Final takeaways from the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas

Malenstyn also had six goals and 21 points in 81 games last season, his first full year in the NHL. Before that, the 6-foot-3 winger was a member of the Hershey Bears that beat Seth Appert’s Rochester Americans in the AHL Eastern Conference final last spring.

As the Sabers pursued Malenstyn in recent days, Appert — now an assistant coach in Buffalo — was a resource. He described Malenstyn as a player AHL teams feared, a player who hit hard and gained time and space thanks to opponents’ respect for his physicality.

The Sabres also did their due diligence on Malenstyn the person and came away with the impression he is a popular, high-character teammate. That impression was solidified when Adams called Malenstyn after the trade Saturday morning.

“We had a great conversation, we talked to him within minutes of the trade being made official. I went in there, believe me, as a player,” Adams said. “You’re kind of shocked. He couldn’t have been more excited and more involved and knows some of the players on our team, loves our team and was ready to go.

All of those ingredients – physique, personality and shorthanded ability – were worth the acquisition cost in the eyes of the Sabers front office. Buffalo sent the 11th overall pick to San Jose on Thursday in exchange for the 14th pick (used to draft Konsta Helenius) and the 42nd pick. With two second-round picks at their disposal, Adams planned to use that asset to acquire help on the roster.

“It was an area where there was a need and it was a price we were definitely worth paying,” Adams said.

Here are more notes from Day 2 of the NHL Draft.