Buffalo Sabres Lock Up Josh Doan With Massive 7-Year Extension

The Buffalo Sabres are making a serious commitment to their future, and the name on the contract carries some serious NHL heritage.

The organization announced Tuesday that they have signed Forward Josh Doan to a 7-year contract extension worth $48.65 million. The deal carries an average annual value (AAV) of $6.95 million, keeping the 23-year-old in blue and gold through the 2031-32 season.

It’s a bold swing for General Manager Kevyn Adams, but one that signals exactly where this franchise thinks it’s headed. They aren’t just collecting prospects anymore; they are identifying their core and paying them to stay.

Betting Big On the Pedigree

For Buffalo, this isn’t just about paying for past performance—it’s a wager on potential. Doan, the son of Arizona Coyotes legend Shane Doan, has shown flashes of the same grit and leadership that made his father an icon in the desert.

Since arriving in Buffalo, Josh Doan has quickly endeared himself to the coaching staff with a heavy, honest style of play. He goes to the dirty areas. He wins battles along the wall. He scores goals that don’t make the highlight reel but win hockey games.

In a league where scoring keeps trending younger and faster, having a power forward who can play heavy minutes is a luxury. The Buffalo Sabres clearly believe Doan is just scratching the surface of his offensive ceiling.

The Numbers Behind the Deal

The contract structure is interesting. At nearly $7 million per season, the Buffalo Sabres are paying for what they believe Doan will become in years three, four, and five of this deal.

If Doan develops into a consistent 25-30 goal scorer who brings physical intangibles every night, this contract could look like a steal as the salary cap continues to rise. If his development plateaus, it becomes a heavier anchor.

But in today’s NHL, bridge deals are becoming less common for players teams identify as “core.” You either pay now and hope for a bargain later, or you wait and risk paying double. Adams chose the former.

What This Means For the Buffalo Sabres’ Core

This signing solidifies the Buffalo Sabres’ long-term picture. With Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens, and Rasmus Dahlin already locked in, Doan joins a nucleus that is contractually tied together for the foreseeable future.

For fans in Western New York who have been patient through rebuild after rebuild, this is the kind of stability they’ve been craving. You don’t sign a player to a seven-year extension if you’re planning on tearing it down again. You do it when you’re ready to build something sustainable.

The Human Element

Beyond the cap hits and analytics, there is a human story here. Josh Doan grew up in NHL locker rooms. He knows the pressure. He understands the grind.

Signing a seven-year deal at this stage of his career offers life-changing security, but it also comes with massive expectations. The Sabres are banking on his maturity to handle that weight.

He isn’t just Shane Doan’s kid anymore. He’s a $48 million man for the Buffalo Sabres, and he’s here to stay.