The Buffalo Sabres announced Monday night that they have signed Gophers hockey winger Hudson Fasching. He will join the Sabres immediately and is expected to make his NHL debut soon.
Fasching had one year of eligibility left with the Gophers, whose season ended with a loss in the Big Ten tournament final Saturday night.
The 20-year-old Fasching had 20 goals and 18 assists in his junior season and, at 6-2 and 210 pounds, projects as an NHL power forward. He was rated the Sabres' second-best prospect by The Hockey News.
"We believe he has the potential to be an effective NHL player and wanted to bring him in as soon as possible,'' Sabres General Manager Tim Murray said in a statement.
The contract is a three-year, entry-level deal. The maximum rookie contract is $925,000 per year, plus bonuses.
Buffalo acquired the rights to Fasching, who was taken in the fourth round of the 2013 draft by Los Angeles, in a trade during the 2013-14 season. The Sabres got Fasching and Nicolas Deslauriers in exchange for defenseman Brayden McNabb, forward Jonathan Parker and two second-round draft picks.
Fasching, a second-team All-Big Ten pick this season, had 46 goals and 48 assists in 115 games with the Gophers. He played with Sabres star rookie Jack Eichel with the U.S. national development team in 2012-13, Fasching's second year in the program. As a high school freshman and sophomore, Fasching played for Apple Valley High School.
