Sabres Sign Alexander Sulzer to One-Year Extension

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that they have signed defenseman Alexander Sulzer to a one-year contract extension worth $725,000.  He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer.  He was acquired by the Sabres on February 27 from the Vancouver Canucks along with Cody Hodgson for Zack Kassian and Marc-Andre Gragnani.  In 27 games this past season with Buffalo and Vancouver, he had three goals and six assists for nine points.  Not a bad depth move for the Sabres, as Sulzer was a fairly steady blueliner for the club after his acquisition, scoring three goals and five assists for eight points in 15 games.  He has good size, plenty of offensive talent, and is very mobile on the ice.  Look for him to fight for a top-four role with the team at training camp in the fall.

Sabres Acquire Cody Hodgson from Canucks for Zack Kassian

The Buffalo Sabres have acquired center Cody Hodgson and defenseman Alexander Sulzer from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for right wing Zack Kassian and defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani. In 63 games so far this season, Hodgson has 16 goals and 17 assists for 33 points, while Sulzer has one assist in 12 games. Kassian has three goals and four assists for seven points in 27 games with the Sabres. He also appeared in 30 games with Rochester of the AHL, scoring 15 goals and 11 assists for 26 points. Gragnani has played in 44 games so far this season, scoring one goal and 11 assists for 12 points.

This is quite the unexpected trade for both teams, as neither Hodgson or Kassian had figured into any trade rumors as of late. Buffalo gets a highly skilled center in Hodgson, who could gain some consideration for the Calder Trophy as rookie-of-the-year. He has lots of goal-scoring upside, good playmaking skill, and some two-way ability. He should take on an immediate top-six role in Buffalo and will make the team's offense much stronger. As for Sulzer, he will likely play a sixth or seventh defensive role for the remainder of the season. In Kassian, the Canucks get a power forward who plays with a lot of aggression and has good size, lots of strength, and scoring upside. However, Vancouver gave up a highly skilled player in Hodgson to land Kassian, and if Kassian can't make a physical impact on the team, the Canucks will lose this trade hands down. As for Gragnani, he has some offensive upside and plenty of puck-moving skill, so he could be a good fit for Vancouver.

Predators Acquire Paul Gaustad from Sabres

The Nashville Predators added more offensive depth to their roster on Monday by acquiring center Paul Gaustad and a fourth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for their first round pick in 2012. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 56 games so far this season, Gaustad has seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points and 70 penalty minutes. He missed six games this season with an upper body injury. With all of the trades the Predators have made over the past week and a half, they have made one thing absolutely clear: they are looking to go deep in the playoffs this year. Gaustad will add lots of grit, toughness, size, defensive skill, and versatility to the checking lines. Nashville did pay a premium to land him, perhaps a little too much for a player of his caliber, but his experience will be extremely valuable to the team in the playoffs. As for the Sabres, the first round pick will definitely help them retool their team with a future prospect.

Sabres Sign Joe Finley to Three-Year Contract

The Buffalo Sabres announced on Monday that they have signed defenseman Joe Finley to a three-year, two-way contract. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He had attended the Sabres' training camp on a tryout basis this past September. In 18 games so far this season with Rochester of the AHL, he has one goal and one assist for two points and 57 penalty minutes. He has yet to play in an NHL game. This is really just a depth signing for the Sabres, as Finley will likely the majority of this season in the minors. However, he does have a lot of size and strength and also plays a very physical game, so he would definitely add a lot of toughness to the Buffalo blueline should he be recalled from the minors.

Sabres Re-Sign Marc-Andre Gragnani to One-Year Deal

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that they have re-signed defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani to a one-year contract. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In nine games last season with the Sabres, he had one goal and two assists for three points. He also added one goal and six assists in seven playoff games. He also appeared in 63 games with Portland of the AHL, scoring 12 goals and 48 assists for 60 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Sabres, as Gragnani has plenty of offensive upside and is effective on the power play. However, with the off-season additions of Robyn Regehr and Christian Ehrhoff, it may be tough for Gragnani to secure a roster spot for the 2011-12 season. Look for him to start the season in the minors and be one of the first defensive call-ups if injuries start to mount on the Buffalo blueline.

Sabres Re-Sign Stuart, Whitmore, Add MacIntyre

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that they have re-signed left wings Colin Stuart and Derek Whitmore to one-year contracts. Financial terms of both deals were not disclosed. The team has also announced that they have signed goaltender Drew MacIntyre to a one-year contract worth $525,000. In three games last season with the Sabres, Stuart had no points. He also appeared in 72 games with Portland of the AHL, scoring 16 goals and 28 assists for 44 points. Whitmore played in 80 games last season with Portland, scoring 27 goals and 20 assists for 47 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. MacIntyre appeared in 41 games with Chicago and Hamilton of the AHL, posting a 24-11-3 record, one shutout, a 2.37 GAA, and a .922 save percentage. These are all just depth signings for the Sabres, as all three players will likely spend the majority of next season in the AHL.

