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I have a ton of respect for the manner in which Jason Botterill is rebuilding the Buffalo blue line without breaking the bank.
Botterill loves him some smart, veteran defenders with attractive average annual values and he has added Western Michigan University D Matt Tennyson via free agency.
Tennyson played a valuable role for the Carolina Hurricanes on their bottom pair last season. He skated 13:08 TOI. Tennyson, a 6'2" and 205 right shot D gives Botterill a solid D to fill in on the Buffalo blue line and to play high minutes in AHL Rochester.
At his introductory press conference, Botterill pledged his commitment to restore the winning culture to both the Sabres and Rochester Americans. Botterill played for the Sabres and Amerks and is serious about building playoff rosters for both teams. Botterill is leaning on the Pittsburgh model which stresses drafting well, developing well, then promoting players after they have paid their dues and honed their craft in the AHL.
Botterill's philosophy:
A strong AHL club benefits the NHL club greatly.
Need proof?
Look at the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
I love the needed depth Botterill now has on his blue lines in Buffalo and Rochester:
Buffalo:
Rasmus Ristolainen Jake McCabe Zach Bogosian Marco Scandella Nathan Beaulieu Viktor Antipin Josh Gorges
Rochester:
Brendan Guhle Matt Tennyson Justin Falk Taylor Fedun
If Phil Housley's team gets bit by the injury bug, a solid NHL D-man will be a 60 minute drive away in Rochester.
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Botterill Adds Veteran Leaders On UFA Day https://t.co/JwWPepsj5s pic.twitter.com/xzbAXFKaFD
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) July 1, 2017
Earlier this week, the Edmonton Oilers said goodbye to a respected veteran leader in forward Benoit Pouliot, who was bought out. The separation was not a result of dissatisfaction with Pouliot's game. It was more to do with the Oil clearing as much salary cap space in order to facilitate paying Connor McDavid an average annual value of $13.25 million beginning in 2018-19. Leon Draisaitl will be signing his own gargantuan deal on the seven year, $7 million range.
Edmonton's loss will be Buffalo's gain. Pouliot, 30, is now a Buffalo Sabre.
I like the Pouliot contract because of the very friendly $1.15 million AAV
The Sabres get a skilled big man who can play in all situations. Pouliot was the 4th overall pick at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
Pouliot averaged 1.81 points and 88 goals per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time with Edmonton.
Pouliot will slot into Buffalo's bottom six group. He has the size and skill to play on the third line with recently re-acquired winger Jason Pominville. On Friday morning, Sabres GM Jason Botterill moved veteran forwards Marcus Foligno and Tyler Ennis. Pouliot will fill the void created by the departure of Foligno and Ennis. Pouliot will add leadership should veteran UFA Brian Gionta sign with another NHL team.
Botterill also added a veteran backup goalie on a Saturday. Chad Johnson left Buffalo from Calgary in July 2015. The guy that Jack Eichel calls "Johnnie" is back in Buffalo.
I love this signing for the Sabres as they bring a calming, polite leader back into their young group. Johnson is a highly respected man in the Buffalo room. He is well liked by everyone from the ticket takers to the security guards to the trainers to all players. In my opinion, Johnson will have a calming influence on Robin Lehner. Johnson can show Lehner how to say more with his actions, and, less words.
Johnson signs a one-year contract worth $2.5 million.
The 31-year-old was UFA and played last year in Calgary.
Johnson finished the season with a 18-15-1 record and a .910 save percentage.
In 2014-15, Johnson was great for the Sabres when he posted a 22-16 record.
I didn't think Linus Ullmark was ready for prime time and I am glad that Botterill didn't rush the kid straight to the NHL this season. Ullmark now will have another season to hone his craft in Rochester, where he will get 85% of the starts. Jonas Johansson will backup Ullmark in Rochester.
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Botterill has signed forward Seth Griffith to a one-year contract worth $650,000.
Griffith spent time the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers last season, combining to record five assists and a plus-6 rating in 24 games. He also played 38 games for the Toronto Marlies in 2016-17, where he posted 44 points (10G, 34A) and led the team in points per game (1.16).
Drafted by the Boston Bruins in the fifth round (131st overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft, Griffith has totaled 16 points (6G, 10A)!in 58 career NHL games. The Wallaceburg, Ontario native led the AHL in assists (53) and ranked second in the league in points (77) during the 2015-16 season. In 203 career AHL games, Griffith has 202 points (66G, 136A) and has added 28 points (9G, 19A) in 31 career AHL playoff games.
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Former Sabres Dmitry Kulikov, Anders Nilsson and Cal O'Reilly signed with new teams in Saturday.
Kulikov signed a 3 year pact with Winnipeg at a ludicrous $4.33 AAV.
Nilsson got a one year, $2.5 million contract in Vancouver.
O'Reilly will play in Minnesota or with their AHL squad next season.
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Ryan Miller's dream has finally come true. He is now an Anaheim Duck. Miller gets a two year contract.
Finally, after 709 games played, 358 career wins, 39 shutouts 41,573 TOI, 2.61 GAA, .915 SV%, Ryan Miller will play in S. California.
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) July 1, 2017
John Gibson is an injury prone tendy. Methinks Millsie will be getting a lot of starts this season.
Miller will turn 37 on July 19. He will have a short commute to work now.
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"I think it's a scenario where we have had some discussions with that. That's probably why we didn't want to lose Marcus because he does bring that "element". I'm a big believer in having more of a scenario of a team toughness mentality up there. we have players such as Evander Kane, Ristolainen, Bogosian, Scandella who have size to them and certainly can finish their checks and play a very physical game. We do think we have some team toughness but that's one of the aspects that we will look at in the organization."