The Sabres have come to terms with their only player who filed for arbitration, signing forward Phil Varone to a one-year, two-way deal worth $600k.
Varone, 24, played in 28 games with the Sabres this season, scoring three goals and two assists. He lead the Americans in scoring with 15 goals and 29 assists, despite playing ten to 15 games less than many of his teammates. He was chosen as an AHL All-Star.
This season will be Varone’s fifth in the organization. He’ll add to the tremendous talent that Tim Murray has compiled for Rochester, and will once again serve as a potential call-up when the Sabres face injuries.
Here’s the full release from the Sabres:
The Buffalo Sabres today announced the team has signed forward Philip Varone to a one-year, two-way contract.
Varone (5’10”, 185 lbs., 12/4/1990) appeared in a career-high 28 NHL games during three recalls with the Sabres in 2014-15, logging five points (3+2) and 10 penalty minutes. He spent the majority of the season with the Rochester Americans (AHL), where he posted team-leading totals in both points (44) and assists (29) for the third time in his four AHL seasons, earning a spot in the AHL All-Star Game.
In 37 career NHL games with the Sabres during the last two seasons, Varone has recorded seven points (4+3) and 14 penalty minutes. He has appeared in 262 regular-season games in four seasons with Rochester, totaling 192 points (55+137) and 164 penalty minutes.
Varone signed his first NHL contract with the Sabres in March 2012 after joining the Americans in 2011-12 on an AHL contract. Prior to joining the Americans as an undrafted free agent, the Vaughan, Ontario native spent five OHL seasons with Kitchener, London and Erie.