The Buffalo Sabres have acquired forward Wayne Simmonds from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a conditional 2021 fifth-round pick.

Simmonds is expected to remain with the Sabres for the duration of the season despite being in the final year of his contract.

Simmonds, 31, adds depth to Buffalo’s forward ranks. The Sabres have been looking for secondary scoring behind captain and leading scorer Jack Eichel.

Simmonds signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Devils last off-season. The Devils will retain 50 per cent of Simmonds’ remaining salary.

A second-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2007, Simmonds has spent most of his career with the Philadelphia Flyers (2011-19). He has 498 points (251 goals and 247 assists) in 902 career games.

Simmonds has had two 30-goal seasons, with a career-best 32 goals for Philadelphia in 2015-16. He has eight goals and 16 assists for the Devils this season.

The Sabres (29-25-8) are six points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division with one game in hand. They have won five of their last six games.