AP photo Buffalo Sabres left wing Beck Malenstyn (29) grabs Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov (91) during the first period in Game 2 of a first-round Stanley Cup playoff series April 21 in Buffalo, N.Y.

The Buffalo Sabres re-signed checking-line forward Beck Malenstyn to a six-year, $17.5 million contract to retain the pending unrestricted free agent.

The average salary of $2.9 million more than doubles the $1.35 million Malenstyn made in each of his first two seasons in Buffalo. Last season, Malenstyn set a Sabres’ single-season record with 282 hits and finished second on the team with 75 blocked shots. He scored a career-high seven goals as part of a 14-point season.

The sixth-year NHL player spent his first four seasons in Washington and was acquired by Buffalo in a trade that sent a second-round pick to the Capitals at the 2024 draft.

SHARKS RE-SIGN KESSELRING TO 3-YEAR DEAL

The San Jose Sharks signed newly acquired defenseman Michael Kesselring to a three-year, $13.5 million contract.

The 26-year-old was a pending restricted free agent, and was acquired by San Jose in a trade with Buffalo two weeks ago.

As part of the deal, the teams swapped first-round draft picks with the Sabres moving up seven spots in the order to No. 20 on Friday night.

The 6-foot-5 defenseman completed his fourth NHL season, and first in Buffalo. After topping 20 points with Arizona and Utah in each of his previous two seasons, Kesselring was limited by a nagging lower body injury and finished with two assists in 34 games last season.

CANUCKS ACQUIRE GALLAGHER IN TRADE

The Vancouver Canucks added veteran depth by acquiring Brendan Gallagher in a trade with Montreal on Monday, with NHL teams busy revamping their rosters two days before the free-agency period opens.

In the meantime, the Florida Panthers acquired Anaheim captain Radko Gudas by trading forward A.J. Greer to the Ducks in a deal involving two pending unrestricted free agents. The teams now have an exclusive negotiating window to sign the players by Wednesday.

Montreal acquired future considerations and agreed to retain 50% of the $6.5 million the 34-year-old Gallagher is scheduled to make in the final season of his contract.

Gallagher spent 14 seasons in Montreal and enjoys a homecoming. He grew up in suburban Vancouver, and played for the Western Hockey League Vancouver Giants.

He and the Canadiens reached a mutual agreement to part ways after Gallagher’s playing time began to diminish. He appeared in just three playoff games in Montreal’s run to the Eastern Conference Final before losing to eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina.

“It was maybe the worst-kept secret that this was kind of what I had hoped for, anyways, for both myself as a professional, but also my family,” Gallagher said during a video conference call. “This is just the best-case scenario.”

A fifth-round pick in the 2010 draft, Gallagher established himself as a respected leader in Montreal, and topped 20 goals five times, including a career-best 33 in 2018-19.

“We love the way he completes and leads by example,” Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson said. “Bringing in veterans like Brendan will help us set the standard for our younger guys to follow.”

Canadiens GM Kent Hughes thanked Gallagher for his contributions in Montreal.

“Brendan will always hold a special place in the hearts of Canadiens fans. He represented the team with such tremendous determination, passion and inspiring courage,” Hughes said. “He is the very definition of a warrior, always putting the team’s success ahead of his own individual accolades.”

GUDAS RETURNS TO FLORIDA

Gudas is a 36-year-old defenseman and returns to Florida after leaving the Panthers in July 2023 to sign a three-year contract with the Ducks.

The 29-year-old Greer is on the move for the fifth time through nine NHL seasons, and after scoring a career-best 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists) last season, his second in Florida.

“Radko Gudas captained our club with heart and soul over the last two seasons while making a great impact in our community,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said, before expressing hope to sign Greer to a new contract.

CANUCKS DEAL HOGLANDER TO NASHVILLE

It was the second trade of the day for the rebuilding Canucks after finishing last in the standings. Vancouver acquired a 2029 third-round pick in a deal that sent winger Nils Hoglander to Nashville.

The Predators continued revamping under new general manager Chris MacFarland. Hoglander has six years of NHL experience and missed a majority of last season after having ankle surgery. He finished with two goals and three assists in 38 games.

“He is a 25-year-old experienced winger who is known for his relentless, high-energy style of play, bringing a consistent motor to the lineup night after night,” MacFarland said. “We believe the player can come in and have a key role.”

IN OTHER MOVES

— Pittsburgh acquired pending restricted free agent forward David Gustafsson in a deal that sent defenseman Jack St. Ivany to Winnipeg. The 26-year-old Gustafsson has appeared in 149 NHL games with Winnipeg since 2019-20, and spent last season in the minors. St. Ivany has nine assists in 53 games over three seasons with the Penguins.

— Toronto re-signed defenseman Troy Stecher to a two-year contract extension following a season in which the 32-year-old had three goals and 14 points in 58 games with Toronto. He was claimed by Toronto in November after being waived by Edmonton.

— Utah signed forward Kailer Yamamoto to a two-year contract extension after he had 13 goals and 10 assists in 59 games. The 27-year-old had a goal and four assists in six games during the Mammoth’s first playoff appearance in their second season since moving from Arizona.