Sabres get Rivet from Sharks
Buffalo also trades Bernier to Canucks
Looks like the Buffalo Sabres can take down those help wanted ads. They got a veteran defenseman.
The Sabres acquired 33-year-old Craig Rivet from the San Jose Sharks on Friday, getting the 12-year vet for second-round picks in 2009 and 2010. They also got a seventh- round pick in ’09 with Rivet, who played with Montreal before being dealt west at the trade deadline in 2007.
Earlier in the day, Buffalo traded winger Steve Bernier to the Vancouver Canucks for a third-round pick in 2009 and a second- rounder in 2010. Getting those picks helped set the stage for the team’s biggest move since the NHL free agency period opened Tuesday.
“We think we’ve accomplished filling a very important need for the hockey club,” General Manager Darcy Regier said of the Rivet deal. “He’s a proven veteran and a very good player. You put him in and he’ll make a very significant contribution to this team. . . . He’s someone we need.”
Rivet, who will turn 34 on Sept. 13, was an alternatve captain last year in San Jose. He had five goals and 30 assists in 74 games and added six assists in the playoffs.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder has appeared in 744 NHL games since he was Montreal’s third-round choice in 1992.
Rivet is signed through the 2010-11 season and becomes the Sabres’ highest-paid defenseman at $3.5 million each of the next three years.
Even with the departure of ex-Sabre Brian Campbell to Chicago, Rivet became expendable in San Jose because the Sharks signed Los Angeles’ Rob Blake as a free agent and got blueliners Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich earlier in the day in trade with Tampa Bay.
Regier said he’s happy with the team’s depth but didn’t discount further moves. Buffalo remains interested in free agent defenseman Jason Smith of Philadelphia, although Regier said he had not spoken to Smith’s agent Friday and that the player may be close to a deal with another team (possibly Tampa Bay).
Regier also said the Sabres remain interested in Teppo Numminen, who returned from open-heart surgery to play in Buffalo’s regular-season finale in Boston after missing the entire season.
“Teppo has the qualities to contribute,” Regier said. “And based on what we saw in that game, we think he can.”
Bernier appeared in 17 games for Buffalo last year after being acquired from San Jose in the deadline deal for Brian Campbell. He had three goals and six assists but two of the goals came against Nashville in his first game and Bernier struggled with his skating.
“We felt we had to move one of our forwards to get a defenseman and the right wing is where have a great amount of depth with six players,” Regier said.
“When I got the call I was shocked,” Bernier told Vancouver reporters on a conference call. “I didn’t see this coming. I got traded last year in February. I thought I was going to stay there [Buffalo] for a little while. It took me by surprise but it’s part of the job.”
A few other updates Friday from Regier:
On a trade involving Maxim Afinogenov: “The Max front is very quiet. I expect Max to start with us based on the activity of the summer.”
On a new contract for goaltender Ryan Miller: “I expect we’ll talk with either Ryan and/or his agent in the next couple of days. I do think he wants to stay here long term.”
On contracts for restricted free agents Daniel Paille and Clarke MacArthur: “I talked to Paille’s agent [Friday] and played telephone tag with Clarke’s agent. Those talks will continue.”
