Sharpen Up: Week of August 5, 2019

Happy Monday. The Sabres have all of their restricted free agents under contract.
Here's what you need to know.

McCabe, Ullmark, Elie locked up

No need for an independent arbitrator's ruling. The Sabres were able to come to terms with their three remaining restricted free agents last week.

On Thursday, the Sabres agreed to terms with forward Remi Elie on a one-year, two-way $700,000 contract.

Elie appeared in 16 games with the Sabres in 2018-19 after the team claimed him off waivers from the Dallas Stars in October. He also played 25 regular-season AHL games and three playoff games with the Rochester Americans, totaling 14 points (8+6) in those contests.
Selected by Dallas in the second round (40th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Elie has recorded 22 points (7+15) in 106 games through three NHL seasons. The Cornwall, Ontario native has also recorded 60 points (24+36) in 146 regular-season AHL contests, adding nine points (2+7) in 26 AHL playoff games.

Then Saturday morning, the team announced that they had agreed to terms with defenseman Jake McCabe on a two-year contract with an average annual value of $2.85 million.
McCabe recorded 14 points (4+10) in 59 games during the 2018-19 season. Since being selected by Buffalo in the second round (44th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft, the Eau Claire, Wisconsin native has appeared in 274 games for the Sabres, totaling 61 points (14+47) and 153 penalty minutes.

And a few hours later, Linus Ullmark agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.325 million.
Ullmark recorded a 15-14-5 record and his first two NHL shutouts in 37 appearances during his first full NHL season in 2018-19. In parts of four seasons with the Sabres, Ullmark has appeared in 63 games, posting a 24-27-7 record with a .910 save percentage and a 2.87 goals-against average.

Jersey number news alert

Eichel cracks Top 20 centers list

NHL Network experts chose the top 20 centers in the League for a special program that premiered Sunday as the first in a nine-part series leading up to the regular season.\
Here's what they had to say about Sabres captain Jack Eichel…
15. Jack Eichel, Buffalo SabresEichel had the most goals (28), assists (54) and points (82) of his NHL career last season, and has scored at least 24 goals in each of his four NHL seasons. The 22-year-old also had NHL career highs in power-play points (26), shots on goal (303) and face-off winning percentage (47.01 percent), and had 27 multipoint games.
"He's only getting better, and as his team gets better, in large part because he will continue to get better, then maybe the recognition will climb up a little bit," Johnson said. "I would be disappointed if I don't see him score 30-plus goals this year to go with his 85 or so points. ... He's their offensive catalyst, but I think this year, as much as he does on the ice, he's got to continue to get better off the ice. Be a leader, be the captain and help lead the Buffalo franchise back to prominence, because their fans deserve it."

NHL.com's 31 in 31 preview

NHL.com is providing in-depth analysis for each of its 31 teams throughout August. On Sunday, they locked in on Buffalo…

Fan Fest set for next weekend

The Golden Season's festivities will kick off with a Fan Fest in Alumni Plaza on Aug. 17. The day will begin with a 5K race followed by live music and activities for children and families, with food and drink available for purchase. Sabres players and alumni will be part of the event programming throughout the day.

The 5.0K will start at 9 a.m. The route will navigate downtown Buffalo and end at KeyBank Center. Registered 5.0K runners will receive a race shirt and a pair of tickets to a 2019-20 preseason game. The team will also offer a Family Fun Mile option, and a postrace party and awards ceremony will take place after the races in Alumni Plaza.
You can register here.

Prospects Challenge tickets on sale now

Sharpen Up will return next week.