Andre Benoit provides Sabres with reliable depth

Wednesday's signing of Andre Benoit to a one-year, $800,000 contract by the Buffalo Sabres does one of two things:

1) It provides a reliable insurance policy should the Sabres decide Nikita Zadorov isn't ready for the NHL just yet; or

2) It makes the Rochester Americans a whole lot stronger.

Benoit, 30, has played nine pro seasons and is coming off his first full year in the NHL. He played 79 games for the Colorado Avalanche, plus all seven playoff games. During the regular season, he produced seven goals, 21 assists and 28 points, and then had one assist in the playoffs.

In the American Hockey League, he's an elite defenseman who produces offense with his ability to move the puck as well as shoot it. In the NHL, he's more than adequate in his own end and can get the puck out because of his mobility and passing.

He knows a little about winning, too. Benoit twice won the Calder Cup, with the Hamilton (Ontario) Bulldogs in 2006-07 and with the Binghamton (N.Y.) Senators in 2010-11.

That two-year stint in Ottawa's system is how Sabres general manager Tim Murray became very familiar with Benoit. Among Murray's duties as assistant GM for the Senators was overseeing hockey operations in Binghamton.

Benoit earned his first extended NHL playing time in 2012-13 with Ottawa (33 games, 3-7-10) and then jumped to the Avs for the 2013-14 season.

He also has had two stints in Europe: He played in Finland in 2008-09 and in Sweden the following season, then went back to Europe in 2011-12 to play for Moscow Spartak in the Kontinental Hockey League.

The Sabres are hoping Zadorov, 19, is ready to provide size and physicality on their blue line this season. But if he's not ready -- coach Ted Nolan repeatedly said last season that it's so very difficult for an 18- or 19-year-old to play in the NHL, especially on defense -- then Benoit can take the roster spot.

Benoit also could end up with the Sabres if Rasmus Ristolainen or Mark Pysyk ends up back with the Amerks.

At the moment, the Sabres' defense has Josh Gorges, Andrej Meszaros, Tyler Myers, Mike Weber and then Zadorov, Ristolainen, Pysyk. Jake McCabe is also in the mix, but I don't think he's NHL ready yet so he surely will be with the Amerks to start. Benoit might earn a job there in camp, and if so, he'll push one of the young D-men back to the Amerks.

(Because he is 19 and was drafted out of the Ontario Hockey League, Zadorov can not play for the Amerks because of the agreement between the NHL and Canadian junior leagues.)

Kevin Oklobzija writes for the (Rochester, N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle