Afinogenov Re-signs

[ajs510 122]

Maxim Afinogenov re-signed with the Sabres for 3 more years, avoiding arbitration which could have potentially made it impossible for the team to retain him. Things are looking up for the Sabres, pending the arbitrators ruling on JP Dumont. If he's awarded anything over $2.5 million, he'll be gone. Buffalo's payroll is sitting around $34 million with Miller, Briere, Kalinin, Dumont, and Mair still unsigned and replacements needed for Rory Fitzpatrick and Mike Grier. Mair won't be back if he's awarded over $1 million, which he probably won't be. He's really not good for much else than a checking center on the 4th line, and Buffalo rolls 4 lines that are expected to score. I'm thinking Buffalo will probably fill those vacant spots with rookies from Rochester (Paetsch signed his qualifying offer and there are a lot of forwards who may be ready for the next step this year) and come in around $5-6 million under the cap. Hopefully they decide that Briere is a vital part of the teams success, regardless of whether he's worth $5 million per season or not, and bring him back.

[nell789 0]

Maxim Afinogenov re-signed with the Sabres for 3 more years, avoiding arbitration which could have potentially made it impossible for the team to retain him. Things are looking up for the Sabres, pending the arbitrators ruling on JP Dumont. If he's awarded anything over $2.5 million, he'll be gone. Buffalo's payroll is sitting around $34 million with Miller, Briere, Kalinin, Dumont, and Mair still unsigned and replacements needed for Rory Fitzpatrick and Mike Grier. Mair won't be back if he's awarded over $1 million, which he probably won't be. He's really not good for much else than a checking center on the 4th line, and Buffalo rolls 4 lines that are expected to score. I'm thinking Buffalo will probably fill those vacant spots with rookies from Rochester (Paetsch signed his qualifying offer and there are a lot of forwards who may be ready for the next step this year) and come in around $5-6 million under the cap. Hopefully they decide that Briere is a vital part of the teams success, regardless of whether he's worth $5 million per season or not, and bring him back.

They're at 34 mil without Briere? If that's the case, then they'll be a little closer to the cap than 5-6 million. How much do you think Miller will get? Somewhere around 2.5-3 M?

[ajs510 122]

They're at 34 mil without Briere? If that's the case, then they'll be a little closer to the cap than 5-6 million. How much do you think Miller will get? Somewhere around 2.5-3 M?

I would imagine it will take $3 million per to sign Miller long term, so you're right, if they want to keep Briere they'll probably have to spend all the way to the cap or trade someone.

[nell789 0]

Dumont got 2.9 million. That's ridiculous.

[ajs510 122]

Dumont got 2.9 million. That's ridiculous. He's gone.

FYP

[chester97 0]

the arbitrators for the sabres cases must be sens fans, cause there is no way any sensible person or people dish out the money given to the sabres players. no wonder darcy wants to sign people up before they get there.

[ajs510 122]

the arbitrators for the sabres cases must be sens fans, cause there is no way any sensible person or people dish out the money given to the sabres players. no wonder darcy wants to sign people up before they get there.

Leafs fans, the hearings are all held in Toronto. Its seriously beyond retarded what these players are being awarded. I have no problem with a player getting a raise when it's deserved, but these arabitrators are basically cancelling out the salary rollback, which is both unfair and ridiculous.

[WestcoastCanuck 0]

Its seriously beyond retarded what these players are being awarded. I have no problem with a player getting a raise when it's deserved, but these arabitrators are basically cancelling out the salary rollback, which is both unfair and ridiculous.

There is no way the salary cap can sustain these kind of decisions. If 3-4 players per team, per year, get overpaid by almost a million dollars, everyone will be up against the cap.

[Jason12 0]

Are the owners in Buffalo even commited to going over 40 million? They havent shown they want to spend money in the past.

[ajs510 122]

Are the owners in Buffalo even commited to going over 40 million? They havent shown they want to spend money in the past.

All I ever hear about Buffalo is that they have their own salary cap, which doesn't approach the league's. Whether that's true or not, we're about to find out. They can certainly keep the team intact under the league rules, but there's no telling if Regier and Golisano will spend the money that will take. Small market hockey, it's the way it is.

[Jason12 0]

All I ever hear about Buffalo is that they have their own salary cap, which doesn't approach the league's. Whether that's true or not, we're about to find out. They can certainly keep the team intact under the league rules, but there's no telling if Regier and Golisano will spend the money that will take. Small market hockey, it's the way it is.

