The Buffalo Sabres are keeping Beck Malenstyn around for the long haul.

Malenstyn has re-signed with the Sabres on a six-year contract carrying a $2.9167 million average annual value, giving Buffalo another piece of its forward group locked in as the club continues trying to build something more stable.

This is not the flashy move that dominates the league for a full day. It is not the kind of signing that sends fans into a frenzy or suddenly changes the entire outlook of the team. But it is the type of move teams make when they know exactly what a player is and believe he fits the identity they are trying to create.

Malenstyn brings size, pace, physicality and a work-first game. He is not being paid to be a star. He is being paid to give the Sabres hard minutes, bring energy, finish checks and help make Buffalo a tougher team to play against.

For a Sabres team that has spent years trying to turn young talent into real progress, players like this matter. Skill gets attention, but depth, structure and compete level are what usually separate teams that look promising from teams that actually start winning.

A six-year commitment will definitely raise some eyebrows because that is a lot of term for a depth forward. But the cap hit is manageable, and if Malenstyn settles into his role, this could become a steady-value contract for Buffalo.

The Sabres clearly see him as more than just a short-term piece. Now it is on Malenstyn to prove that trust was worth it.

Buffalo needed more bite in its lineup. This signing suggests they believe Malenstyn can help bring exactly that.