Grit & Speed Secured
Buffalo Sabres Secure Beck Malenstyn for Six Years, Emphasizing Physicality and Record Hits
Key Points
Beck Malenstyn posted the NHL's fastest recorded skating speed, reaching up to 24.94 mph, a factor in his heavy, up-tempo style that complements his physical game.
Malenstyn was acquired from the Washington Capitals in 2024 for a draft pick that ultimately became Cole Hutson, who is the brother of Lane Hutson.
In his 262-game NHL career between the Capitals and Sabres, Malenstyn has 19 goals and 48 points.
He recorded a career-high seven goals in the 2025-26 season.
Malenstyn also registered 75 blocked shots last season, underscoring his role as a physical, two-way forward.
The Buffalo Sabres locked up one of the NHL's most physical forwards on Sunday, re-signing Beck Malenstyn to a six-year, $17.5 million contract — two days before he could have hit the open market, AP reported. The deal carries a $2.92 million cap hit per season and keeps the 28-year-old winger in Buffalo through the 2031–32 season.
Malenstyn is no scorer. He posted just seven goals and 14 points in 81 games last season. But he set a Sabres franchise record with 282 hits — and on March 12, 2026, clocked a max skating speed of 24.94 mph, the fastest ever recorded in the NHL EDGE era, per Sportsnet.
Record Hits and Record Speed Made Him Irreplaceable
Malenstyn's 282 hits last season weren't just a personal best — they broke the Buffalo Sabres' all-time single-season franchise record. He also added 75 blocked shots, second-most among Sabres forwards, AP noted. That combination of physicality and defensive work made him one of the team's most valuable bottom-six players.
His speed adds another dimension. The 24.94 mph top speed he hit against Washington in March surpassed the previous NHL EDGE record held by Miles Wood. "For me personally, to be a part of it this year was just extremely special," Malenstyn said, per Sabres.com. "Something I would definitely enjoy to remain a part of."
Buffalo Paid More Than Double His Previous Salary
Malenstyn's previous deal paid him $1.35 million per year. His new $2.92 million AAV more than doubles that figure. The Sabres signed him two days before July 1 free agency, when a fast, physical winger could have drawn bigger offers in a thin market, Sportsnet reported.
Some analysts question a six-year commitment to a player who has never topped 21 points in a season. But with the NHL salary cap projected to hit $104 million in 2026–27, Malenstyn's deal consumes only about 2.8% of the total cap — a manageable price for a premier penalty killer on a team that ranked 4th in the NHL at 81.9% last season.
The 2024 Trade That Sparked a Debate Still Ongoing
Buffalo got Malenstyn from the Washington Capitals in June 2024 for the 43rd overall pick. Washington used that pick to draft Cole Hutson — the brother of Montreal's Lane Hutson — a puck-moving defenseman who has drawn strong reviews. Capitals fans still call it a win for Washington.
Sabres fans see it differently. Malenstyn brought a 2023 Calder Cup championship pedigree from his time with the Hershey Bears. In 262 career NHL games split between Washington and Buffalo, he has 19 goals and 48 points — modest numbers, but his physical imprint has reshaped Buffalo's identity on the ice.
Sabres Bet on Physicality as Core Playoff Strategy
Buffalo ended a 14-year playoff drought in 2026, playing 13 postseason games. Malenstyn contributed three points in those contests. GM Jarmo Kekäläinen has signaled that "regular season skill" alone won't build a contender — the Malenstyn extension is a direct bet on postseason-style, heavy hockey.
The Sabres still face big decisions ahead. Pending free agents Alex Tuch and Zach Benson need new deals. Locking Malenstyn for six years anchors the fourth line alongside Sam Carrick, freeing the front office to focus cap space on top-nine scorers like Tage Thompson and Benson, per Sportsnet.
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