Author:Keith Wozniak
Sabres Re-Sign CJ Smith to a Two-Year Contract
The Buffalo Sabres announced that restricted free agent CJ Smith has signed his two-year qualifying offer with an annual average salary of $700,000. CapFriendly updated the terms to show that the first year is a two-way deal and second year is one-way. The first year minor salary is $100,000 and second year is one-way meaning …
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Amerks are Winners at the Start of Free Agency
Leading up to the start of free agency it was leaked that the Buffalo Sabres would be signing forward Curtis Lazar and defenseman John Gilmour and once 11am hit the news started flowing. The organization had work to do this summer in setting up depth players that can fill in on NHL roster spots if …
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Dalton Smith Returns to Rochester for a Third Season
It wasn’t the signing anyone was expecting on the morning of free agency but the Rochester Americans surprised us by announcing that Dalton Smith would be returning for a third season in Rochester. There’s little that needs to be said about Dalton Smith. He’s an old school player that provides muscle and time and space …
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Top Center Jean-Sebastien Dea Signed to a Two-Year Deal
The top center position was filled today for Rochester when the Buffalo Sabres signed Jean-Sebastien Dea to a two-year contract (one-way both seasons) that will pay him the league minimum $700k. That’s a big raise from the $200k he was earning in the minors last season. Dea is a top center in the American League …
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Sabres Sign Goalie Andrew Hammond to Lead Rochester
One of the biggest needs for the Buffalo Sabres at the start of free agency was signing a goalie for the organization and the pool wasn’t very deep this season. They made that signing within the first 30 minutes by signing Andrew Hammond to a one-year one-way contract for the 2019/2020 season. He’ll earn $700k …
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John Gilmour Signs with Buffalo, Top Six Defenseman in Rochester
The Buffalo Sabres have made it official that they signed defenseman John Gilmour to a one-year one-way contract today for $700k. This is a move that may make some Sabres first fans say who and why? He’ll provide some incredible depth as an offensive threat on the Amerks blue line joining Zach Redmond as a …
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Curtis Lazar Signed by Buffalo, Expected Top Forward for Amerks
The news leaked out late Saturday (and confirmed late Sunday) that Curtis Lazar would be signing a one-way contract with the Buffalo Sabres and with the official start of free agency at noon the news was confirmed. Lazar has signed a one-way contract for league minimum $700k for one year. He can play the center …
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Foundations are Set in Rochester for Another Strong Season
There was a time when years in Rochester were calculated between appearances in the Calder Cup finals but now we’re counting years since winning a first round playoff series. The franchise has now gone through 14 seasons without advancing beyond the first round with seven of those seasons missing the playoffs completely. Over the course …
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Three Great Resources to Track the 2019 AHL Free Agents
The majority of the hockey world will be focused on the NHL when free agency begins at noon on July 1 with a focus on the top players in the world finding new homes with big contracts. For some of us in the American League the focus will be on the high end veterans that …
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A Healthy Taylor Leier Can Still Earn a NHL Contract
A few days before the start of free agency the Rochester Americans announced that Taylor Leier signed a one year American League contract to return for the 2019/2020 season. Leier was acquired by the Buffalo Sabres in a fresh start type of trade by sending Justin Bailey to the Philadelphia Flyers. In a combined 69 …
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Sabres Extend Qualifying Offers to Seven of Eleven Players
The Buffalo Sabres extended qualifying offers to six restricted free agents prior to the 5pm deadline today and the list is almost what was expected. Players receiving qualifying offers were Zemgus Girgensons, Johan Larsson, Evan Rodrigues, Jake McCabe, Linus Ullmark, CJ Smith, and Remi Elie. Last week Jason Botterill had stated that offers would be …
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Andrew MacWilliam Returns on One-Year AHL Contract
The Big Mac is back for another season in Rochester. Defenseman Andrew MacWilliam has re-signed with the Rochester Americans to return for his third season on the Amerks blue line. MacWilliam has been a big part of the defensive zone with his physical play and presence along with the often talked about leadership on the …
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