More on Montador signing

Darcy Regier said at the NHL entry draft that his Buffalo Sabres team was looking for players who will compete on a daily basis. The general manager found one on the opening day of free agency.

The Sabres have signed defenseman Steve Montador to a two-year, $3.1 million contact. Montador is known more for his grit than his scoring, which is what the Sabres wanted.

"I certainly think the atmosphere in Buffalo is always competitive, and teams that play consistently will have that [competitiveness]," Montador said by phone." Would I say they needed that? I think they’ve always been consistent with that, but it doesn’t ever hurt to add more."

The 29-year-old unrestricted free agent started last season with Anaheim before being traded to Boston at the deadline. He played 78 games, recording four goals, 17 assists, a plus-17 rating and 143 penalty minutes. Montador added one goal, two assists, a plus-5 rating and 18 penalty minutes in 11 playoff games.

"He’s a solid, character individual who comes to play every night," Montador’s agent, Steve Kasper, said by phone. "He was looking to go to a place that has the same type of reputation as a team, competes hard, and Buffalo is a hockey city. He couldn’t be happier."

Montador, who was undrafted, is a seven-year veteran who has also played for Calgary and Florida. The 6-foot, 211-pounder has 18 goals, 50 assists and 604 penalty minutes in 368 career games.

"If I can contribute offensively, that’s great. If I can add some grittiness, that’s something I’m comfortable with, too," Montador said. "I feel there’s a few areas I can contribute, and those are just a couple of them."

Added Kasper: "He’s a gritty individual who at the end of the night, good or bad, you can always know he gave it everything he had. I think that’s a real credit to him, and I think he’ll fit in well with the Sabres."

---John Vogl

poll by twiigs.com

Comments

[Scott C]

I will not buy another ticket for a sabres game until they put forward the effort necessary to build a winner. I am tired of sitting on the sidelines and watching all of the other teams improve while we build from within. UP YOURS DARCY and LARRY, I'M DONE.

[dave hill]

i gave the sabres a B if for no other reason than to disagree with herringbone and glumson 2 writers who should be drummed out of town on thier typewriters

[Jon]

Montador's "gritty." Terrific.

Translation:
His offensive ability is somewhere between minimal and accidental. Anyone who follows the Sabres knows they got WAYYY too many goals from the defense last year. This acquisition solves that problem.

Rivet's "gritty," too. Signing him did zero to change the identity of the team.

I'll always root for the Sabres. But I'm through following the team, day to day, until the people who built it go.

...I'd like to see someone "gritty" take over as GM or owner.

[Lloyd Marshall, Jr.]

From greg: "the only way (fans who demand better) will be happy with the sabres is if they pull of the kind of GM'ing Hank... can pull off on PS3."

And I say...

1st: You go, HANK!

2nd: Greg, if the GM'ing some of us do with EA or 2K Sports games can get results there, maybe someone in the Sabres organization, and maybe the Bills, ought to come out and get some pointers from us vid-game afficionados, and then make SOME moves of that caliber.

[Lloyd Marshall, Jr.]

From Don H.: "Be happy with what you have in small market Buffalo."

Sorry, Don H., but that mindset doesn't fly with people who have at least half of a brain.

But then again, if that's how you view things with Buffalo pro sports, Bills and Sabres, to "be thankful for the team you have," then you richly and rightly deserve the end results that come from said perspective.

Let me put it another way: we all know that continuously eating junk food is not very good for us. However, if you're one who only feeds on junk food because it's "right there," and have the worldview of "be grateful for having something to eat; if not for junk food, there's nothing," then you richly and rightly deserve the end results that come from living by that perspecticve.

And yes, if Larry Quinn has said before that "Buffalo Sabre fans deserve a winner," then why is he not living up to that pledge? Either he wants a winner, or he doesn't. But, then again, what do you expect from someone in the Sabres administration who has NO idea on how to put together a winning team, let alone ANY kind of hockey team?

The mindset that "Golisano et. al. don't owe us a thing" is bunk, pure and simple. You buy goods and services from someone, you rightly expect them to put a quality product on the stage for you. If they don't, you demand they do better. If they don't do better, you can walk and give your support to another entity. If, OTOH, you continue to have the worldview that "they don't owe us a thing," then that's exactly what you'll end up with... NOTHING. You need to expect, and DEMAND, quality!

Those entities that thrive and survive realize they owe their customers(viz: fans) a quality product. Otherwise, whatever support they're looking for will go elsewhere.

