On July 1, 2014, Rochester native Brian Gionta realized a lifelong dream when he signed a three year contract to play for the Buffalo Sabres. Then Sabres GM Tim Murray gave Gionta a three year deal at an $4.25M AAV which was excellent compensation for a player north of 35 years of age in today's young man's NHL. Gionta's deal also includes a no trade clause.
Gionta, 38, provided great leadership and excellent role modeling in his three years with the Sabres. Gionta added needed stability during two tanking seasons that saw the Sabres dive down to the bottom of the NHL standings.
In March 27, Gionta appeared in his 1,000th NHL game, and became the 312th NHL player (23rd active player) to play in 1,000 games. Gionta also became the 43rd American player to reach the milestone and the 10th player to do so as a member of the Sabres.
With his goal in that auspicious game, Gionta became the third Sabres player to score in his 1,000th NHL game, joining Gilbert Perreault (1/29/1984 vs. Pittsburgh) and Phil Russell (3/12/1986 at Chicago).
Thanks, Sabres TV
Two weeks ago, Gionta became an unrestricted free agent. Sabres fans have been hoping for a Gionta new contract announcement.
Jason Botterill has not ruled out a Gionta return to Buffalo for next season. However, Gionta said Tuesday that he is looking for an opportunity elsewhere. Gionta has more gas left in the tank. If the Sabres don't want to re-sign him another team will sign him as a UFA. Gionta has scored 589 career goals and 599 assists in 1,006 career games played. He resisted the opportunity for Murray to trade him to a Stanley cup contender at the March 1 NHL Trade Deadline.
Is this negotiating on Gionta's part, or, is he in fact moving on?
As we just saw at the recent development camp, they sabres are loaded with big, string, smiled wingers who are looking to earn full time jobs with the Sabres this season. Justin Bailey, Nick Baptiste, Hudson Fasching and Alex Nylander all performed admirably at the four day prospect camp. Perhaps Botterill and Housley have decided to elevate and promote a youngster to Buffalo rather than re-sign Gionta. You'll recall that Botterill signed UFA veteran wingers Benoit Oiuliot and Jacob Josefson on July 1. Perhaps Botterill is thinking that Pouliot and Josefson will add leadership in place of Gionta. Ryan O'Reilly, Kyle Okposo, Evander Kane, Rasmus Ristolainen, Jake McCabe, Marco Scandella, Jason Pominville and Matt Moulson will assist Jack Eichel with the leadership this season.
Did the Pominville trade deal Gionta's fate in Buffalo? Both vets play right wing. Pominville is 34 years old while Gionta is 38. Pominville and Gionta can both play top six minutes, kill penalties and contribute on the power play.
I for one would like to see the former captain return to Buffalo for one more season. He still has the wheels and the juice to compete and create. I also support the paradigm shift to younger players and new blood veterans.
If his days in Buffalo are indeed done, I tip my hat and say thanks to Gionta. He was a pleasure to cover for the past three seasons.
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Thanks, Sabres.com
Jason Botterill and Phil Housley just completed their first prospect development camp as the new braintrust of the Sabres.
After the conclusion of the annual 3v3 French Connection tourney, which was won by Team white (Casey Mittelstadt and Rasmus Asplund), Botterill was asked to comment on the progress of the negotiations for his super center Jack Eichel.
Sooner is better than later in a new Eichel pact.
“Our conversations with Jack and the group have gone extremely well,” Botterill said.
“We will continue those (negotiations) throughout the summer here and stuff to see if we can find a common ground. From our standpoint, we certainly want to get something done, and from everything we’ve heard from Jack and his agents, they want to get something done, too.”
Last week, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid establishes the new high water mark in terms of Nhl contracts. McDavid signed a gargantuan 8-year, $100 million contract. McDavid's new deal will begin during the 2018-19 season.
