At least we got some news this week, the Sabres signed defenseman Dennis Persson and forward Travis Turnbull to one year contracts.  I don’t have anything else to add right now other than they are depth players for the Rochester Americans.  More next week on the current lineup and what’s been happening around the league.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2011

BUFFALO SABRES RE-SIGN PERSSON AND TURNBULL TO ONE-YEAR DEALS
Pair has spent last two seasons with AHL’s Portland Pirates

(Rochester, NY)… Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier announced today that defenseman Dennis Persson and forward Travis Turnbull have each agreed to a one-year contract.

Persson (6’1”, 192 lbs., 6/2/1988) was Buffalo’s first-round pick (24th overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He spent the last two full seasons with the Portland Pirates (AHL) after ending the 2008-09 campaign with the team. Persson did not see any ice time during three recalls to Buffalo in April 2011.

The 23-year-old native of Nykoping, Sweden has amassed 26 points (5+21) in 132 career AHL games. He posted 17 points (4+13) in 64 regular season games with the Pirates last year and added four assists in 11 playoff games, including a three-assist effort in the Atlantic Division Semifinals.

Turnbull (6’0”, 193 lbs., 7/7/1986), like Persson, made his AHL debut late in the 2008-09 season and has also spent the last two seasons in Portland. Turnbull missed 59 games with a shoulder injury in 2010-11. He scored nine points (5+4) in 20 total games, including a goal in his first game back from the injury.

The Chesterfield, Missouri, native and son of NHL alumnus Perry Turnbull has totaled 27 points (14+13) and 131 penalty minutes in 80 career games.