[Clifton Park]

Toughness is great, but the Sabres need GOAL SCORERS. Last year's team mimiced the Bills Red Zone prowess by having good puck control around the boards but couldn't figure out how to finish. Too many scoring opportunities were missed by over passing, failure to shoot, missing open nets, failure to collect or go after rebounds.

This signing does neither replaces Spacek or Campbell. A gritty forward or a puck carrying defenseman is needed.

[Oldtymehockey]

Cannibalking,

Great SI article about busts.

As disappointed as I am that Regier fails to be aggressive with re-signing or signing FA's, I'm just as happy that Buffalo has not been saddled with contracts from unbelievably overpaid players. Big ticket FA's rarely live up to expectations.

The moral of the story is build through the draft, lock up your best players early and use others as assets to trade in order to improve areas of weakness. Funny, sounds like a plan used by the two teams that battled each other for Lord Stanley's Cup the past two seasons. Some other famous teams in the past have used that formula well too - NY Islanders, Edmonton and Montreal.

Sink the money into the best scouts. Let the marginal players go away as they are interchangeable. Lock up the best and make them feel appreciated. Almost seems too easy!

[cannibalking525]

Team Canada thinks a lot of Ruff and they have the pickings of the best coaches in the hockey world. Regier and Quinn are the weak links. They may be puppets to Golisano's spending, but these 2 guys aren't figuring out how to get it done either. Look at Pittsburg. Pretty small market...but they blow it all out in order to get better. Buffalo just seems to plod along rarely hitting rock bottom and rarely getting to the top.

[Don H]

Thanks for the info cannibalking525. The SI reporter's comments on ex-Sabres paid overinflated millions as free agent signees and then flopping with their new teams is on target. One of his comments regarding their prior success in Buffalo is that the whole (Sabre team) was apparently better than the parts(lost players). I was never an ardent Ruff supporter, but this was a nice compliment to his team coaching. He must be doing something right.

I appreciate Kevin S being very unhappy with the present state of Buffalo team performance. But, why smudge differing views by throwing in teenage gutter references. Not cool.

[cannibalking525]

Kevin S., I'm happy the team is still in Buffalo. That hardly means I'm happy with the performance of the team. You sure can stretch one person's point in order to post your 'angry fan' witty remarks.

[dumbunny]

And by the way! That signing Regier just accomplished sure got my hockey juices flowing for the coming season,how bout yours?

[dumbunny]

I do believe that Don H is drinking the blue/gold kool-aid again.

[Kevin S.]

"I'm tired of reading that Buffalo fans "deserve" a winner. The Sabres have posted winning records most of the past decade. I wonder how fans in Pittsburg feel about their baseball Pirates not finishing above 500 for the last 15 years. Cleveland hasn't won a major league championship in the past 50 years. Be happy with what you have in small market Buffalo."

EPIC FAIL!! originally posted by Don H.

Your stating, we have had a winning record, maybe on paper, but in my book not making the playoffs 5-7yrs is not "winning" hockey and missing the playoffs the last two years. With the way they are operating you can count on 3 years not making the playoffs, unless they make some moves.

I was pointing out that Pittsburgh is not a good example, beacuse they won the Stanley cup and 6 Superbowls.
I was also pointing out how The Sabre's have lost 2 Stanley cups and Bills 4 Superbowls. The Sabres have not made the playoffs 2 years in a row and it's been 9 for the Bills. My point is yeah we do "DESERVE A WINNER". This was also a quote from Larry Quinn, not me. Then they dump salary and do little to acquire anyone who could replace what we lost. (same ol, same ol)

I'm just saying your "be happy with what you have in small market Buffalo" is a vote for accepting this garbage they feed you. Well, at least you believe in something. So when they pee on your leg and tell you it's raining you can say "Gee I'm glad we got some rain". Sorry to rain on your parade, but we as fans in this area have accepted BS too long from ownership.

[cannibalking525]

We all have our misgivings about Regier and how the organization is generally run, but at least the team is still in Buffalo. Take a look at this article regarding big free agent contract busts... 2. Brian Campbell, 4. Chris Drury, 8. Daniel Briere, 12. Jay McKee, 19. Donald Audette, 23. Uwe Krupp...not to mention 6. Ryan Smyth, who Darcy wouldn't over pay for when the whole town was hot for the guy... I'm happy the team isn't bankrupt and moving to Hamilton due to overpaying middling players.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0906/nhl.free.agent.busts/content.1.html

[bluengoldfanz]

The primary objective of any sports franchise is to win NOT so much .. worry about overpaying a player. Its an a**backward philosophy. Can someone please inform the clueless monkeys that run this organization ?

