Buffalo Sabres & Olen Zellweger Agree on Extension

The Buffalo Sabres have gotten a nice piece of business done, signing newly-acquired Olen Zellweger for a three-year extension at a nice team-friendly $3.1 million AAV.

The Sabres waste no time signing newly acquired Olen Zellweger to a 3-year extension ✍️ pic.twitter.com/0DDOYe00uM

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) July 1, 2026

Zellweger will be an RFA once again after the new contract is up. He had been projected by AFP Analytics for a $6.5M AAV on a six-year deal, or a $3.2M on a two-year contract. Either way, this looks like a great signing for Buffalo. 

The Sabres acquired the defenseman from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forward Anton Wahlberg and a second-round pick ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft. 

The speedy, puck-carrying Zellweger, 22, had a nice season in Anaheim, with 22 points, a +4 rating and 85 blocked shots. 

He also posted some nice under-the-hood analytics. According to the Sabres, the Ducks owned a 53.3% share of shot attempts when Zellweger was on the ice at 5-on-5, tied for the best mark among the team’s regular defensemen.

Additionally, Zellweger averaged 14.92 puck carries leading to shots per 60 minutes, the 18th-best mark among NHL defensemen (according to Stathletes).

He will move into the departed Bowen Byram's spot on the Buffalo blueline, for $9M less per year.