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

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

Cecconi was acquired from the Dallas Stars for defenseman Oskari Laaksonen on Dec. 15, 2022. The 26-year-old defenseman hasn’t played in the NHL but has eight points with the Rochester Americans this year. He had 10 total points after having two assists in 12 games with the Texas Stars.

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

Before turning professional, 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 the United States at the 2014 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Cecconi will likely stay with the Americans next year, giving the Sabers a bit more defensive depth. Cecconi is one of four AHL defensemen signed by the Sabers for next year, including Ryan Johnson, Vsevolod Komarov and Nikita Novikov

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