[Justin]

Classic Sabres move... We're an offense-first team that can't actually score, so here's a brilliant idea: Let's replace Campbell with a guy who scores 2 goals a season (Rivet), and let's replace Spacek with a spare part who couldn't find a role anywhere else in the league (Montador). Airtight logic.

[Buffalo Excuses]

Darcy said he was a replacement.

I also thought Spacek was solid all 3 years. More solid the last 2, but still solid. It also doesn't change the fact one of our top 2 defenseman walked out the door in the last 2 years. It also doesn't change the fact that defense was a big liability last year.

I have little hope there will be more help. BTW, there is no room if you bring up Butler, Ennis, Kennedy and Gerbe. You can let Staff go and still not have room.

You CAN sign Kaleta and still come in at $51 milion though...

Check Please!

[Oldtymehockey11]

Montador is clearly not a direct replacement for Spacek. Two totally different players. Spacek spent his first two years coughing up the puck or getting burned. While he had a nice offensive season last year, I question whether he would maintain or improve on that.

Much the way Drury did, he cashed in on a "career" season, took the money and ran. Good for him. There's nothing wrong with that. I'd rather save the 11.5 mill and go hunting for someone else. Montador is a piece of the puzzle. I don't think anyone represented him as the answer to the team's problems. He is however a step in the right direction.

Buffalo still needs to clarify a few others spots on the roster. One or two new adds and a few subtractions can make a world of difference. I think the Montador signing is more a symbol of cleaning up the sour attitudes in the locker room than about replacing Spacek.

[World Be Free]

Buf Excuses has it right. This franchise is going right down the toilet.

I like Montador, but we need more. How about charater guys like Todd Marchant, Mike Grier or Travis Moen?

This team STILL lacks what it takes to win close games.

[roy]

excuses, it isn't to say i have any confidence whatsoever with the sabre methods, but this move was clearly a salary dump. spacek was no drury, briere or campbell and is also 35. logical thinkers would believe a hockey team that just did that would have something(s) else up their sleeves. perhaps they have finally realized this coveted group of forwards doesn't cut it. they were the biggest problem with the present defense; sporadic backchecking and bad choices. of course, all those premises are predisposed to believing logic is used by the sabres. even so, blind, stupid squirrels get lucky. like you, we all hope that happens here before september.

[Ryan]

It unbelievable how some fans can be disillusioned by the management of this Sabres team. All they did, was lower there payroll. They grabbed a guy in Montador that fights a little bit more, which brings penalty minutes with it and they put the "veteran" tag on him to make it look like they accomplished more then lowering the salary base. Further proof that Darcy, Larry and Golisano care about nothing except sweeping up the scraps off of better teams tables.

[Nick]

Can someone explain to me how this makes us better? Granted, it doesn't make us worse, but where is the improvement? There is still no one to lead the inexperienced, inconsistent forwards. But, wait-Tim Connolly is speaking up in the locker room. That's great-before the year is over, he'll be the most expensive cheerleader in buffalo sports history...he deserved a raise all right

[Buffalo Excuses]

BTW, for those criticizing Montreal, compare our rosters. Start with the defense.

That team makes the playoffs this year.

That team bounces us around.

That team competes.

We will offer platitudes about coming together as a team, playing tougher and learning how to win.

[Buffalo Excuses]

Jeff,

Look at their roster. They are a top 5 team. We are a bottom 5 team.

They took a shot (mortgaged their future).

We played it conservatively (cut costs and made excuses ).

I think the latest excuses is referred to as "burning money". Sorry, that is lame.

This team is out to win. We are out to "also ran".

That some can sit back and take pot shots at them reveals the insecurity that is purely borne from losing, continually. Not being able to compete, we scorn those who do. Sour grapes.

I am happy for Patrick Kane. This team will get it's shot.

[greg]

the "fans" on this blog have completely lost touch with reality.

the only way they will be happy with the sabres is if they pull of the kind of GM'ing Hank the Loser in North Tonawanda in his mom's basement on his 35th birthday can pull off on PS3.

[Don H]

So, you're telling me that local fans will be happy with the Sabres if the Bills win the Superbowl, or with the Bills if the Sabres win the Cup. Dream on.

