BUFFALO, N.Y. – Instead of sulking following his demotion from the Sabres to the AHL before last season, forward Cody McCormick ran with the opportunity another year in the minors presented him.

A year removed from his only full NHL campaign, McCormick enjoyed his best professional season in 2009-10, recording 17 goals, 29 points and 168 penalty minutes in Portland. Eventually, the Sabres rewarded McCormick, recalling him for their final three playoff tilts when they needed some grit.

The 27-year-old obviously impressed the Sabres. On Friday, the club signed the unrestricted free agent to a one-year, $500,000 contract. It’s the first one-way deal of McCormick’s career, agent Todd Reynolds said.

“We’re delighted that Buffalo has stepped up and wants to keep him in the organization,” Reynolds said.

During his brief run in Buffalo, McCormick, a strong skater, proved he could be a reliable presence on the third or fourth line. His two assists actually bettered Tim Connolly and equaled Derek Roy, the Sabres’ two leading regular-season scorers.

With the Sabres basically assuring McCormick an NHL spot, they might let forwards Matt Ellis or Adam Mair leave in free agency.

McCormick has nine goals, 30 assists and 250 penalty minutes in 190 NHL regular-season games, all with Colorado. He has three assists in seven playoff contests. In his only full NHL season in 2008-09, McCormick, 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, compiled one goal, 12 points and 92 penalty minutes in 55 games.

Colorado drafted McCormick 144th overall in 2001. The Sabres signed him as a free agent in August.

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