NHL Free Agency: Sabres Sign Ex-Maple Leafs D-Man Conor Timmins to Multi-Year Deal

Conor Timmins signs multi-year deal with Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres have avoided an upcoming arbitration hearing with recently-acquired defenseman Conor Timmins, agreeing to terms with the 26-year-old on a two-year, $4.4 million contract ($2.2 million AAV).

#Sabres sign Conor Timmins to a two-year, $4.4 million contract extension, buying a year of unrestricted free agency
— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) July 27, 2025

The deal buys out one year of unrestricted free agency for Timmins.

Buffalo acquired him in a trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins last month, after he had spent the previous two years with the Toronto Maple Leafs. With the signing, Timmins doubled his $1.1M annual salary from his last contract. He also gets to return to his hometown region, as he was born just across the border from Buffalo in St. Catharines, Ontario.

“He’s a solid two-way player that is big, a right shot, and I think it just really solidifies our D-corps moving forward,” Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said in a statement.

A strong skater who can move the puck, the 6-3, 214-pounder has a plus/minus rating of +21 in 159 career NHL games over six seasons. He was a second-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in the 2017 NHL Draft.

Timmins adds depth to the right-side of Buffalo's blueline

Timmins was the other part of the right-side remodeling of the Sabres' blueline this summer, as they also made the big trade of JJ Peterka to Utah with Michael Kesselring as the key return.

Two other d-men—both left-shot—remain on the trade block for Buffalo, with RFA Bowen Byram and Mattias Samuelsson, in the middle of a seven-year contract, both available.