OFFICIAL '11-'12 BUFFALO SABRES SEASON THREAD

Well I guess it’s never to early to start but…Drew Stafford signed to a 4-year deal.

http://2.cdn.nhle.com/sabres/images/upload/2011/01/Stafford2-010111.jpg

Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier announced today the Sabres have agreed to terms with forward Drew Stafford, who was set to become a Restricted Free Agent on July 1 on a multi-year contract.

“It was important for us to get Drew locked up,” said Regier. “What we saw from Drew this season is exactly what we envisioned when we drafted him. Drew will continue to be an important part of our team in the coming years.”

Stafford (10/30/1985, 6’2”, 214 lbs.) is coming off a 2010-11 season that saw him finish second on the team with a career-high 31 goals in 62 games, including a league-best four hat tricks. The 25-year-old also posted career-highs in both points (52) and power play goals (11). In five seasons with Buffalo, Stafford has 196 points (94+102) in 317 career games.

Stafford was Buffalo’s first-round selection (13th overall) in the 2004 Entry Draft, and played three years at the University of North Dakota.

16 million? Seems like an OK price for Stafford.

I think he’s worth it, but he is going to have to get some consistency in his game. I think had he gone to arbitration he might have been awarded more and then the Sabres would have let him walk. At least now they have the option to trade him if they want to.

I am down with that, maybe a little over priced, but only by ~.5 mil/yr…and who knows maybe he’ll really break out

Fair price for a guy that has been an inconsistent player until this year.

If he had 2 season in a row like this last one, he would have been looking at 5+. I just hope this wasn’t a contract year thing.

Rochester-Buffalo affiliation is now back!

Outfuckingstanding.

Also, seems as we may pick up Robyn Reghier:
http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabres-nhl/article465676.ece

The Sabres could be involved in the transactions. They reportedly were attempting to acquire Regehr, who was asked by Calgary to waive his no-movement clause to come to Buffalo, according to TSN. The 6-foot-3, 226-pound stay-at-home defenseman would fill one of the Sabres’ biggest needs.

Apparently he’s just waiting to hear other offers, if none arrive he’ll be packing his bags for Buffalo.

joel armia

6’4" 190 lbs…nice to see some size up front.

Agree on the size, but I would have preferred a center. We really need to get some developmental center depth. Maybe in the lower rounds.

Reghier and Kotalik!

I miss Kotz…was good point man on the PP and amazing in shoot outs

Just read this…Sabres deal Chris Butler and Paul Byron for Regheir/Kotalik. Advantage Sabres. I didn’t like Butler and Paul Byron really did nothing for me.

Nice to see Kotalik back!

I’m glad butler is gone but I must say I thought byron and ennis could have done good things together. they seemed to find eachother well in their short experiences

Third rounder, has some serious wheels.

I always liked Kotalik. Darcy said he expects him to compete for a spot. If he doesn’t make it, they’ll just send him down to Rochester, and we don’t have to worry about his 3M cap hit.

It’s so nice to have an owner with money, where that’s an option.

---------- Post added at 12:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:30 PM ----------

we also get their 2012 2nd rounder. Awesome job by Darcy.

The only reason I will miss Butler is for Jeanneret’s call “The Butler did it!” when he scored…which happened about once a year.

thank godd butlers gone. it sucks losing byron but regher is gonna be great and who knows with kotalik im sure well use him for something

Very happy to see Regehr coming here, not so much with Kotalik but hopefully he ends up going to Europe to play because I’m pretty sure 99% of sabres fans don’t want him in the lineup.

Not sure why everyone is hating on Kotalik, he was a good role player here and he kicks ass in the shootout.

Key word is “was”, have you seen him play over the past 2 years that is when he can make the lineup?