Sabres sign centre Tyler Ennis; 2 people familiar with deal tell AP it's 5 years, $23 million

BUFFALO, N.Y. - A person familiar with the agreement has confirmed to The Associated Press that the Buffalo Sabres have reached an agreement to re-sign centre Tyler Ennis to a five-year contract worth about $23 million.

The person spoke early Thursday morning on the condition of anonymity because the Sabres have not announced the deal. The NHL Network first reported the agreement on Wednesday.

Ennis was a restricted free agent. The Sabres had retained his rights by extending him a contract offer last month.

The Sabres selected Ennis in the first round of the 2008 draft. He is a two-time 20-goal scorer, and had a career-best 21 goals in 80 games last season. Overall, he has 69 goals and 97 assists for 166 points in 267 career games over four-plus seasons in Buffalo.