The Sabres have signed forward Tyler Kopff to a two-year, entry-level contract beginning with the 2025-26 season, per a club announcement. He’ll finish out the season on a tryout with AHL Rochester. Per PuckPedia, his deal carries a cap hit of $975K and breaks down as a $877.5K salary with a $97.5K signing bonus each season.
Kopff, 21, is an undrafted free agent coming off his sophomore season at Brown University. The New Jersey native was first eligible for the 2021 draft but spent the year in the state high school system and was far too down the competition ladder to warrant a selection.
He’s produced well everywhere he’s gone since then, though. He jumped to junior ’A’ hockey for his age-18 and age-19 seasons in British Columbia with the Coquitlam Express, posting 42-51–93 in 107 BCHL games over two seasons. Over two years at Brown, he’s added 15-31–46 in 62 games.
He thus leaves college early to turn pro in the Sabres organization, a decision undoubtedly influenced by his 6’4″, 205-lb frame that should make adjusting to the AHL level an easier task. He’s likely not ticketed for an NHL call-up anytime soon, but he gives Buffalo another project for Rochester who should be able to step in immediately as a depth scorer with size.
His deal will expire in the 2027 offseason, making him a restricted free agent. Buffalo now has 26 deals on the books for 2025-26.