No blue-line specials for Sabres
Buffalo signs Lalime as free agency opens
Moments after signing with Buffalo, Patrick Lalime heard from good buddy Jocelyn Thibault, the man he replaced as the Sabres’ backup goaltender.
“He already texted me and said, ‘I got a place for sale there in Buffalo. You can get a good deal!’ ” Lalime said with a laugh.
Lalime was the only one getting deals in Buffalo on Tuesday.
The Sabres made one move on the opening day of free agency, signing Lalime to a two-year, $2 million contract. General Manager Darcy Regier had at least two defensemen on his wish list entering the shopping season, but the blue-liners he sought went elsewhere.
“They’re gone,” Regier said, “so we’re probably going to take a hard look at the trade route [today] and see whether that’s a possibility against what’s left in the marketplace.”
Most of the big-name defensemen (and several little-known ones) cashed in Tuesday, including Brian Campbell, Wade Redden, Michal Roszival, Mike Commodore and Jeff Finger. Those who remained after Day One included Brooks Orpik, Ron Hainsey and Paul Mara.
“There’s some guys that are of an interest. They’re not a high priority right now,” Regier said. “But I think we’ll certainly look at guys that we know are in the trade market and kind of weigh the cost of that versus the cost of free agency, which often involves maybe more dollars and term.”
Orpik had become the buzz of Western New York, as many figured the hometown defenseman was an ideal fit for the Sabres. The 27-year-old has the size and toughness Buffalo lacks on the blue line, but it appears his family won’t be making the short drive from East Amherst to HSBC Arena to watch him nightly.
“We did have conversations,” Regier said. “I don’t expect to be a part of that going forward.”
The route Regier plans to go now isn’t unfamiliar, as he has previously used summertime trades to bolster his team. He acquired Toni Lydman from Calgary in August 2005, picked up Chris Drury from the Flames in July 2003 and snatched Adam Mair from Los Angeles in July 2002. The Sabres have 15 NHL forwards, so any deal would likely involve one or more of them.
They didn’t need to make a trade to fill their void behind starting goalie Ryan Miller, but for a while it appeared they might. Goaltenders were moving left and right during the afternoon, with seven switching teams before the Sabres snagged Lalime.
“We had a list together of potential backup goaltenders for Ryan, and he was certainly near the top of the list,” Regier said. “We think he’ll be a very good fit here.”
Lalime, who turns 34 on Monday, is a nine-year veteran who spent the last two seasons in Chicago. He played 32 games last year, going 16-12-2 with a 2.82 goals-against average and .897 save percentage.
“When Buffalo came I was very impressed with the way they did things,” said Lalime, who talked with coach Lindy Ruff and goalie coach Jim Corsi. “It was a very good conversation. I was very impressed with that move, the way they handled things. It turned out it was a really good option, and I’m excited to go to Buffalo.”
The Quebec native was the Blackhawks’ nominee for the Masterton Trophy, giving annually to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. He has had knee and back surgeries during the past three years, but he stayed healthy for Chicago while starter Nikolai Khabibulin went down.
“It’s all behind now,” Lalime said by phone. “We’re looking ahead.”
Sabres fans likely remember Lalime most from his days in Ottawa. He backstopped the Senators from 1999 to 2004, leading them to the playoffs four times. The 6-foot-3, 189-pounder was a sixth-round draft choice by Pittsburgh in 1993 and also spent a season in St. Louis.
“He’s happy to be coming back in the Eastern Conference,” said Ian Pulver, Lalime’s agent. “He’s a great personality. He’s strong in the dressing room. He understands his role with Ryan Miller and looks to make Buffalo his home.”
Lalime heard good things about Buffalo while chatting with fellow Francophones Martin Biron and J. P. Dumont. The goalie is eager to get his wife and three young daughters (ages 6, 4 and 8 months) settled in Western New York for two years.
“From the outside you look at Buffalo, you’re like, ‘Whoa, there doesn’t seem like there’s much going on,’ ” Lalime said. “But everyone I spoke to, they really love it there and they’re going back to live there, so I think it’s all positive.
“It’s a good family town, a good sports town, good hockey town, good organization, so it made my decision a lot easier.”
