Sabres sign Matt Villalta to one-year contract
The Buffalo Sabres made a move to add to their organizational depth in net on Saturday, as the team announced the signing of goalie Matt Villalta to a one-year contract.
While the team did not reveal the specific details of the contract, according to PuckPedia, the two-way deal will pay Villalta $850,000 at the NHL level and $425,000 at the AHL level with a guaranteed minimum of $450,000 for the year.
The #Sabrehood signed 27 y/o G Matt Villalta to a 1 year two-way contract NHL: $850K Minors: $425K Guaranteed: $450K Rep'd by Andy Scott @OctagonHockey puckpedia.com/player/matt-vi…
Villalta was originally chosen by the Los Angeles Kings with the No. 72 overall selection in the third round of the 2017 NHL Draft, and he spent the first four seasons of his professional career in the Kings’ organization playing with their AHL affiliate Ontario Reign.
A native of Kingston, Ontario, Villalta was a standout for the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL before turning pro. His best year with the Reign was his last, as he posted a .910 save percentage and 2.65 goals against average in 2022-23, before he signed with the Arizona Coyotes.
Villalta made two appearances at the NHL level for the Coyotes in 2023-24 and one in Utah in 2024-25. He took a 51-game workload with the franchise’s AHL affiliate Tucson Roadrunners in 2023-24, putting up a .911 SV% and 2.54 GAA.
Last season, he went 16-12-3 with a .895 SV% and 3.10 GAA across 33 appearances.
Villalta will join a deep group of goalies in the Sabres’ organization, as the club has three NHL caliber goaltenders under contract for the 2026-27 campaign in Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis.
At the minor-league level, Buffalo also has 21-year-old Scott Ratzlaff and 22-year-old Topias Leinonen between the pipes. Now, the Sabres add a fourth goalie with some degree of NHL experience into the mix.
Buffalo and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen have been linked to the possibility of acquiring 2024-25 Hart Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets, but if that move does not materialize, the Sabres will be content to run things back with the three current goalies with Villalta as an insurance policy if multiple injuries strike.