Sabres Sign Center Connolly to 2-Year Extension

Tim Connolly is officially off the market on deadline day. The Buffalo Sabres announced that they have re-signed the center to a two-year contract extension worth $9 million. The deal averages out to $4.5 million per season. Connolly was the subject of trade rumors over the past few weeks, and at one point, it was almost a certainty that he would be traded. He has been limited to 29 games this season because of injuries, scoring 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points. Connolly has missed lots of time over the past few season due in large part to a series of concussions. This is a decent move by the Sabres despite the fact that Connolly is an injury-prone player. He has tremendous offensive skills and is excellent on the power play. If Connolly can stay healthy next season, he should be a major offensive contributor to the Sabres next season. This singing also shows the team's new policy on re-signing impending free agents before July 1, something that cost them the services of Chris Drury, Daniel Briere, Mike Grier, and Jay McKee in the past.