Sabres sign Zucker to 2-year contract extension 

The Buffalo Sabres have signed forward Jason Zucker to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $4.75 million, the team announced Friday.

Zucker, 33, is now under contract through the 2026-27 season. He’d previously been scheduled for unrestricted free agency this summer.

The 14-year veteran has made a resounding impact on the Sabres since signing last July, with on- and off-ice leadership complementing one of the most productive scoring seasons of Zucker’s 14-year career.

Zucker ranks fourth on the team with 18 goals and ranks fifth with 44 points; he’s averaged a career-best 0.81 points per game across 54 games played. Further, he’s scored a career-high nine power-play goals – and tied a career high with 16 power-play points – as a net-front fixture on Buffalo’s first man-advantage unit.

In all situations, Zucker’s willingness to battle for pucks and positioning in high-traffic areas has driven positive results for the team. The Sabres own a 61-percent goal share (69-44) during Zucker’s all-strengths ice time, which is the highest of any Buffalo skater this season.

Zucker is Buffalo’s oldest skater by more than three years. With so much experience to share, the vocal veteran has served as an invaluable resource and example for the Sabres’ young, developing talent.

“He’s just someone to follow,” Tage Thompson said in January. “I think his effort has been there every night – practice and games. … Just good to have that voice in the locker room. A steady-state kind of guy, doesn’t get too high or too low, and then he just shows up to the rink and does work.”

• From January: Zucker drawing rave reviews midway through first Sabres season

The Newport Beach, Calif. native was originally drafted by Minnesota in the second round in 2010. After parts of nine seasons with the Wild, Zucker bounced around to Pittsburgh, Arizona and Nashville. He’s totaled 414 points (214+200) in 751 regular season games, plus 18 points (9+9) in 52 career playoff contests.

Buffalo also locked up 28-year-old forward Jordan Greenway to a two-year extension Wednesday.