Buffalo Sabres sign Joseph Cecconi to one-year deal worth $750,000

The Buffalo Sabres have signed defenseman Joseph Cecconi to a one-year contract worth $750,000.

Cecconi was acquired from the Dallas Stars in exchange for defenseman Oskari Laaksonen back on Dec. 15, 2022. The 26-year-old defender has not played in the NHL, but did had eight points with the Rochester Americans this year. He had 10 points total after nabbing a pair of assists in 12 games with the Texas Stars.

Cecconi spent his first four seasons with Texas, with the 6-foot-3 defender sitting at seven goals and 41 points in 217 games.

Before turning pro, Cecconi spent four years at the University of Michigan. He won the Big 10 championship in 2016 before winning gold at the world juniors a few months later. Cecconi also won bronze with USA at the 2014 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Cecconi will likely remain with the Americans next year, giving the Sabres a bit of extra defensive depth. Cecconi is one of four AHL defenseman signed by the Sabres for next year, including Ryan Johnson, Vsevolod Komarov and Nikita Novikov

The Sabres currently have $14.45 million in cap space, with no major UFAs needing to sign. Vinnie Hinostroza is the lone pending UFA, with Tyson Jost and Kale Clague set to become RFAs.