The Vegas Golden Knights have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with forward Victor Olofsson; the deal carries an AAV of $1.075 million.
The move adds another top-nine forward to the mix for the Golden Knights, who saw a mass exodus of forwards on day one of free agency.
Olofsson was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the seventh round (No. 181) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He has spent his entire career with Buffalo, playing 314 games over six seasons.
Olofsson will be reuniting with former teammate and linemate Jack Eichel.
From 2018-19 to 2020-21, the two played 80 games together and shared the ice at 5-on-5 for nearly 900 minutes, per Natural Stat Trick.
The chemistry was evident.
Olofsson is coming off a down year with just seven goals and 15 points in 51 games, but his role was diminished, and he averaged a career-low 11:34, much of which was spent on the fourth line.
However, Olofsson is a three-time 20-goal scorer who potted a career-high 28 in 2022-23. He has topped 40 points in three of his five full NHL seasons, and he scored a combined 11 game-winning goals in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
Without a doubt, Olofsson adds scoring to Vegas’ lineup.
Plus, more than a third (35) of his 90 career goals have come on the power play.
Aside from last year, Olofsson has been a goal-scorer throughout his career.
Before joining the Sabres, he scored 30 goals and 63 points in 66 games with the AHL Rochester Americans. Playing against men, he produced 27 goals and 43 points in 50 games with Frolunda HC of the SHL in 2017-18.
The soon-to-be 29-year-old is poised for a bounce-back season, especially if head coach Bruce Cassidy gives him a look on the top line with his former captain.
The Golden Knights also made a pair of depth signings on Tuesday, inking defenseman Robert Hagg and forward Cal Burke to one-year, $775,000 deals.
Hagg, 29, was a second-round draft pick (No. 41) of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2013 NHL draft. He has 343 games of NHL experience but has bounced around in recent years.
That is HIT LEADER ROBERT HAGG, in case you didn't hear that before, delivering a huge hit. pic.twitter.com/NIP445L1LP
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) January 15, 2019
While he has shown brief flashes of offensive instincts, he’s a heavy-hitting defensive defenseman who likely will be relegated to Henderson.
Burke, 27, has just three games of NHL experience with the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes. However, he was productive with the AHL Colorado Eagles last season, scoring 16 goals and 39 points in 57 games. He also scored 16 goals and 39 points in 2022-23, though he did so in 70 games.
Photo of Olofsson: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports