Final takeaways from the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas

Malenstyn also had six goals and 21 points in 81 games last season, his first full NHL season. Before that, the 6-foot-3 winger was a member of the Hershey Bears that defeated Seth Appert’s Rochester Americans in the AHL Eastern Conference final last spring.

As the Sabres pursued Malenstyn in recent days, Appert, now an assistant coach in Buffalo, proved a valuable resource. He described Malenstyn as a player AHL teams feared, a hard-hitting player who earned time and space because opponents respected his physicality.

The Sabers also did their due diligence on Malenstyn and felt like he was a popular, high-quality teammate. That impression was reinforced when Adams called Malenstyn after the trade Saturday morning.

“We had a great conversation, we talked to him within minutes of the trade being made official. I went in there, believe me, as a player,” Adams said. “You’re kind of shocked. He couldn’t have been more excited and more involved and knows some of the players on our team, loves our team and was ready to go.

All of those ingredients — physicality, personality and penalty-killing ability — made the acquisition price worth it to Sabres management. Buffalo sent the 11th overall pick to San Jose on Thursday in exchange for the 14th overall pick (used to draft Konsta Helenius) and the 42nd overall pick. With two second-round picks at their disposal, Adams planned to use that asset to acquire roster help.

“It was an area where there was a need and it was a price we were definitely worth paying,” Adams said.

Here are more notes from Day 2 of the NHL Draft.