The Sabres have locked up another restricted free agent, signing Johan Larsson to a one-year, $800k deal according to a Swedish newspaper.
“Sure it is good money, but for me this is mainly that I will now be able to continue playing hockey at a very exciting team with new players and new coach,” Larsson said in the translated article from the Gotland Newspaper. “It will be an exciting season.”
Larsson had a slow start to last season, producing very little in his first call-up stint. However, he played much better while getting top six minutes down the stretch. He finished the season with six goals and ten assists in 39 games. In Rochester he scored 15 goals and 25 assists in 44 games, third on the team in scoring.
The short-term deal gives Larsson another opportunity to prove himself at the NHL level with a new coach, a better overall team and will give the Sabres more of an opportunity to see if he can produce while not on the top line.
Where Larsson fits in next year’s lineup is tricky, but a good problem to have. With the centers the Sabres currently have on the roster, Jack Eichel, Ryan O’Reilly, Zemgus Girgensons and Sam Reinhart it’s unlikely that Larsson could get any higher than the third-line center long term. He may move to wing,