Sabres Sign Jake Richard To Entry-Level Contract

According to a team announcement, the Buffalo Sabres have signed forward Jake Richard to a two-year, entry-level contract. The Sabres did not specify the financial terms of the deal.

Buffalo drafted Richard back in 2022 with the 170th overall selection of that summer’s draft. The 21-year-old was coming off a decent season with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks, scoring 18 goals and 48 points in 56 games with a +10 rating. Having already committed to the University of Connecticut by then, Richard spent one more year in the USHL, this time split between Muskegon and the Tri-City Storm, amassing 31 goals and 62 points in 57 games.

Despite a slow start to his college tenure throughout his rookie campaign, Richard became a key offensive contributor for the Huskies by his sophomore season. During that season, Richard set career-highs in nearly every category, finishing with 15 goals and 43 points in 34 games with a +26 rating. As a result, it was the best year in program history for the University of Connecticut, which reached the National Tournament for the first time; however, they were eliminated in the Regional Final by Penn State University.

Despite remaining a significant part of the team’s offense, Richard’s scoring decreased to 10 goals and 27 points in 38 games. The Huskies qualified for the National Tournament for the second consecutive year but were eliminated in the Regional Semifinal by Michigan State University. This match would be Richard’s final collegiate contest.

Given that he’s already spent three years in the NCAA, it would be reasonable for Richard to make the transition to the American Hockey League next year. Unless he tears it up in training camp, he’ll start the 2026-27 season with the Rochester Americans, who were bounced in the First Round of the Calder Cup playoffs by the Toronto Marlies.