Sabres Sign Pominville to 5-Year Extension

The Buffalo Sabres announced on Thursday that they have signed right wing Jason Pominville to a five-year contract extension worth $26.5 million. Pominville was eligible for restricted free agency in 2009 and would have been a prime target for an offer sheet. In all 82 games last season, Pominville scored 27 goals and added 53 assists for 80 points and 20 penalty minutes. In four seasons with the Sabres, Pominville has 79 goals and 99 assists for 178 points and 72 penalty minutes in 222 games. The signing comes as no surprise, as Pominville is fast becoming one of the top offensive players in Buffalo. He is loaded with talent and should steadily improve his skills over the next few seasons. The signing also shows Sabres' management's new willingness to retain their key players. In years past, the team has seen the departures of star players Daniel Briere, Chris Drury, Mike Grier, and Jay McKee, among others, due to management's unwillingness to resign free agents until the end of a season. Pominville's resigning and Ryan Miller's contract extension earlier in the summer clearly demonstrates the team's new approach to retaining their key players.