Mats Lindgren among trio of Sabers prospects opting not to sign

Three prospects drafted by Buffalo Sabers general manager Kevyn Adams will officially become unrestricted free agents Saturday at 5 p.m. ET.

Sources familiar with the matter confirmed to The News that the Sabers chose not to sign defensemen Mats Lindgren and Albert Lyckasen as well as center Jakub Konecny.

Lindgren has produced 18 goals and 75 points in two seasons in the Western Hockey League since the Sabers drafted him in the fourth round. He’s an excellent skater with a left-handed shot, but the team could have as many as three young defensemen in Rochester next season: Vsevelod Komarov, Nikita Novikov and Ryan Johnson.

The Sabres’ defensive depth on the NHL roster also gave them the opportunity to move away from a prospect with upside potential. Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson signed long-term contracts, and Bowen Byram was acquired at the March trade deadline for Casey Mittelstadt.

Lyckasen, a 2020 seventh-round pick, has spent each of the last three seasons in the Swedish second division league. Konecny, who the Sabers drafted with the penultimate seventh-round pick in 2020, has just 12 points in 48 games in the top Czech professional league this season.