Buffalo Sabres sign centre players Michael Ryan, Paul Szczechura to one-year deals –NHL offseason Update
Buffalo Sabres signed on minor league recalls, Michael Ryan and Paul Szczechura to one-year deals, announced the National Hockey League (NHL) Eastern Conference franchise on Tuesday, August 9th, through a press release.
Michael Ryan, a veteran centre player from Boston, Massachusetts, United States, is not in any way new to the Buffalo organization, as he not only played his first games with the club but also spent two seasons with them.
After being drafted by Dallas Stars as the 32nd overall during round-two of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, was acquired by Buffalo Sabres along with a second-round future draft pick from his original draft team in place of Stu Barnes in March of 2003.
Ryan continued to play in the American Hockey League (AHL), with Buffalo’s affiliate club, Rochester Americans following his transition from Northeastern University hockey team. He was given his first chance in the major league during the 2006-2007 regular
season in which Ryan played in 19 games and scored five points (3 goals, 2 assists).
The following season (2007-2008), Ryan appeared in 46 matchups, but managed to score only a mere eight points (4 goals, 4 assists), which in the end was the reason for him not being re-signed by the team.
It was back during the 2008-2009 season in which Michael Ryan played in last 18 games and picked up only two assists. Since then, he has been playing with Albany River Rats in the AHL and is looking forward to an NHL comeback with Sabres.
Paul Szczechura on the other hand is only 25-years-old and has only played two seasons in the NHL so far. He was undrafted and picked up by Tampa Bay Lightning after his performance with Western Michigan University, Iowa Stars and Norfolk Admirals of the
minor leagues.
Szczechura in total has played 83 NHL games and boasts a record of 16 points (9 goals, 7 assists).
Last season, Paul Szczechura spent time with Norfolk Admirals and collected 52 points (22 goals, 30 assists) in 79 games with them.
It is expected that both will remain recalls from minor league teams and are not expected to be regulars.
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