Sabres sign Brian Gionta to three-year contract

The Buffalo Sabres have signed right winger Brian Gionta to a three-year contract, the team announced Tuesday. The deal is worth $12.75 million at an average of $4.25 million per year according to Kevin Oklobzija of the Democrat and Chronicle. 

Gionta, a former captain of the Montreal Canadiens, became a free agent after finishing out a five-year, $25 million deal with the Canadiens. It'll be a return home to Western New York for Gionta, who was born and raised in Rochester, NY. 

The 35-year-old veteran scored 18 goals and totaled 40 points for Montreal last season, and has amassed 249 goals and 485 points in his NHL career. 

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The deal comes with a no-movement clause through the first two years and a limited no-trade clause in the third, according to The Buffalo News.

—Molly Geary