Johan Larsson has signed a one year deal with the Buffalo Sabres this past week, and it is undoubtedly a trial bridge contract similar to the one Mikhail Grigorenko signed with the Colorada Avalanche. This one year deal is not a guarantee that Larsson makes the team, but is a guarantee that he stays up if he does make it.
Larsson showed last year that he is a more than capable NHL center. Maybe not the top level center that he was imitating for the last portion of the season (in lieu of Zemgus Girgensons‘ injury), but Larsson is capable of being a responsible two way bottom six center with some scoring upside.