Sabres’ Tropp out after breaking jaw in fight

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Sabres rookie forward Corey Tropp is out indefinitely after breaking his jaw during a fight that sparked a melee in a preseason game at Toronto last weekend.

Coach Ron Rolston said Wednesday that Tropp is expected to miss at least five weeks after having surgery to repair the jaw. Tropp also sustained a concussion.

Tropp’s head was bloodied following a fight with Toronto’s Jamie Devane midway through the third period of Buffalo’s 5-3 loss on Sunday. A full line brawl occurred before the next faceoff, when Sabres enforcer John Scott went after Toronto’s Phil Kessel.

The brawl led to 211 penalty minutes and three ejections.

Rolston was fined by the NHL, which deemed he was partially responsible for his player selection and team conduct.

Meanwhile, the Sabres signed defenceman Nikita Zadorov to a three-year, entry level deal.

The 6-foot-5 defenceman was one of two first-round picks for Buffalo in the 2013 draft, selected 16th overall.

In three preseason games, Zadorov has a goal and four penalty minutes.

Last year in 63 games for the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights, he had 25 points and 54 penalty minutes.

Zadorov will have an opportunity to make the team. If not, he will be returned to the Knights.

“Watching Nikita throughout training camp and the preseason has solidified our opinion that he will be a good, young hockey player for our organization going forward,” Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said in a statement.

“He has exceptional presence on the ice and we look forward to seeing him continue to develop as a player.”