ANALYSIS
Connolly signs two-year extension worth $9 million
Inside the NHL—Trade Deadline Edition:
The Buffalo Sabres have signed center Tim Connolly to a two-year contract extension worth $9 million. A team source confirmed this morning that the deal was reached shortly after 11 a.m. with the clock winding down before the NHL trade deadline.
Connolly will receive $4.5 million in each of the next two seasons, a $1 million increase from the $3.5 million he's making this season under a three-year deal worth $8.7 million. He was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, and there were questions about whether he wanted to stay in Buffalo.
The Sabres were not interested in giving him a contract longer than two years, based largely on his history of injuries. He has played only 79 of a possible 227 games since signing his current three-year deal. However, when healthy, he was among the better playmaking centers in the league.
It made for a difficult situation for the Sabres, who were looking to keep him in the organization but also wanted to make sure they received something for him at the trade deadline if negotiations fell apart. Ultimately, they paid more for him than they had originally planned going into the deadline.
Even if he never missed another contest the next two-plus seasons, he will have played only 212 of 410 possible games while collecting $17.7 million. Connolly has 11 goals and 26 points in 29 games this season while missing 34 games with hip and rib injuries. He had eight goals and 41 points in 50 games over the previous two years combined.
•Goaltender Mikael Tellqvist was acquired by the Sabres from the Phoenix Coyotes for a fourth-round draft choice in 2010. See the the Sabred Edge blog for details.
• Martin Biron back to Buffalo? Could be. Speculation was rampant that the former Sabres netminder could return in trade including Philadelphia and Phoenix. The Flyers were trying to get their hands on a defenseman, namely Derek Morris.
The Coyotes like Henrik Tallinder, but it would not be surprising if Buffalo insisted that Maxim Afinogenov be included with a pick or prospect coming back with Biron. Don’t look for Olli Jokinen, though. The Sabres don’t believe he’s worth the $5.5 million.
• Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke said several times in recent days that Tomas Kaberle would likely stay in Toronto, but it hasn’t stopped talk that the defenseman could wind up in Florida for Jay Bouwmeester.
The hang-up could be the list of 10 teams Kaberle submitted as possible franchises for which he would waive his no-trade clause. Florida was not among them. Of course, it also would mean Burke locking up Bouwmeester to a long-term deal before the swap is completed. Kaberle has two years and $8.5 million left on his current deal.
• The Ducks were waiting to hear from defenseman Scott Niedermayer on whether he plans to play next year before deciding to trade Chris Pronger. The deal last week for ex-Penguins blueliner Ryan Whitney opened the door for Pronger.
Boston is interested in Pronger and could part with Phil Kessel or Patrice Bergeron, plus a first-round pick, to get him. The Bruins like the idea of throwing Pronger and Zdeno Chara over the boards every other shift. It’s what the Ducks did with Pronger and Niedermayer en route to the Stanley Cup two years ago.
St. Louis, left for dead a month ago before earning 20 of 28 points in February, also appears to be in the hunt for Pronger. He spent nine seasons there, and his wife is from the area. If Toronto can’t get Bouwmeester, it could also make a play for Pronger.
• Ottawa has been trying to solve persistent goaltending problems and had its sights on Columbus backup Pascal Leclaire with the Blue Jackets acquiring center Antoine Vermette as part of a package. Leclaire was one of the NHL’s top goaltenders last season but has since lost his job to rookie Steve Mason. Columbus is almost certain to get a center from somewhere before 3 p. m. today.
• Islanders winger Bill Guerin has a no-trade clause but looks like he’ll waive it to play for a contender. He’s among several veterans who have lost respect for Isles coach Scott Gordon. He could land in Washington, but the Caps need a goalie.
• Sabres winger Ales Kotalik has not generated much discussion around the league. As one Western Conference executive said Monday: “He leaves you longing for more.” He’s great in shootouts. Unfortunately, most teams know it’s the only time he’s within 5 feet of the net.
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