Jordan Greenway would 'absolutely love' to stay with Sabres, but contract talks will wait

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

Jordan Greenway let out a roar, pumped his fist toward the empty lower bowl of KeyBank Center, then skated back to the same spot on the ice where he snapped an odd-angle shot past his Buffalo Sabres teammate, James Reimer.

Moments later, Greenway did it again.

Same shot.

Same fist pump, followed by a short leap into the glass.

Everyone on the losing side of the practice drill was reminded by coach Lindy Ruff to skate a quick lap.

Everyone else celebrated their victory with Greenway.

The Sabres acquired Jordan Greenway from the Wild in March 2023 for second- and fifth-round draft picks.

Moments of joy and elation have been few and far between for Greenway since he underwent surgery in mid-December to remedy a bothersome middle-body injury that he could no longer play through.

Hes missed 33 of the Sabres last 37 games, including their matchup with the Nashville Predators on Saturday night in Bridgestone Arena.

Its Groundhog Day, Greenway said, describing the tedious recovery.

Its the same (stuff) every day.

Its boring, man.

Its tough.

Ill find a way to make it a positive situation.

The Sabres have missed the energy that the 6-foot-6 winger brings to practices and games.

Hes emerged as a respected leader in their dressing room, someone Ruff and others on the team to turn to provide words of wisdom in times of duress.

And no one else on the roster can replicate the skill set that Greenway provides.

Theres optimism that Greenway will be ready to return to the lineup Feb.

22, when the Sabres play their first game following the NHLs break for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

However, its unclear where hell be playing a month from now.

Greenway, a pending unrestricted free agent, is one of several Sabres playoff contenders will be interested in acquiring ahead of the March 7 trade deadline.

General manager Kevyn Adams expressed interest in re-signing Greenway before the deadline, but a source familiar with the situation told The Buffalo News that negotiations arent expected to begin until closer to that date.

Greenways singular focus is on returning to the Sabres lineup, though his ideal scenario be an extended stay in Buffalo, which is only some 275 miles southwest of his upstate hometown of Canton.

I would absolutely love that, he added.

Eventually, the conversation will happen.

Thats not my forte, you feel me? Its out of my control.

I come here, I try to get better to get back out on the ice as soon as I can, and it will all figure itself out.

A week shy of 28 years old, Greenway is one of the most experienced forwards on the Sabres roster.

His intelligence and work ethic on the ice endeared him to Ruff during training camp.

Greenway is one of the best penalty-killing wingers in the NHL and an excellent defender.

He anticipates passes before theyre made and takes away open ice.

Opponents have trouble prying the puck away when hes protecting it below the faceoff dots in the Sabres offensive zone.

Hes produced double-digit goals in three of his eight seasons and his career-high in points (32) was set during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season, but theres no way to measure the space he creates for teammates in the offensive zone and the chaos that he creates by going to the net.

Ahead of the Sabres season opener in Prague, Ruff pulled out his cellphone to show a pair of NHL Network broadcasters one of Greenways defensive plays from their exhibition game in Munich.

Hes been sorely missed, especially when Buffalo is desperately trying to protect leads.

Greenway began the season on the Sabres third line with Ryan McLeod and Jason Zucker, but Greenways average ice time (17:15) illustrates that his role was bigger than a bottom-six depth player.

From the start of the 2023-24 season until Dec.

15, Greenway ranked eighth among all NHL forwards in penalty-kill ice time.

He had 10 goals and a plus-11 rating last season, when then-coach Don Granato routinely used Greenway on the first line.

Greenway has been a consistent difference-maker when healthy.

Availability has been an issue at different times since he arrived in a trade with the Minnesota Wild in March 2023.

He was playing through a shoulder injury in the weeks after he was acquired for second- and third-round draft picks.

Greenway then missed 15 games last season, and hes appeared in 20 of the Sabres 54 games.

Even if Greenway plays in each of the teams final 28 games, hell have missed an average of 22 games over the past four seasons.

His hockey IQ is great and his competitive nature on the ice, from what he brings with defending, his penalty-killing, said Ruff.

Hes a veteran guy that just knows how to play in all three zones and theres just something to having more size.

You protect pucks better.

They cant take it from you.

You can lean on people more.

Hes a good piece for our team.

Retaining Greenway is an important step in Adams plan to continue to build around Dahlin and Tage Thompson, among others.

The Sabres are also trying to re-sign Zucker, whos also a pending unrestricted free agent, and the general managers mission is to add experienced NHLers to his roster instead of acquiring more prospects or draft picks.

The Sabres have ample cap space to sign Greenway.

AFP Analytics projects him to receive a four-year contract with a $3.86 million average annual value.

Its not the only negotiation on Adams to-do list.

Zucker, Ryan McLeod and Bowen Byram are among his players who need contracts for next season.

Greenway has become a priority in Buffalo, though.

Ive loved playing here, he said.

I love what the future looks like, what the end goal is, everyones vision here.

I hope it works out.

It would be a great, great situation.

The talent in here is very special.

You can imagine it in your head, and the future looks bright from how I look at it.

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