In the end, it was just a matter of "when", not "if" Tyler Ennis would re-sign in Buffalo.
I spoke with Ennis after the Sabres softball game on Friday.
"I had a great Summer. I trained hard and I am ready to roll. I feel great. I can't wait to get this contract signed and to get started playing games".
Tyler Ennis' new deal with the Sabres is a very realistic reflection of his career trajectory. No distortions or grossly inflated numbers.
Ennis is a star on the rise, however, two high ankle sprain injuries last season stole his speed and scoring away from the Buffalo lineup. With a healthy Ennis in their nightly lineup in 2011-12, there's no doubt in my mind that the Sabres finish in the top eight teams in the East. The Sabres are a playoff team with Ennis in their lineup.
Per capgeek.com, here's how the contract breaks down:
Total value: $5.625 million.
Year 1: $2.5625 million.
Year 2: $3.0625 million.
Such a smart deal. Ennis earne a nice bump in pay from his entry level deal. He earned $875,000 the past three seasons.
My guess is that he outplays this contract in year one. He and Marcus Foligno and Drew Stafford will be raising Hell again before you know it. The three amigos were the best line in the NHL in the last month of the 2011-12 season. no reason to believe that the trio will falter this season.
Sabres GM, Darcy Regier, has been working with Ennis' agent for the past few weeks to get this deal sewn up.
"Tyler is a very important part of our offense and we are very happy to have him signed," Regier said. "He has progressed as a player over the past few seasons and we are excited to see his growth both as a person and professional in the years to come."
Ennis (5'9", 172 lbs., 10/6/89) led the Sabres with a plus-11 rating in 2011-12 and tallied 34 points (15+19) through 48 games.
The Edmonton, Alberta native was drafted by the Sabres in the first round (26th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He played his first NHL game with the Sabres on November 14, 2009 and became the 21st Sabres player to score a goal in his NHL debut. He has since recorded 92 points (38+54) through 140 games in the NHL.
Ennis will turn 23 on October 6.
Here's Enzo making the final out in Friday's Sabres softball game, getting doubled off first base by Steve Ott.
"This team is awesome", Ennis told me after the game. "Lets play hockey!!"
Say Hello to the fourth NHL work stoppage in the past 20 years.
NHLPA Director. Donald Fehr:
"We spoke today and determined that there was no point in convening a formal bargaining session in light of the fact that neither side is in a position to move off of its last proposal," NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said in New York. "I'm sure we will keep in touch in the coming days and schedule meetings to the extent they might be useful or appropriate. We are sorry for where we are. Not what we hoped or expected."
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