McDavid's high tide will float all NHL ships moving forward. His $12.5M AAV is the new gold standard by which all NHL stars, like Eichel, Auston Matthews, Leon Draisaitl, Patrick Laine, John Tavares, Ryan Johansen and others will be paid.
McDavid's comparable will no doubt help set Eichel's value moving forward. Eichel is entering the final year of his three year entry level contract. Eichel's next contract will easily eclipse $10M AAV.
“To be able get a contract done from a star player, face of of the organization, is great for our league,” Botterill said. “I’m sure the people of Edmonton are very excited about having him (McDavid) under contract. I’ve been through some of those discussions before. Whenever I did Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin or Kris Letang, you’re excited to get an elite player under contract.”
McDavid was the first overall pick by the Oilers at the 2015 NHL Draft. Eichel was selected second overall by the Sabres.
Last season, Eichel potted 24 goals and 57 assists in 61 games played. He missed the first 21 games of the season due to a dastardly high ankle sprain injury which he suffered the day before the season opener versus Montreal. Eichel averaged .93 points per game despite his serious injury. A healthy Eichel is expected to finish in the NHL Top 10 scoring race this season.
In his first two pro seasons, Eichel has scored 48 goals and 65 assists in 142 games played.
Botterill said he wants to pump the brakes on a Samson's Reinhart re-signing. Don't expect a new deal for Reinhart until next summer. Reinhart will earn his next contract based on his performance this season, as well as his three year body ifvwork.
In other words, if Samson wants to be paid in the upper echelon, he is being urged to go out and have a career season in 2017-18.
“We’re excited about Sam, but I don’t think something from a contract standpoint will happen this summer,” Botterill said. “We have him under contract for another year. We’ll see how things play out.”
In 167 career NHL games, Reinhart has scored 40 goals and 50 assists.
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The kids were better than alright at the Buffalo Sabres development
camp.
A young american and a shifty Swede stole the show on championship Tuesday.
Casey Mittelstadt's brand earned extra special equity at Buffalo's prospect development camp.
Rasmus Asplund was a man on a mission and he made the puck dance during the four games his team played on Tuesday.
Mittelstadt and Asplund powered Team White to a 4-0 perfect record on the final day of camp.
The four day whirlwind hockey-palooza ended on a high note when Mittelstadt dropped jaws and caused goose bumps to rise when he led Team White to victory over Team Gold in the French Connection 3v3 tournament.
Buffalo drafted the former "Minnesota Mr. Hockey" with the 8th overall pick at last month's NHL Draft in Chicago.
Mittelstadt saved his best work for the last day and a couple thousand Sabres fans left the barn with very good vibes about the soon-to-be University of Minnesota Golden Gopher, who scored twice in the 3-1 championship game win. Mittelstadt put on a clinic in hockey creativity with his NHL-level lateral movements and his explosive edge work. The kid's silky mittens exceeded all expectations. Mittelstadt is better than his billing. The sniper stole the show with a wicked top shelf rip that earned him high praise from Rick Jeaneret, who performed play by play of the 3v3 tourney on Sabres.com.
Equally as impressive as Mittelstadt was 2016 draft choice Rasmus Asplund, who scored whose slippery, speedy style remind me a lot of former Sabres sniper Max Afinogenov. Asplund danced on air and seemingly found the open man with the puck on every shift. His vision and puck skills are off the charts. Call me crazy, but Asplund's game is very similar to that of fellow Swede 200 foot forward Henrik Zetterberg.
"Buffalo is the team that drafted me and it's the team I want to play for some day," Asplund said. "I'm going to take all the information they give me, try to work on it and take it back with me home."
Mittelstadt will begin his college career this falls while Asplund will return to Sweden to play for his club and national teams.
Hudson Fasching also played a key role on Team White. Fasching was a big, strong force who moved at high speed through all three zones. l
I was also impressed with the dominant play of forwards Justin Bailey, Nick Baptisite, Alex Nylander, and, defensemen Brendan Guhle and Will Borgen.
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