[Jeff]

This team isn't living on their past success, they are suffering from it....in the form of bloated contracts. When you win in this league, you do pay for it.

Look at Chicago, they mortgaged their future for a shot at the cup this year. They'll be paying the price for this run for a long time. The Sabres need more time to turn over their roster and get rid of the bad deals. They could have signed UFA's to the cap yesterday, and it wouldn't build a contender. After next season, they'll have room, when very few other teams will.

[Don Z]

This team is a joke! There living on there past success when we used to make the playoffs! All the fans are suckered in and the sabres organization knows it. As long as everbody keeps buying tickets, this team feels no preassure and will be happy with just an average team!

[Kevin S.]

Ummm Don, We should be happy with losing 4 super bowl and losing two Stanley cups. Not making the playoffs for 9 years in a row with the Bills and Sabre's, well on their way to NOT making the playoffs for the third year in a row with moves like these? Do you realize Pittsburgh just won the Superbowl and the Stanley cup? We should be happy with losing and lucky we even have a team garbage mentality is for losers!

[lounotinafghanistananymore]

um, pittsburgh might not be the best example, guy. the pirates might be bad, but they just won the cup and the superbowl. nicknamed six-burgh. as in they've won alot of superbowls. i have zero sympathy for anyone in pitt, no matter which team they root for.

[Brian]

@Calgary Sabre, Derek Roy was invited by Team Canada, but I see your point.

There are players still out there (C. LaRose, Scuderi, Beaucheman) that we can afford. And there are players out there that we could trade for (Marleau).

The fans' worry, and justifiably so, is that Darcy and the front office are done. The roster is now set.

That would be disastrous given how teams around us in the division and conference have improved. I hope someone is paying attention.

[Amy]

Look at all the teams in the eastern conference making moves. And what do the Sabres do? Loose Spacek and gain Montador. Are you kidding me? I wasnt expecting big names here, but a little more action anyway. UGH, we should be used to this now, though, huh? 2 years no playoffs, so what should we do? Sit on the wayside and wait to see who will be available in, oh say, 30 days into free agency. Nice move Larry Quinn and Darcy! Way to make us a better team and get us into the playoffs next year! Keep everything relatively the same, I'm sure we will do soo much better in 09-10!

[Don H]

I'm tired of reading that Buffalo fans "deserve" a winner. The Sabres have posted winning records most of the past decade. I wonder how fans in Pittsburg feel about their baseball Pirates not finishing above 500 for the last 15 years. There are similar horror stories with major league teams in other cities. Cleveland hasn't won a major league championship in the past 50 years. Be happy with what you have in small market Buffalo.

[Kevin S.]

Way to go Darcy and the Sabres, you saved 2.5 mill a year, lost a team leader and yet again dumped salary. Getting rid of Spacek is a bigger deal than you guys think, this team is going to be hurting on the power play from it. Guess we don't need shots from the point toughness and leadership. I loved Spacek and admit he was one of the few guys I LIKED watching play last year. Get rid of Campbell and Spacek and replace them with guys who can't score. Thats the Sabres motus operandi, cheap cheap cheap, salary dump and replace with Rivet and Montadour. They Better hope that skinny lanky kid Ennis can come up and provide some scoring punch. I would be willing to bet the Sabre's DON'T MAKE ANY MORE MOVES!! At least none of any significance. This team is ridiculous, it's all about saving pennies. You wonder why we even bother being fans when they pee on us and tell us it's raining all the time. This team that lacks leaders just lost another one, way to go Darcy, you rock dude!

[itswingnut]

Somebody explain to me how we are now better by losing Spacek and his 46 points for a guy that has played for five teams in the last five years and is no offensiuve threat.

And 95% of people renewed their season tickets? Has someone opened up an investigation to find out if the Sabres are dropping ground up narcotics and serving them in the refreshments at the Arena?

Man, there are suckers born every minute. This team went backwards (again) and both Montral and Toronto got A LOT better.

Bye playoffs.

"Somehow, some way, we have to get these fans a winner"...Larry Quinn

"Somehow, some way, we have to get Quinn out of hockey once and for all"...The Fans

[Rip]

Let me start by saying that I like the Montador signing and I think Montreal probably overpaid a little bit for Spacek and won't like that deal in the last year or two. But still, as others have asked, how are we better this morning than we were yesterday? We aren't. That's the problem. This clube lets very good players walk out the door and thinks it can replace them with good players. It lets good players walk out the door and thinks it can replace them with above average players or players who fill a need. That is how we've gone from the best team in the conference to a team that MIGHT get one of the last two playoff spots. Who is going to create offense from the point now on the power play? Spacek and Kotalik had the two biggest shots and they're gone. Get ready for a lot of shattered sticks from Pominville.

