Four of the Buffalo Sabres’ restricted free agents have elected salary arbitration, according to information released by the NHL Player’s Association on Friday evening.
Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe, goaltender Linus Ullmark and forwards Evan Rodrigues and Remi Elie were among 40 players league-wide to elect arbitration. Johan Larsson did not file.
McCabe, 25, had a cap hit of $1.6 million this past season. He recorded 14 points and appeared in 59 games. He also recorded 35 penalty minutes. The Sabres already have a slew of defensemen under contract for next season, including Rasmus Ristolainen, Zach Bogosian, Marco Scandella, Colin Miller, Brandon Montour, Rasmus Dahlin, Casey Nelson and Matt Hunwick.
Ullmark, 25, had a cap hit of $750,000 last season. He appeared in 37 games, registering a 3.11 GAA and .905 save percentage alongside fellow netminder Carter Hutton, who has two years left on his contract.
Rodrigues, 25, registered a cap hit of $650,000 this past season, during a season in which he recorded 29 points, including an NHL-career-high 20 assists, in 74 games played. It’s the most time he’s ever seen in the NHL, after playing just 48 games in the big league the prior season.
Elie, 24, spent most of last season in the AHL with the Rochester Americans. His contract, signed with Dallas in July 2018, gave him a cap hit of $735,000. Elie did appear in 16 games with the Sabres, a time during which he registered one assist and was a minus-3. In 25 games with the Amerks, he recorded 14 points and had 14 penalty minutes.
The deadline for club-elected salary arbitration notification is tomorrow, Saturday, July 6 at 5 p.m. ET. Arbitration hearings will occur between July 20 and August 4.
Among the other notable names across the league who have filed for arbitration: Brock McGinn, Eden native Alex Iafallo, former Sabre Joel Armia, Jacob Trouba and Jordan Binnington.