Archives for August 2006

'"I was hoping it would be done before camp," Kalinin said. "It was kind of slow with all the arbitrations."'

'The addition of the 26-year-old Russian fills out the top six spots in the Sabres' defensive ranks. The team re-signed four players and added free agent Jaroslav Spacek to replace Jay McKee, who signed with St. Louis last month.'

'Kalinin was a force in the playoffs before suffering a broken foot in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Ottawa on May 8.'

'The 26-year-old Kalinin had 18 points (2-16) and a team-high plus-14 rating in 55 games with the Sabres last season. He added two assists in eight playoff games before breaking a foot in the second round against Ottawa.'

'With only $7 million to work with under the cap, Sabres general manager Darcy Regier wants to use that money on Kalinin and starting goaltender Ryan Miller – both restricted free agents. Miller has yet to re-sign but Kalinin is in the fold for the next two years.'

'Kalinin was Buffalo's first-round pick and the 18th overall selection of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He has 26 goals and 82 assists for 108 points in 338 NHL games — all with the Sabres.'

'…two-year deal…'

‘In 55 games last season with Buffalo, the 26-year-old Kalinin (6-foot-3, 206 lbs.) picked up 18 points (2+16) and was a team-high plus-14 despite missing 23 games due to injury.’

'There was talk Dumont might re-sign with the Sabres at a lower rate, but he made it clear that was just idle chatter. "They never made any offer until I went through arbitration, and right after when they said they walked away, there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to be out of there," he said during a teleconference. "I didn't feel comfortable at all anymore to be part of an organization that walked away from me."'

'“In talking to our coaches he should really end up on one of our top two lines,” Poile said. “He is a good all-around player, but I think he is going to be a real good offensive player. I’m thinking and hoping that if he has a healthy season he is going to hit his career highs here in Nashville. He has really good hands and good vision. The people we can play him with are going to also complement him.”'