Six signings restock Sabres’ shelf
’06 pick Persson latest in the fold
By Mike HarringtonNEWS SPORTS REPORTER
Updated: 06/04/08 10:17 AM
Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier has been smiling a lot lately as the team has wrapped up deal after deal with its unsigned prospects. Regier was able to produce a double dose of good news Tuesday.
At an HSBC Arena news conference to officially unveil South Buffalo native and Michigan State star Tim Kennedy, the team also announced the signing of Swedish defenseman Dennis Persson.
Buffalo’s first-round choice in the 2006 draft (24th overall) inked a three-year, entry-level contract and will play next season in the Swedish Elite League before coming to North America for the 2009-10 season.
Chris Butler. Nathan Gerbe. Felix Schutz. Jhonas Enroth. And now, Kennedy and Persson. That’s a lot of talent to replenish the system in a seven-week period.
“We’re very excited. This is a very good group of young players here,” Regier said. “. . . It’s a nice group that will fit very nicely together. There’s a certain restocking. We knew it was coming. It’s a group that’s continued to improve, continued to grow and I think they’ll be better for being together as well.”
“We’ve kind of grown together the past two years already,” said Kennedy, who has attended summer prospect camps with some of players. “Nathan, Chris and I talked the whole year. Chris and I have known each other for five years [from their days as United States Hockey League teammates in Sioux City, Iowa]. We’ve become pretty good friends and we hope that this is a young core [that] grows together.”
Persson, 20, would have gone back into the draft later this month had the Sabres not come to terms with him. The 6- foot-1, 188-pounder split time last season with Djurgarden of the Swedish Elite League and Nykoping of the Swedish second tier.
“He’s a puck-moving skilled defenseman,” Regier said. “The learning curve is a little longer for defenseman [than forwards]. He’s looking forward to coming over but the deadline was more about getting him under contract with us.”
Most, if not all of the players are expected to start next season in the American Hockey League. That’s been the Sabres’ preference but Regier admitted that time frame is likely to get compressed with college players. With unrestricted free agency looming at age 27, there’s more urgency to get them to the NHL and see if they can get a career going.
“I think when these guys are unrestricted at 27, we take a long look at them,” Regier said. “Part of the process with them is to make sure they have an opportunity to make the Buffalo Sabres. . . . In most cases, you’re still going to see the players begin their careers in the minors but in some cases you won’t see them in the minors for as long.”
Kennedy was presented with his No. 13 Sabres jersey and freely admits he’d like to be an exception to that rule. The Bishop Timon-St. Jude product, a childhood fan of Alexander Mogilny and Pat LaFontaine, was joined by his parents and several other family members and friends.
“I’ve been waiting for this day my whole life,” said Kennedy. “. . . I would have been some kind of magician if I had planned it like this.”
Kennedy had been named an alternate captain for next year’s team at Michigan State and there had been some thought that stalled negotiations with the Sabres might make him return to school for his senior season.
“There’s a learning curve here for younger players and their families to understand the marketplace,” Regier said. “Their advisers obviously know it. It’s critical they have a comfort with the contract they sign and agree to.”
••• The Anaheim Ducks officially announced the move of their AHL affiliate from Portland, Maine, to Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday. The Sabres are expected to take their place in Portland.
“We’re moving closer to an announcement,” Regier said. “We’re not weeks away. We’re days away probably.”
