The top center position was filled today for Rochester when the Buffalo Sabres signed Jean-Sebastien Dea to a two-year contract (one-way both seasons) that will pay him the league minimum $700k. That’s a big raise from the $200k he was earning in the minors last season.

Dea is a top center in the American League who can lead a power play, win face offs, and obviously has the speed necessary to play a top line role. He’ll join the center position along with Kevin Porter, Rasmus Asplund, and Sean Malone. Curtis Lazar who was also signed today primarily plays on the wing.

Jason Botterill mentioned Dea on his conference call saying, “You look at J.S. Dea, you look at Lazar, obviously bringing Jimmy Vesey in, Gilmour, all these players can skate very well and play with pace. (It’s) something we’re trying to accomplish here.”

Last season he played for four different teams as a result of waivers and a trade. The NJ Devils claimed him off of waivers before the start of the season and he played 20 games with the Devils tallying 5 points (3G+2A). The Penguins claimed him back off of waivers from the Devils at the end of November. In 26 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton he had 22 points (6G+16A). At the end of February the Penguins traded him to the Panthers organization where he finished the season in Springfield playing 20 games for another 22 points (11G+11A).

A player that the Sabres feel confident in being able to call up if there’s a need along with as they say driving internal competition.

There’s familiarity between player, management, and Chris Taylor from time spent in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

A glimpse of the shot that he’s capable of..

****

Official Sabres press release:

BUFFALO, N.Y. (July 1, 2019) — The Buffalo Sabres today announced the team has signed forward Jean-Sebastien Dea to a two-year contract with an AAV of $700,000.

Dea (5’11”, 175 lbs., 2/8/1994) split time between the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins in 2018-19, posting six points (4+2) in a career-high 23 NHL games. He also appeared in 46 AHL games last season, recording 44 points (17+27) in those contests.

In his career, Dea has totaled seven points (5+2) in 29 NHL games spent with the Devils and Penguins. Through parts of six professional seasons, the Laval, Quebec native has also played in 308 regular-season AHL games, totaling 185 points (83+102) for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Springfield Thunderbirds.