Staal is reunited with Adams, who were teammates on the 2006 Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup-winning team. And he played 32 games for the Sabres in 2021 before being traded to Montreal.

NHL great Eric Staal is returning to the Buffalo Sabres, this time off the ice. The 40-year-old Thunder Bay native has been named special assistant to general manager Kevyn Adams, the club announced Wednesday.

Staal played 32 games for the Sabres during the 2020-21 season. He will report to Adams, who will be back for a sixth season as GM.