BUFFALO, N.Y. — ​The Buffalo Sabres have named Sam Ventura as their new vice president of Hockey Strategy and Research.

Ventura worked in the Pittsburgh Penguins front office for six seasons, during which he helped capture two Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.

From 2017-2020, he was the Penguins’ director of Hockey Research, before being promoted to director of Hockey Operations and Hockey Research in 2020.

The Carnegie Mellon alum got his start with hockey in college, serving as an assistance coach for the men’s hockey team.