It is too early to judge this offseason. I liked the draft. There are still players available. If they can add a Beauchemin, the departure of Spacek will be forgotten. But they desperately need a point man who can also move the puck and a second line winger this offseason. If they don't get that, let the Taylor Hall Sweepstakes begin.

[greg]

Im a huge sabres fan living just outside of NYC. Its hard to watch the Devils and Rangers consistantly try to improve their clubs while Buffalo has done nothing. I often get picked on at work as many now refer to Buffalo as an AHL team. Good job Quinn.

[dwight in philly]

the only thing worse than being a boring listless team, will be a boring , listless team that gets their livin guts kicked out of it!.. toronto with colton orr, komserik, philly, pronger,, lapierre, its going to be tough to watch.. buffalo is a gritty sports town, but the hockey team is the antithesis of the town,, shameful.. not making the playoffs for a third straight year will be bad enough, but being the league's rag doll every night will be painful to watch.. probably wont watch.. , i am really losing any semblence of allegiance to them.. my distain for the organization only allows me to root for them because of the city.. but now i think i am close to giving up

[lounotinafghanistananymore]

buffaloexcuses: you are

..C
....O
...R
..N
...Y

[lounotinafghanistananymore]

wow, i'm often criticized for being miserable and half-empty attitude. but, wow. there are some miserable people in this room.

They signed someone. that is good. if they want to trade for people then fine, i still believe buffalo is a town where you just gotta get them in the door and they'll want to stay. and i still believe that d'arcy is a decent hockey guy. he's just been urinated on for too long by that imbecile Quinn.

at least we don't have the jacobs' in boston

[dcs]

Seriously Excuses, I thought your whining was done. I thought you were turning your back on this team. Go. And I don't know what your problem is with a defenseive defenseman. I don't really want to depend on the D for offense. Let's spend some money up front.

Maybe a trade will happen this year, let's see. July 1 signings do not necessarily turn teams into winners. It's simply the day the most overrated players become the most overpaid.

[Jim]

I love reading the posts...despite the anger, whining, and some crude comments. It just proves what I've I have always believed, Buffalo has the best hockey fans in the world! Though raised in Western New York I live in the Cincinnati area (If you think Galisano is bad -just try Mike Brown and the Bengals...but I digress.) Some of the posts have mentioned that the fans in Buffalo deserve better...that is so true. I really believe that if management were to INVEST some money in a big name...a big name!!! the fan base and franchise would be invigorated. Some might remember many years ago how the Bills muddled through the Kay Stephenson "We played with intensity in our 37-7 loss" years...and it was not until Wilson broke the bank and signed Kelly that things got turned.
I join the many voices in wanting to scream at a front office who just can't seem to see a sold-out arena and 5,000 fans outside.
Matador was a good primary move...someone who will smack a Gomez for running Miller...but we need much more. As I read I realize that most of the contributers have far more insight as to the specific needs of the team than I...but we should all agree that Sabres fans deserve much more...and to provide for that we need to actually invest money. I could almost guarantee that fans would swarm the box office and the team store....if they pulled the trigger on a major trade or dropped the dollar on a high price player.
Take your pick of which name (though most are gone for this year)...but don't we pretty much agree that the reaction would be positive for the long term?
But until then...maybe we will "play with intensity until early April 2010!"

[Buffalo Excuses]

"This town deserves a winner. They have supported us unbelievably, and these are really tough times. One way or another, we have to get them a winner.”

Larry Quinn 3/14/2009

2007 - Exit Briere, Drury
2008 - Exit Campbell
2009 - Exit Spacek

Larry, is this "one way" or "the other"?

F
.R
..A
...N
....C
.....H
.......I
.......S
........E
I
.N
D
.E
..C
...L
....I
.....N
......E

[Buffalo Excuses]

This "strategic move" by The Excuses will go down as WORSE than the Campbell for RIvet "trade" of last year. Why?

We are a worse team than last year so we will be more miserable when we do not even compete for the playoffs.

Toronto (and Colton Orr) are going to come into HSBC arena and toss us around like rag dolls to the delight of Toronto fans. That will be an extreme embarrassment to fans. To management, they will just look the other way and offer "we need to play tougher" platitudes.