Sabres Sign Michael Ryan and Paul Szczechura

The Buffalo Sabres announced today that they have signed left wing Michael Ryan and center Paul Szczechura to one-year contracts. The financial terms of both deals were not disclosed. In 58 games last season with Springfield and Adirondack of the AHL, Ryan had 26 goals and 18 assists for 44 points. This will be his second stint with the Sabres, where he previously played from 2006 to 2008. In 79 games last season with Norfolk of the AHL, Szczechura had 21 goals and 30 assists for 51 points. These are really just depth signings for the Sabres, as both players will likely spend the majority of next season in the minors.

Sabres Sign Mike Weber to Two-Year Contract

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that they have re-signed defenseman Mike Weber to a two-year contract worth $1.9 million. The deal will average out to $950,000 per season. In 58 games last season, he had four goals and 13 assists for 17 points and 69 penalty minutes. Not a bad move for the Sabres, as Weber plays with lots of grit and toughness and has plenty of stay-at-home qualities. With increased play time next season, he should be able to improve his overall game.

Sabres Sign Ville Leino to Six Year Contract

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that they have signed left wing Ville Leino to a six-year contract worth $27 million. The deal will average out to $4.5 million per season. In 81 games last season with the Philadelphia Flyers, he had 19 goals and 34 assists for 53 points. Not a bad signing for the Sabres, as Leino is quickly becoming a quality top-six forward at the NHL level. He's a decent playmaker and puckhandler, has good passing skills, has some versatility, and brings plenty of offensive depth to the team. Look for him to play on Buffalo's second line next season.

Sabres Sign Cody McCormick to Three-Year Extension

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that they have signed center Cody McCormick to a three-year contract extension worth $3.6 million. The deal will average out to $1.2 million per season. In 81 games last season, he had eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points and 142 penalty minutes. Not a bad signing for the Sabres, as McCormick is a hard worker on the ice, plays with lots of grit and toughness, and is versatile enough to play on the wing. He should be a good fit on the checking lines for the next three years.

Sabres Sign Christian Ehrhoff to 10-Year, $40 Million Contract

The Buffalo Sabres prevented one of the top free agent defensemen from hitting the market on Friday by signing Christian Ehrhoff to a 10-year contract worth $40 million. The deal will pay him $9 million in 2011-12 and 2012-13, $4 million in 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2016-17, $3 million in 2017-18, and $1 million in 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21. The deal includes a no-movement clause and a modified no-trade clause. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Sabres acquired Ehrhoff's negotiating rights from the New York Islanders on June 29. His rights were acquired by the Islanders just one day prior from the Vancouver Canucks. In 79 games last season with the Canucks, he had 14 goals and 36 assists for 50 points. This is an excellent signing for the Sabres, as Ehrhoff will bring lots of offensive skill to the team's blueline. He is also excellent on the power play and can log lots of minutes. Even though he will likely be a solid addition for Buffalo, a 10-year contract is a bit excessive for just about any player. When the current CBA expires, the NHL needs to look into limiting teams to no more than five years on a contract for any player to prevent any type of salary cap circumvention.

Blackhawks Acquire Montador from Sabres

The Chicago Blackhawks announced on Wednesday evening that they have acquired the negotiating rights to defenseman Steve Montador from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a seventh round pick in the 2012 or 2013 Entry Draft. The year of the pick is likely conditional on the Blackhawks getting Montador signed to a contract or not. He will be eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 1. In 73 games last season, he had five goals and 21 assists for 26 points and 83 penalty minutes. Assuming the Blackhawks can get Montador under contract before he becomes a free agent, this is a decent move for the team. He will bring plenty of grit and toughness to the blueline, as well as some offensive skill. If Chicago can get him signed, he should be a good fit for the team.

Sabres Acquire Negotiating Rights to Christian Ehrhoff

The Buffalo Sabres announced tonight that they have acquired the negotiating rights to defenseman Christian Ehrhoff from the New York Islanders in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. He will be eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 1. His negotiating rights were acquired by the Islanders just last night from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a fourth round pick in 2012. In 79 games last season with the Canucks, he had 14 goals and 36 assists for 50 points. He also added two goals and 10 assists for 12 points in 23 playoff games. If the Sabres can get Ehrhoff signed to a new contract before Friday, this will be an excellent move for the team. He has excellent offensive skill, is great on the power play, and can log lots of minutes. Buffalo will likely do all they can before Friday to get him under contract before he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Sabres Sign Nathan Gerbe to Three-Year Deal

The Buffalo Sabres announced today that they have signed left wing Nathan Gerbe to a three-year contract extension worth $4.3 million. The deal will pay him $1.43 million per season. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In 64 games last season, he had 16 goals and 15 assists for 31 points. He missed eight games with a jaw injury. This is a decent signing for the Sabres, as Gerbe is starting to emerge as a reliable forward for the team. He has some offensive skill and playmaking ability, as well as lots of speed. Look for him to play a bigger offensive role with the team next season. Plus, at $1.43 million per season, he could be a real bargain if he can increase his goal output to 20 or 30 goals per season.