Well its not like New Jersey where the team is winning and people still arnt going. When Buffalo does good the fans show up. They also agreed on Briers arbitration so I guess they are willing to spend some money.

[Drac 0]

Looks like it's going to take a handfull of teams walking away from these stupid rulings followed by each player signing somewhere else for considerably less for the arbitors to realize how out of whack their rulings are. The Calder and Dumont rulings just don't make any sense at all. Briere's decision wasn't as bad but still fairly surprising.Anybody know if the new CBA has the rule that if a team walks they can match any offer to that player that is below x% of the arbitration award? In the old CBA I think x = 60 but I have no idea if this is in the new deal.

[ajs510 122]

Well its not like New Jersey where the team is winning and people still arnt going. When Buffalo does good the fans show up. They also agreed on Briers arbitration so I guess they are willing to spend some money.

I'm glad they accepted Briere's award, ridiculous or otherwise. He's a big key to their success, they need him in there. Dumont is as good as gone, there's no way he's worth the same money as Afinogenov or Drury. Shame that they won't get any value for him though, it would be nice if they could sign and trade him but no other team will think he's worth that much either. Just gotta get Miller and Kalinin signed, then it's time for Training Camp so we can find out who's ready to move up from Rochester. I personally think you'll see Jiri Novotny and Clarke MacArthur moving into everyday roles with the Sabres, probably Nathan Paetsch as well. They're in good shape, great job by Darcy Regier to get most of his arbitration players settled before their hearings. Without his efforts they'd be in a world of trouble.

[digitalmonkey 929]

Looks like it's going to take a handfull of teams walking away from these stupid rulings followed by each player signing somewhere else for considerably less for the arbitors to realize how out of whack their rulings are. The Calder and Dumont rulings just don't make any sense at all. Briere's decision wasn't as bad but still fairly surprising.Anybody know if the new CBA has the rule that if a team walks they can match any offer to that player that is below x% of the arbitration award? In the old CBA I think x = 60 but I have no idea if this is in the new deal.

I believe what you are talking about is still in the CBA, but I'm not sure about the number.

[Ice_W0lf 0]

Now Adam Mair was just awarded 1 year $675k. I know that's not a ton, but he missed half the season due to injury, and when he did play he only had like 7 or 8 points. I realize he's being paid to be nothing more than a fourth line checking center, but still I see no justifiable reason to increase his pay just over $200k. Since the ruling is less than $1.4 million, Buffalo is forced to accept the offer. I believe they should have just let him go and signed someone cheaper to do the same job, or brought someone up from Rochester. As for Dumont, I don't see how Buffalo can keep him now after being practically raped by the arbitrator. With Kalinin and Miller left to be signed, I see no way Dumont is in a Slug.. I mean Sabre.. uniform next season.

[ajs510 122]

Why is it that the Sabres are forced to accept Mair's arbitration ruling due to the fact that his salary will be less than $1.4 million, but the Bruins were able to walk away from David Tanabe after he was awarded $1.275 million?Doesn't make sense to me, unless the numbers are being reported wrong...I don't really think Mair is worth having on the team in the first place, but $675,000 for a 4th liner who can hit isn't that bad.

[digitalmonkey 929]

Since the ruling is less than $1.4 million, Buffalo is forced to accept the offer.

I don't think this is true.http://www.nhl.com/nhlhq/cba/archive/cba/article12.htmlAnd I found the number mentioned earlier. If a team lets a player walk, they still have the right to match any contract amount under 80% of the arbitrator's awarded figure.

[Jason12 0]

Ladislav Nagy just got 3 million in arbitration and he almost put up identical numbers to Brier how come he gets 3 and Brier gets 5?

[digitalmonkey 929]

Ladislav Nagy just got 3 million in arbitration and he almost put up identical numbers to Brier how come he gets 3 and Brier gets 5?

Maybe because Nagy gets injured every year.Maybe because Janet Gretzky made a call.Maybe because Nagy is European and Briere is not.

[Drac 0]

And I found the number mentioned earlier. If a team lets a player walk, they still have the right to match any contract amount under 80% of the arbitrator's awarded figure.

Where did you find it? I looked on the NHLPA web site and couldn't find it in the CBA. Boy does that thing take a while to load!