Is Sabres’ pen mightier this year?
Team signs Gaustad, opens Miller talks
LEWISTON — Ryan Miller and Paul Gaustad just returned from a 10- day European vacation. They went their separate ways after getting back in the States, but it appears they could be reuniting long term with the Buffalo Sabres.
Gaustad signed a four-year, $9.2 million contract Monday, the same day General Manager Darcy Regier announced he has begun preliminary discussions with Miller’s agent about an extension for the goaltender.
The deal with Gaustad kept him off the free-agent market, which opens at noon today. The 26-year-old center was set to become a restricted free agent. The 6-foot-4 forward was a long shot to make the NHL after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2000 draft, but he has continued improving during his six seasons with the Sabres’ organization. He anchored the third line last year with 10 goals and 26 assists in 82 games.
“I’m pretty speechless that I have a four-year deal in the National Hockey League,” Gaustad said by phone from Oregon. “I’m extremely excited to have the opportunity to be back in Buffalo. It’s just a great place to play. I really do think we have a chance to win, and that’s a big factor for me.”
Gaustad’s contract will pay him $1.7 million this season and $2.5 million in each of the three that follow.
“It was something where it was great for both sides,” Gaustad said. “I wanted to stay in Buffalo, and they wanted me.”
Gaustad’s travel buddy may have a similar situation. The Sabres clearly want to keep their goaltender, and Miller told The News he is open for talks, which can’t officially begin until free agency starts.
“It’s been general discussions, as I understand it,” Miller said by phone from Michigan. “It’s all been positive.”
Miller wouldn’t be surprised to receive a call from the Sabres today but added the sides have time to discuss matters. Even the smallest extension would give the parties at least two more years together. Miller, scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next July, has been the Sabres’ No. 1 goaltender the last three seasons, posting a record of 106-57-19.
“It’s early, but anytime we have any conversations in that area it’s always good,” Regier said at the team’s summer development camp. “It’s a big priority for us, and as I said it’s something we’ve gotten to work on.”
The proactive moves come almost a year to the day after the franchise watched its two biggest stars leave town. The departures of Chris Drury and Daniel Briere last July 1 started the team toward a 10th-place season. The Sabres’ effort to extend Miller may curb the trend of star players leaving town. Regier said at some point he also will talk with Jason Pominville about a new deal. The captain has one year left before reaching restricted free agency.
“We have a good core, and we have good talent,” Miller said. “I can see us developing into a really strong team. Maturity is one thing we need to be better at.”
The Sabres’ chance to get a mature, veteran player starts today when the phones open. Buffalo is in the market for at least one defenseman and a backup goaltender.
“We are looking at filling some needs in the marketplace,” Regier said in Niagara University’s Dwyer Arena. “But we’re not looking at the top-end guys, certainly amongst the forwards, and on the defensive side we’ll see where the marketplace goes with a couple of guys and make decisions from there.”
There are several blue-liners who could fill the Sabres’ need for size, most notably Brooks Orpik of East Amherst. But the market shrank over the weekend as several teams resigned their players or traded them to teams that were able to consummate new deals. Following the law of supply and demand, that means offers for those still on the market are sure to rise.
“July 1 usually brings surprises, and unfortunately it’s always on the high side,” Regier said. “We’ll make determinations from there.”
Regier reiterated that trades are a possibility should he encounter trouble in free agency. The Sabres have a surplus of forwards.
Buffalo is expected to lose defenseman Dmitri Kalinin via free agency today, but the team still has interest in blue-liners Teppo Numminen and Nolan Pratt. Talks are not imminent.
“If we move in that direction,” Regier said, “it would be a little later on.”
