Pominville will stay with Sabres
Buffalo agrees with forward on a five-year contract
The Buffalo Sabres report for physicals today, signifying the start of the 2008-09 season. If they can match their general manager’s offseason, fans are in for an entertaining year.
Darcy Regier no doubt led the NHL in goals this summer, achieving every one he stated by closing the offseason with a contract extension for Jason Pominville. The Sabres and their high-scoring winger agreed on a five-year, $26.5 million deal Thursday that will keep Pominville in Buffalo through 2013-14.
“Not only did we draft him, but he is someone who has grown up in this organization, along with others, and has continued to get better and better,” Regier said. “He just brings a lot of qualities. As was pointed out to me numerous times, he was the 19th-leading scorer in the National Hockey League [with 80 points]. Lindy [Ruff] and the coaching staff rely on him for a lot of things, whether it’s power play, penalty killing, even strength, last minute. Coaches don’t hand those things out lightly. It’s a tremendous responsibility, and it’s one that he’s earned from the start.”
Extending Pominville’s deal was the final entry on Regier’s to-do list. His other agenda items:
• Add size to the organization, which he did at June’s draft by selecting eight players who average nearly 6-foot-2.
• Acquire a gritty defenseman, which he did when Craig Rivet came in a trade from San Jose.
• Get a dependable backup goaltender, which came in the form of veteran Patrick Lalime.
• Sign franchise netminder Ryan Miller to a new deal before he became a free agent next year, and the sides agreed on a five-year, $31.25 million extension in July.
“It’s been a good summer,” Regier concurred. “You have to give ownership a lot of credit. These are tremendous commitments on the part of ownership, tremendous commitments on the part of the player. There’s a high level of trust that has to be in place on both sides, and that was there.”
Pominville was eager to get the extension. He had one year left on his existing deal, so he’ll make $1.375 million this season, $4.5 million in 2009-10 and $5.5 million in each of the remaining years.
“I’m just excited to get it done before the season,” Pominville said. “I didn’t want to answer questions about it for the whole season. I’ve seen it in the past. I want the focus to be on the team and not on myself and what’s going to happen in the future.”
In one of the first conversations between Regier and Pominville’s agent, Normand Dupont, the sides agreed talks would end when training camp started.
“I think that helped the process,” Regier said. “It put both of us in a position to put our best foot forward.”
Pominville became the sixth Sabre to sign a long-term contract in the past 14 months. Thomas Vanek (seven years), Derek Roy (six years), Jochen Hecht and Paul Gaustad (four years each) join Miller and Pominville in the category. Except for the 31- year-old Hecht, all are 28 or under.
“In Jason’s case he’s 25,” Regier said. “We know that we’ll have him from age 25 to 31. Those are prime years. Those are the best years, arguably, of a player’s career. So that is important.”
Pominville’s long-term, big-money deal adds another chapter to his intriguing story. The Sabres waived him after he spent three seasons in the minors, but no team claimed him. He rebounded with 178 points in 222 games over the last three years, and he was the captain when last season ended. He’s ready to get this season started, and it does today.
“I want to help the team win,” Pominville said. “I want to be a leader on the team, and I want the team to have success. That’s what it’s all about.”
