The Buffalo Sabres have formally announced signing center Tyler Ennis to what the team calls a multiyear contract.

A person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press earlier Thursday that Ennis' contract was worth about $23 million over five years. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Sabres have not revealed the terms of the contract.

Ennis was a restricted free agent. The Sabres retained Ennis' rights by extending him an offer last month.

The Sabres selected Ennis in the first round of the 2008 draft. He is a two-time 20-goal scorer and had a team-leading and career-best 21 goals in 80 games last season. Overall, he has 69 goals and 97 assists for 166 points in 267 career games over four-plus seasons in Buffalo.

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