The Buffalo Sabres announced Thursday they have signed Colin Stuart, an unrestricted free- agent left wing, to a one-year contract.

Stuart, 28, is expected to be assigned to the Portland Pirates.

Last season, Stuart had 17 goals and 19 assists for a career-high 36 points in his 67 games with the Abbotsford Heat of the AHL.

Previously, Stuart spent parts of five AHL seasons with the Chicago Wolves. He was a member of a team that won the Calder Cup in 2008.

Stuart also had eight goals and five assists in 51 games with the Atlanta Thrashers, the Wolves’ NHL parent team.

A 2004 graduate of Colorado College, Stuart was selected in the fifth round of the 2001 draft by the Thrashers. 

THE LEWISTON Maineiacs have reduced their training-camp roster to 30 players.

Goalies Antoine Bibeau and Nathan Kelly, and forward Matt Myers were released by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team.

The Maineiacs’ training-camp roster now includes 17 forwards, nine defensemen and four goalies.

“We won’t be cutting any other players until the end of the training camp,” said the Lewiston general manager, Roger Shannon.

“We’ve got a few injuries and we need a few more players to meet our commitments.”

The junior hockey team, which includes players from 16 to 20 years of age, traveled Thursday to Quebec to play exhibition games against the Quebec City Remparts at Riviere Du-Loop tonight and then the Collisee Pepsi in Quebec City on Saturday night.

Next Thursday, the Maineiacs will leave on a four-day trip to New Brunswick to play exhibitions against the Moncton Wildcats in Moncton and Fredericton.

Shannon expects the team roster to be down to 23 players by the season opener Sept. 11 at home against the Rimouski Oceanic.

Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at:

pbetit@pressherald.com