Sabres acquire goalie Anders Nilsson in trade with Blues

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Sabres agreed to sign goalie Anders Nilsson to a one-year, $1 million contract after acquiring his rights in a trade with St. Louis on Saturday.

The Sabres gave up a 2017 fifth-round draft pick to the Blues in announcing the trade. A person with direct knowledge of Nilsson's contract told The Associated Press the player reached an agreement with Buffalo.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because Buffalo did not announce the agreement. Nilsson was a restricted free agent, after the Blues retained the goalie's rights by tendering him a qualifying offer last week.

Nilsson had a 10-13-3 record and 3.12 goals-against average in 29 games split between the Blues and Edmonton last season. Overall, the Swedish-born player has a 19-22-4 record in 52 games, including two seasons with the Islanders.

The Sabres lacked an experience backup behind starter Robin Lehner after losing free agent Chad Johnson, who signed with Calgary.

The Blues are set in goal after signing starter Jake Allen to a four-year extension, and adding free agent Carter Hutton on Friday. Nilsson is the second goalie St. Louis has dealt over the past eight days after trading Brian Elliott to Calgary on June 24.

In a separate move, Buffalo signed free agent forward Derek Grant to a one-year, two-way contract. Grant has spent most of his six-year career playing in the minors, while having appeared in 40 NHL games split between Calgary and Ottawa.