‘Buffalo will have work to do to this off-season if they wish to get back into Stanley Cup contention, but departing Free Agents will not be as big an issue as at the close of last season. Teppo Numminen, Dmitri Kalinin, Mike Ryan, Nolan Pratt and Jocelyn Thibault are the team’s unrestricted free agents. Steve Bernier, Clarke MacArthur, Mark Mancari and Dan Paille are restricted Free Agents this off-season. There are also long-term issues to resolve. Team President Larry Quinn told the A.P. that the Sabres plan to be proactive and have already decided to offer goalie Ryan Miller and forward Jason Pominville long term deals. Miller and Pominville will both need contracts after next season if they are not renewed before that time.’