282 Hits and 24.94 MPH: Beck Malenstyn's Wild $17.5 Million Deal and What Buffalo Is REALLY Paying For

Alright Seattle sports fam, listen up! While our Kraken are out there battling, some wild news just dropped out East that we gotta talk about. The Buffalo Sabres, yeah, *those* Sabres, just locked down forward Beck Malenstyn for a whopping six years and $17.5 million! This dude was literally two days away from hitting free agency, and they went all in on Monday to keep him. You know a team means business when they drop that kind of cash on a guy who isn't lighting up the scoreboard like Julio Rodriguez, but is making his presence known in a HUGE way.

This Guy Is a Machine, Seriously

So, what exactly did Malenstyn, a 28-year-old left wing, do to earn that monster payday? Well, it's not just about the goals, though he did notch a career-high seven in 2025-26. Across his first two seasons in Buffalo since being snagged from the Washington Capitals before the 2024-25 campaign, he put up 24 regular-season points, with 11 goals and 13 assists. Solid, but not superstar numbers, right? That's where it gets crazy. This past season, Malenstyn wasn't just playing; he was wrecking shop. He set a franchise record with a staggering 282 hits, which was the fifth-most in the entire league! Think about that for a second. That's a ton of physicality every single game. And he wasn't just hitting; he was getting in the way of shots too, finishing second on the Sabres with 75 blocked shots. Oh, and get this: he also recorded the fastest skating speed *ever* in the NHL Edge era, hitting a mind-boggling 24.94 mph in a March game against the Capitals. The dude is a blur and

Trade on Every Game with Kalshi

Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.

a battering ram, all at once!

Doubling Down on the Grind

Malenstyn himself knows his game isn't just about the fancy stats. He said, "Being somebody that tries to play that heavy, hard, fast, physical game all the time, I think there are moments where you maybe create a little bit more space for yourself and don't take advantage of them." He then added, "I think I was able to take a step in that direction this year, create a little bit more offense when I was on the ice." And the Sabres clearly agreed with his assessment. His new average salary of just over $2.9 million annually more than doubles his previous $1.35 million with Buffalo. That's a serious raise for a player who brings that kind of relentless energy and grit every night. This isn't just a contract; it's a statement about the value of his unique style of play. He's not just a body; he's a game-changer in how he impacts the ice. He was a huge part of the Sabres snapping an NHL-record 14-year playoff drought this past season, a run that finally ended in the second round against the Montreal Canadiens. That's big time, folks. So what does this mean? The Sabres are investing big in a player who literally breaks records for speed and hits, and who helped them end a two-decade-long playoff curse. Malenstyn is the kind of player who wears down opponents, creates opportunities through sheer will, and brings an edge every single shift. It shows what Buffalo values moving forward. It’ll be fascinating to see if he can keep up that record-setting pace and continue to be a force for them, especially with that hefty new contract on his shoulders. This isn't just a signing; it's a foundation for their future.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.