LEWISTON — Patrick Lalime has seen his share of hockey dressing rooms. The goaltender

has played for 13 teams in four leagues since turning pro in 1994, so he feels he has a knack

for sensing which organizations are going in the right direction.

Lalime has that feeling about the Buffalo Sabres, who handed out contracts to two veterans

Wednesday. The first went to center Rob Niedermayer, a 16-year pro and Stanley Cup winner. The

second went to Lalime, who will back up Ryan Miller for the third straight season.

The 35-year-old Niedermayer signed a one-year deal worth $1.15 million. Lalime celebrated

his 36th birthday with a one-year, $600,000 contract.

"I don't think there's really a better way to celebrate it," Lalime said by phone from

Quebec. "I'm very excited about going back there and seeing the guys again, and looking

forward to having a good year.

"It's a special group in this room. I've been around the league quite a bit, and I think we

have a good thing going on in there. We want to build on the good things we did last year, and

I'm looking to be a big part of this."

The signings aren't earthshaking moves, but they do supply needed experience and welcome

familiarity.

Niedermayer spent last season with New Jersey, recording 10 goals and 12 assists in 71

games. He has played 1,082 regular-season games for Florida, Calgary, Anaheim and New Jersey,

and he's dressed for an additional 109 playoff matchups. The highlight of Niedermayer's career

came in 2007, when he and older brother Scott helped the Ducks win the Stanley Cup.

"I don't think you can underrate that," Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier said at the

team's development camp at Niagara University. "You're talking about an individual with

tremendous experience in the National Hockey League. He's won a Stanley Cup and really been a

big part of very successful teams. Similar to how Mike Grier has helped us, I expect Rob will

really be in a similar role."

Niedermayer played in Florida during Lindy Ruff's four years as an assistant, and the

forward called the Sabres' coach prior to signing with Buffalo.

"It just seemed to be a good fit for me," Niedermayer said by phone. "Lindy was great. He

answered all my questions, so I felt very comfortable with the decision.

"The last few years, my role has been as a checker and someone who's been responsible

defensively. That's something I don't think will change. Just be maybe someone who can lead by

example, just try and fit in with the team. They had a great year last year, and hopefully we

can build on that."

The signing gives the Sabres seven players who played center last season: Tim Connolly,

Derek Roy, Paul Gaustad, Tim Kennedy, Tyler Ennis, Cody McCormick and Niedermayer. All have

experience playing wing.

"The objective here wasn't to bring a forward in and move one out [via trade]. The

objective here is to improve the hockey club, and we think we've addressed that," Regier said.

"We're looking for fit. We have offense. We can generate the offense, and we think we will be

able to continue to generate the offense. I think that the experience of knowing how to win,

the experience of knowing how to play in critical situations defensively is really what Rob

can bring."

The decision to bring back Lalime ends the debate of whether to use rookie Jhonas Enroth as

Miller's backup. The Sabres had considered bringing up the third-year pro from minor-league

Portland, where he went 28-18-1 with a 2.37 goals-against average and .919 save percentage.

Instead, they stayed with the goalie who has become close with Miller and his teammates.

"In Patrick's case, he's been career-wise out in front of Ryan, so a lot of things that

Ryan has and is experiencing, Patty's been through and can share with him," Regier said. "They

do have a good relationship, and that's part of it."

Lalime is just 9-21-5 during his two years in Buffalo, which could be one reason for his

$400,000 pay cut. He had a respectable .907 save percentage last year and a 2.81 goals-against

average.

"I think he'd like to maybe have a little better record, but when you look at his save

percentage and the way he's played, he's been terrific not only on the ice but off the ice as

well," Regier said. "This really allows for Patty to focus in on the backup job and for Jhonas

to focus in on the process of being the best goalie he can be. He's going to play a lot, and I

think that's important given both his age and experience."

Enroth, who is participating in the development camp, praised the Lalime signing and

accepted the return to Portland.

"That's still a lot of things for me to learn," the 22-year-old said. "It's going to be fun

going back there and playing every game."

The Sabres had two more contract developments, including Mike Weber's decision to accept

his one-year qualifying offer of $605,000. The defenseman is being counted upon to jump from

Portland to the Sabres' starting six.

Buffalo is also the only team to opt for club-elected arbitration, choosing that route with

restricted free agent Patrick Kaleta. The arbitration meetings are set for July 20-Aug. 4 in

Toronto, but the sides can negotiate until the hearing.

"The objective is to have a deal done, and hopefully it's a multiyear deal, but the

objective is to get a deal done in advance of that," Regier said. "Electing arbitration, it

allows us to ensure a couple things: 1) that he's playing in Buffalo; and 2) that we have a

deal in place within the appropriate time frame.

"For us, more than anything else, it's to ensure that he's here. It sits out there. We know

that it will be settled, but we've got lots of time to talk and try to get something

arranged."