The Buffalo Sabres left a few spots open on the training camp roster they released yesterday and now at least one of them will be filled by a veteran forward. Riley Sheahan has agreed to a professional tryout for the Sabres and will attend training camp in a few days.
Sheahan, who is amazingly still only 29, feels like he’s taken a lap around the entire NHL in the last few seasons. The 6’3″ center has played for four different teams since the start of the 2017-18 season, suiting up for the Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers, and Edmonton Oilers. He’ll now try to continue his circuit in Buffalo, though an NHL contract is far from a sure thing.
Never a top offensive player, Sheahan has still produced solid seasons over the years as a bottom-six center that can penalty kill and doesn’t drown you at even-strength. That said, a team looking for a playoff spot likely needs more than the handful of goals that he’ll provide. Over the past two seasons, Shehan has just 17 goals and 34 points in 148 games.
The Sabres have plenty of added depth up front, but a name like Sheahan might still be useful as a taxi squad player that can come in and out of the lineup when injury strikes. He’d need an NHL deal for that and to clear waivers, but that may not be a problem given the restricted market free agents are dealing with.