"Brayden McNabb is following the Tyler Myers career path. He and the Buffalo Sabres can only hope it continues.

McNabb, one of the Sabres' top defensive prospects, agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract Wednesday. The signing comes days after he helped lead his junior team to the Western Hockey League championship and into the Memorial Cup.

The Sabres signed Myers after identical feats two years ago.

"Brayden is a big kid with great offensive abilities, and he's continued to improve every year in Kootenay," Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier said. "His outstanding performance in the WHL playoffs was just another positive sign in his development, and we are thrilled to now have him under contract for the next three years."

McNabb, a 6-foot-5, 216-pound defenseman, was a physical blue-liner with offensive potential when the Sabres selected him in the third round of the 2009 NHL draft. He'll leave juniors as an offensive threat with a mean streak.

McNabb tied for second in scoring in the WHL playoffs, recording three goals and 27 points in 19 games. He had more assists (24) than any other defenseman had points. The run followed a season in which McNabb set career bests with 22 goals, 50 assists and 72 points in 59 games.

The 20-year-old improved every year with Kootenay. He had two goals, 11 points and 63 penalty minutes during his rookie year of 2007-08. He followed that with 10 goals, 36 points and 140 minutes in 2008-09. Then, he put up 17 goals, 57 points and 121 PIMs last season before bettering the offensive numbers this year.

The Memorial Cup, which features the champions of the Canada's three junior leagues, begins Friday in Mississauga, Ont. McNabb's first game is Saturday night."