the Calgary Wranglers. Over the last three seasons, he has averaged more than 60 games per year, scoring a career-high 14 points in 2022-23. Poolman, like the rest of the Wranglers, underperformed, scoring only three goals and three assists.

In 213 AHL games, the East Grand Forks, Minnesota native has six goals and 33 points for a plus/minus of +35. Poolman has also recorded three assists in 27 Calder Cup Playoff games.

Poolman was selected team captain for his senior season at North Dakota in 2019-20, guiding the Fighting Hawks to the NCHC Regular Season Championship while also being awarded the conference’s best defensive defenseman. He advanced to the college level thanks to a successful junior hockey career. Poolman spent a season with the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League before playing with the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League in 2015-16.

The agreement brings the Sabres’ total number of regular player contracts for next season to 39. According to CapFriendly, Buffalo’s anticipated cap space is less than $19 million.