Tim Kennedy learned yet another lesson Monday about how quickly things can change in the NHL. Three years ago, he cheered for Chris Drury and the Sabres against the Rangers in the playoffs. This year, he'll share the visitors' dressing room with Buffalo's former captain in their season opener against the Sabres.

Kennedy signed a one-year, one-way contract worth $550,000 with Rangers, ending four weeks of misery that included severing his relationship with his hometown team and uncertainty about his future. The South Buffalo native was confident last week that he would land somewhere, but he wasn't sure where.

The one-way agreement was a sticking point during negotiations with the Sabres before he took them to arbitration. Buffalo wanted a two-way deal and the option to send him to Portland. His deal with the Rangers guarantees he will make a full NHL salary even if he's sent to the minors.

"I'm just happy that it's all over," Kennedy said Monday. "I was pushing for a one-way deal. I didn't want to be on a two-way, so when they came to me with a one-way, that was a good deal. The money part comes with it. That's a lot of money, and I'm happy with that."

West Seneca native Lee Stempniak also found a team Monday. He returned to the Phoenix Coyotes with a two-year contract worth $3.5 million. He scored 14 goals in 18 games after being traded to Phoenix by Toronto. Stempniak, who was interested in signing with Buffalo, accepted a 50 percent pay cut from his contract last season to re-sign with Phoenix.

Kennedy had 10 goals and 26 points last season while playing mostly in a defensive role with the Sabres. He had stretches of inconsistency his rookie year but he played well late in the season, showed flashes of offensive potential and was among their more competitive forwards in the playoffs against Boston.

The Sabres' second game this season is their home opener against a Rangers team that will be playing its first game of the year.

"I'm going into camp knowing I'm not guaranteed anything," Kennedy said. "I have to fight for my spot. Hopefully, I'm in the lineup that first night against the Sabres.

"It will be cool. It will be fun. It will be different because I was on the other side, and it will be my first time. It should be a fun game. I didn't realize that when I was talking to the Rangers until we were done. I checked the schedule and started to laugh."

The previous four weeks were no laughing matter.

Kennedy was awarded a one-year deal worth $1 million in arbitration, $200,000 more than what the Sabres offered him but well below the league minimum allowing teams to walk away. The Sabres elected to waive him, buy out his contract for $333,333 and send the gritty forward into unrestricted free agency.

The 24-year-old will receive $883,333 if you apply the buyout to this season and add the contract he signed with the Rangers. It gives him $116,667 less than he was awarded in arbitration but $83,333 more than the Sabres offered. In the end, he'll still pocket $248,000 more than he made last season in Buffalo.

Buffalo has less depth, one fewer young player with potential and is paying for someone no longer on the roster. It's costing the Sabres $333,333 to buy out his contract. They could have paid him the extra $200,000, kept him and waived him after the season or traded him during the year and received something back in return.

"I'm just trying to put the whole arbitration process and award thing behind me. I'm just happy to play [in New York] and help that team," Kennedy said. "[Free agency] wasn't a fun time. I think it took so long because it was so late into the summer, and most teams had their rosters full. It was trying to find the right team that would give me the right fit. That's why I chose the Rangers."

Kennedy will have one of the NHL's better coaches and leaders waiting for him in New York along with a few familiar faces. Rangers coach John Tortorella has a reputation for being demanding while getting the most of out of his players. His teams for years have played an up-tempo style that could suit Kennedy's game.

He's been skating this summer with former Sabres goalie Martin Biron, who signed a two-year deal with the Rangers last month. He has deep respect for Drury, whom he met when Drury was still in Buffalo. Kennedy also played with Rangers Brandon Dubinsky and Matt Gilroy in the world championships.

"It's nice going somewhere where I know a few players and not going in there blind," Kennedy said. "It will be great playing with them. I'm a young guy, so I'm going to go in there and work hard. I'm going to put the work in and do whatever they want me to do. I'll just keep my mouth closed and ears open and try to help them out."

bgleason@buffnews.comnull