Buffalo, NY -- (Sports Network) - The Buffalo Sabres announced Thursday that they signed restricted free agent defenseman Toni Lydman to a multi-year deal.

Lydman, who was acquired from Calgary last August for a third-round pick, accrued 17 points (1 goal, 16 assists) in his first season with Buffalo to go along with 82 penalty minutes in 75 games.

The 6-foot-1, 202-pound Finland native led all Sabres with an average of 21:38 of ice time per game, and was ninth in the league in blocked shots (174).

He had one goal and four assists in 18 playoff games last season.

A fourth-round pick of the Flames in 1996, Lydman netted 93 points (19 goals, 74 assists) in 289 games over four seasons with Calgary.

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