Buffalo Sabres

Sabres sign Miller and other quick hits

Wow! Color me impressed! Not that the signing happened, but that it happened this fast. Ryan Miller signed for a 5-year extension at $6.25 million per. The money was not surprising either…probably a little more than he deserved, I thought he should be closer to Huet than Lundqvist. But honestly, the Sabres front office needed to get this done. With the Briere / Drury / Campbell problems of the last year, there is serious concerned that the Sabres will get a reputation for not wanting to sign their stars players for big money. {I don’t beleive this is the case, they just played the Drury / Briere thing completely wrong, and Campbell they did not think was worth the money.} But they COULD NOT afford to go into the season with “Will they sign Miller?” hanging over them. It was to Miller’s advantage to sign a deal, too. He had a bad year, and another bad year would taint him towards getting a “big” contract here or elsewhere.

Interestly, according to GM Darcy Reiger, the Sabres wanted to sign him to more than 5-years, but it was Miller that wanted that limit. I would have pegged 5 years as the perfect length from managements standpoint. Gives them a few more years to ensure is the all-time goalie they hope he is. After 2 years with Lalime as backup, they bring in Enroth from Rochester and start seeing what they got with him.

Anyways it’s a good deal all around, and I am a happy fan!

Quick hits:

Sabres lock up Paille (2-years - $2.25 million). Good signing, but not high kudos, Paille was an RFA without arbitration rights. I would have liked to see 3 - $3.75 but this is OK - i think Paille could someday be a solid 2nd line winger, and that might be by 09-10.

Mancari and MacArthur sign QO. No surprise here either - but was is interesting is the Sabres have all of their RFAs and prospects signed to contracts now for the upcoming season.

The 08-09 Schedule. Man, I was looking forward to seeing this, but when it comes out all I can think is…eh? I don’t know what I was expecting to think. First impressions are a pretty evenly distributed schedule, most games in a month is 14. January will be brutal with three roads trips - one mid-west, one Florida and one west coast all in a row. Two games against Detroit and Anaheim is a little mean, too. (Any other eastern team have to play BOTH 2008 and 2007 champs twice…I doubt it.) Makes me chomp at the bit for October, good thing the off-season gives us nice weather.

One down one to go: Jason Pomminville is the other player that needs to be extended. He is a future consistant 30-goal scorer and his value will only go up as time passes….the Sabres have one advantage here that they didn’t with Miller in that he is a restricted free agent…if they can’t get him at a price they want, they can always wait and see what the market bears, as it is quite likely he would get an offer sheet….this risk backfired somewhat with Vanek, though, in that they are paying through the nose for TV. Also, sign Pommers and suddenly the Sabres look like “the team that keeps their core happy” with Tallinder, Lydman, Vanek, Roy, Hecht, Miller and Pommenville all getting 4+ year deals. If Jason can be had for in the same range as Miller, I say sign him up!

A little more D please: I would still like to see a little more added to the defense. Rivet was a great signing, but one more would be good…they are still a little thin a defensive depth (7 right now - but what’s in the minors when the injury bug hits) and still have excess forwards with Gerber waiting in the wings. One more good move here could have me saying “cup contender”. I think something will happen, but not as much as I would like.

Until Next Time….