Sabres Sign Goaltender David Leggio to One-Year Deal

According to thehockeynews.com, the Buffalo Sabres have signed goaltender David Leggio to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been eligible for restricted free agency on July 1. In 36 games last season with Portland of the AHL, he posted a 22-12-0 record, three shutouts, a 2.80 GAA, and a .911 save percentage. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. This is really just a depth signing for the Sabres, as Leggio will likely spend all of next season in the minors.

Sabres Acquire Regehr, Kotalik from Flames for Butler, Byron

The Buffalo Sabres announced on Saturday that they have acquired defenseman Robyn Regehr, right wing Ales Kotalik, and Calgary's second round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft in exchange for defenseman Chris Butler and center Paul Byron. The Flames had asked Regehr on Thursday to waive his no-movement clause to facilitate a trade to the Sabres and the deal was completed two days later. In 79 games last season with the Flames, Regehr had two goals and 15 assists for 17 points. Kotalik appeared in 26 games last season with Calgary, scoring four goals and two assists for six points. He also played in 25 games with Abbotsford of the AHL, scoring six goals and 16 assists for 22 points. In 49 games last season with the Sabres, Butler had two goals and seven assists for nine points, while Byron had one goal and one assist in eight games. He also appeared in 67 games with Portland of the AHL, scoring 26 goals and 27 assists for 53 points. Not a bad move for the Sabres, as they get a quality shutdown defenseman in Regehr. He also has good size, plays with some grit, and has some leadership skills, so he should be a good fit for the Sabres. Buffalo will likely hope that re-acquiring Kotalik will help him improve his offensive game by playing in familiar surroundings. As for the Flames, they get a puck-moving defenseman in Butler who will bring some depth to their blueline. Byron brings some two-way skill and offensive upside to the team, but will likely play a fourth line role next season. The Flames also trimmed some salary from their payroll by shipping out Regehr and Kotalik, which they promptly used to sign left wing Alex Tanguay to a five-year contract extension worth $17.5 million.

Sabres Sign Drew Stafford to Four-Year Extension

The Buffalo Sabres announced on Friday that they have signed right wing Drew Stafford to a four-year contract extension worth $16 million. The deal averages out to $4 million per season. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In 62 games this past season, Stafford had 31 goals and 21 assists for 52 points. He missed 20 games throughout the season because of injuries. In 317 career NHL games, all with the Sabres, he has 94 goals and 102 assists for 196 points. Not a bad signing for the Sabres, as Stafford is emerging as one of the top forwards on the team. He has good size, can play a physical game, and can score goals despite being a bit inconsistent in his offensive game from time to time. With his best years still ahead of him, look for Stafford's skills to increase over the next four years.

Sabres Acquire Brad Boyes from Blues

The Buffalo Sabres announced late Sunday evening that they have acquired right wing Brad Boyes from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a second round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. He still has one year left on his current contract with a $4 million salary cap hit. In 62 games this season, he has 12 goals and 29 assists for 41 points. Not a bad move for the Sabres, as Boyes will bring plenty of offensive depth to the forward lines. He also has good goal-scoring and playmaking skills, but is a bit inconsistent in his scoring. Perhaps the move to Buffalo will help Boyes pick up his offensive production a bit.

Blue Jackets Claim Craig Rivet Off Waivers from Sabres

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced today that they have claimed defenseman Craig Rivet off waivers from the Buffalo Sabres. The 36-year-old blueliner, who was also the captain of the Sabres, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 23 games this season, he has one goal and two assists and has been a frequent healthy scratch. Not a bad move for the Blue Jackets, as Rivet will bring lots of veteran depth, leadership, and grit to the blueline. With Columbus currently three points out of the playoffs in the Western Conference, Rivet will bring some much needed defensive depth to the club as they look to make the playoffs for only the second time in franchise history.

Sabres Sign Free Agent Forward Mark Parrish

The Buffalo Sabres have added some offensive depth by signing free agent right wing Mark Parrish to a contract and then assigning him to their AHL affiliate in Portland. The exact length and financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He attended the Sabres' training camp on a tryout basis. In 16 games last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Parrish had two assists. He also appeared in 56 games with Norfolk of the AHL, scoring 17 goals and 21 assists for 38 points. This is really just a depth signing for the Sabres, as Parrish will likely spend most of the 2010-11 season in the minors, where he will provide plenty of offensive depth for Portland. If Parrish does play with Buffalo this season, it will likely be on the fourth line as a depth winger.