This team starts rebuilding at this time NEXT YEAR without Regier and Ruff. Have fun hanging in there...

Check Please!

[Jumz]

MatD, If by "wait till day 2 and sit back and have a few Labatts" you mean another few years and a few Blues, then yes, I agree. ALL this team has done is tease. It's like going to the Sundowner expecting a glamorous finale. They flash brilliance and then trade it away. They say we've learned and and then downgrade for money. They have the most loyal fan base in all the land and they dont have the DECENCY to repay us with the effort, the will, even the feigned desire to try and make this team better. I've just speny a few weeks on the west cost with my Sabres hat on, and i've never seen SO many people say ohhh you're from Buffalo? I love the Sabres! I love Buffalo! and I'd hope you'd want to make them proud. Granted, theres a good reason they are in Portland, OR instead of good old home (see: deny a biking ice cream salesman the ability to bike in downtown because youd rahter have, um, nothing?...deny an urban farmer the ability to turn an abandoned lot into a farm and produce vegetables...oh, and Byron Brown should go have an orgy with the republicans, and can we finally get someone decently progressive who actually wants to create a CITY? If the world was meant to revolve around the conservation of money, instead of the application of thought in ways that can conserve money in quantities we never thought possible, we'd still be using our fists to beat down dogs and eat them)

[Anjum, Buffalo]

wow...WOW...can these a** holes finally get on with it and get the hell out of Buffalo? You screwed up with Briere and Drury, fine, and you said you learned...but then you let the ONLY decent defenseman we have in Spacek leave (ps, Rivet is hands-down AWFUL, he can't stop a 3mph puck gliding toward him at the line), and yea, get a decent one...what a great improvement. We're a team that shouldve made the playoffs and should NOT have gone much farther than that. We need ONE veteran defenseman (again, someone who has an ounce of skill, unlike Rivet) and ONE veteran offensive player who can actually create. We don't have one, and we need a player like Drury. Why we cannot sign a player of that caliber to a 5 year deal of 5 million per is beyond me. We have a stellar core of young players, and we NEED someone who knows what's going on to help. Apparently, this "I'll make more moves in this free agency" means "I'll drink more Sapphire and tonics from my million dollar suburban porch and laugh at the city folk and their team I wont improve." Screw you, Rieger, I'm sick of old a**holes who JUST DONT CARE

[Bill K. - West Hartford, CT]

Every team in the Northeast Division has greatly improved...EXCEPT the Sabres. Darcy, you put together good teams a few years ago, but you really suck as a GM now!!! Montreal and Toronto are going to pummel Buffalo this season, which is sad, because I hate both of those teams more than any others in the NHL. The Canadiens are going to be a scoring machine, and the Maple Leafs added the size the Sabres desperately need. Like JKor, I am seriously reconsidering renewing my Center Ice subscription this season...the past 2 years of complete frustration were bad enough. Unfortunately, I think this could be the worst of the lot. Darcy, as mentioned above YOU REALLY SUCK!!! The sooner you leave, the sooner we will be back on the road to becoming a winning team again.

[Chris]

Toronto got more tough and will wipe up the ice with the blue and gold fruitcakes on skates.

Montreal got better.

Boston is hungry and led by Cam Neely in management. Who would you rather have leading an ice hockey team? Neely or Regier/Quinn?

Ottawa comes at the fruitcakes with attitude and will be better next year.

What messages are coming from Darcy, Lindy and Fairy Quinn? The only thing they are excited about is wanting to paint the ice a pretty powder blue. Which by the way compliments the style of play by Connoly, Roy, Hecht, Pommer and Lindy.

Butler = sophomore slump.

Weber = hurt and won't amount to anything.

Sekera = next years Afinagenov

Look for the fruitcakes to end up with the second or third worst record in the league. That's what they deserve.

[Harry K]

Sabres in free agency: ONE AND DONE! The problem is getting players to sign for Sabrebucks. Most won't.

[CalgarySabre2]

I'll give him a B+ for the signing of Montador, but his overall grade is a D- because that is the ONLY thing he did today. Spacek only needed 3 years to be happy, it is not as though he got a 10 year contract. There are still some good players out there if he'd like to wake up and make a few calls. Darcy says "trades not free agents" but he did not make any trades, and signing a free agent does not force you to give up a player. You can see what independent observers think of this team when Ryan Miller is the only player invited to try out for either the Canadian or US Olympic teams.