Sabres Secure Josh Doan with Long-Term Contract Extension
Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo Sabres have solidified their core by signing forward Josh doan to a seven-year, $48.65 million contract extension, the team announced Wednesday. The deal, valued at $6.95 million annually, extends Doan’s tenure with the Sabres through the 2032-33 season and includes $7 million in signing bonuses distributed over the first two years. Additionally, the contract features a seven-team no-trade clause once Doan meets the eligibility requirements.
Doan, 23, was approaching restricted free agency this summer. He arrived in Buffalo last season as part of a significant trade that sent JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth alongside defenseman Michael Kesselring. Since joining the Sabres, Doan has quickly become a key contributor.
Currently, Doan ranks third on the team in scoring with a career-high 15 goals and 35 points in 49 games this season. He also leads the NHL in takeaways with 35, demonstrating his impactful two-way play.
“Josh is a player that impacts the team both on and off the ice,” stated general Manager Jarmo Kekkalainen. “He works hard, is competitive and skilled, and his game is going to continue to develop. We believe he will be a core piece of this team moving forward and I am excited to have him as a Buffalo Sabre long term.”
Doan expressed his enthusiasm for remaining with the Sabres, sharing a message on X thanking the fans for their support and expressing his excitement for the next seven years.
This extension marks the first major move for Kekkalainen, who assumed the role of general Manager in December, replacing Kevyn Adams. Under Kekkalainen’s leadership, the Sabres have experienced a resurgence, posting a league-best 16-3-1 record as December 9th and positioning themselves firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The team is striving to end the NHL’s longest active playoff drought,currently at 14 consecutive seasons.
doan, originally selected 37th overall in the 2021 NHL draft by the Arizona Coyotes, has accumulated 27 goals and 63 points in 111 career NHL games. He is the son of former coyotes captain and current Toronto Maple Leafs executive, Shane Doan.