Buffalo Sabres said “I do” for a one-year, two-way contract with their 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#57 overall) defenseman Drew Schiestel(44) despite there being a can of worms still on the table throughout his first three seasons in the system.
In a low total of 156 AHL games with their Portland Pirates and Rochester Americans‘ affiliates, plus a weird 16 games with Texas Stars late last season in a shuffle him out of the conference Sabres‘ reassignment.
He was good for 8 goals and 39 assists in that stretch.
Not terrible, although there should be more upside.
And there is: he’s an effective +17 plus/minus over his first three years since turning pro playing in the minors. 2011/2012 was his first season in the minus column on the ice.
He did get hampered by a season ending knee injury a couple of years ago but he was also a healthy scratch from the Amerks at times last year.
Step up.
