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Underrated Former Leafs Defenseman Comes to Final Decision in Contract Dispute With New Team

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Tom Banks | Last updated Jul 27, 2025 12:47 PM ET

Conor Timmins was moved to the Buffalo Sabres at the 2025 NHL Draft, and after a contract dispute with his team, the former Maple Leafs defenseman officially inked a two-year contract.

Conor Timmins has been a highly underrated defenseman in the NHL for a number of years, as the former Maple Leafs defenseman has flashed potential wherever he's gone.

This off-season, he landed in Buffalo after being traded by Pittsburgh at the 2025 NHL Draft, but with a potential new contract on the horizon, it appears he was having a dispute of his salary with the Sabres.

That has all changed now however, as the team officially announced on Sunday that they have inked the 26-year old to a two-year extension carrying an average annual value of $2.2 million.

Starting his career in Colorado before heading to Arizona, Toronto and Pittsburgh, Timmins has never been given a chance to play a significant role in the NHL, but now with the Sabres, it appears he'll get that opportunity to play every day after posting a career high of 15 points between Toronto and Pittsburgh a season ago.

The 26-year old will hopefully be a stable piece for a blue line that includes younger names such as Owen Power and Bowen Byram.

The former second-round pick now officially has a home and a contract locked in for two years, and while he's failed to find consistency in any of the other places he's played thus far, Buffalo is going to give him every opportunity to shine and be the player he has the potential to be.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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