When Sean Malone thinks back on this season, he ponders what could have been. His finest individual season couldn’t be followed by a postseason trip, after the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to minor-league hockey.

“The injuries were behind me, and I was able to play on a consistent basis, and I think that helps a lot in terms of confidence and your mentality throughout the year,” Malone said. “We had a good team. We had a fun team to be on, and it’s a shame that we played maybe 60-something games for nothing.”

As free agency closes in on the 25-year-old, Malone is trying to enjoy his extended offseason while staying in hockey shape. Golf courses near his home in West Seneca have offered cardio, and roller-blading has taken the place of skating

“You might not get as low as you do on the ice, but it’s the only thing I can really think of that mimics skating,” he said. “It’s different on your edges. Edges on ice are a lot different than roller-blading. Obviously the start and stop component is a lot tougher on rollerblades.”

Malone has been a part of the Sabres organization since they drafted him in 2013. He waited four years to make his NHL debut in 2017, before battling injuries and inconsistency over three AHL seasons in Rochester. He was bogged down throughout the 2018-2019 campaign, and was only given a one-year, AHL contract to prove his worth in 2019-2020. Malone responded with a career-high 30 points, potentially boosting his value to other teams.

“Definitely going to look at my options this year,” Malone said. “Right now, I’m just trying to make gains and try to get better. Try to get a step better than some other guys during this time. So I’m just looking forward to next year. Hopefully, we can play again soon.”

Malone says he felt good about his exit meetings with the Amerks —  considering how long the NHL offseason will be, the Sabres will have a lot of time to determine whether or not to re-sign their homegrown center prospect.​