The Sabres were unable to reach an agreement with 2011 fifth-rounder Alex Lepkowski, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound stay-at-home defenseman for the OHL’s Barrie Colts. The West Seneca, NY native performed well in a shutdown role for the Colts en route to their run to the OHL Championship series, scoring six points (2+4) in 22 postseason tilts. He had gone through the regular season without a goal. With the Sabres’ late-season signing of Chad Ruhwedel and the on-going AHL development of Matt MacKenzie and Jerome Gauthier-Leduc, sheer numbers made it difficult for Lepkowski to earn a role in the organization.
The Jacobs signing means that the Sabres have inked four of their six picks from the 2011 draft. The final player from that year’s haul, Wisconsin forward Brad Navin, will enter his junior year this fall. The Sabres won’t have a decision due on Navin until 2015.