Buffalo Contract Offers 2012

[SabresGM]

C Paul Gaustad
L Kristian Huselius
L Philippe Gogulla
D Rhett Warrener
D Mike Weber
D Steve Montador
D Tyler Myers
C Jochen Hecht
G Jhonas Enroth

[Virtual Jarmo]

Gaustad: Arbitration
Huselius: Arbitration
Gogulla: 1.85M (1.8 base + 350k def spec - 300k SH, PL, ST)
Warrener: Arbitration
Weber: 2.675M (2.625 base + 350k def spec - 300k SH, PL, PE)
Montador: Arbitration
Hecht: Arbitration
Enroth: Arbitration

Myers' contract is pending Committee review of policy.

[Virtual Jarmo]

Myers: 3,312,500 (3.0625 base + 350k def spec + 200k SK, - 300k SH, PL, PE)

[Virtual Jarmo]

Formula contracts offered.

Default farm contracts offered.

[Virtual Jarmo]

Mike Weber has signed a $2,750,000 per year, 4 year deal with the Buffalo Sabres. Detailed terms of the deal were not announced. (to be adjusted to 2.675M)

Adam Mair has signed a $900,000 per year, 3 year deal with the Buffalo Sabres. Detailed terms of the deal were not announced.

Ryan Craig has signed a $1,200,000 per year, 3 year deal with the Buffalo Sabres. Detailed terms of the deal were not announced.

Tyler Myers has signed a $3,250,000 per year, 4 year deal with the Buffalo Sabres. Detailed terms of the deal were not announced. (to be adjusted to 3.3125M)

Tim Kennedy has signed a $1,200,000 per year, 2 year deal with the Buffalo Sabres. Detailed terms of the deal were not announced.

Luke Adam has signed a $440,000 per year, 3 year deal with the Buffalo Sabres. Detailed terms of the deal were not announced.

Andrew Orpik has signed a $410,000 per year, 4 year deal with the Buffalo Sabres. Detailed terms of the deal were not announced.

[Virtual Jarmo]

Awards have been determined in the Rhett Warrener, Steve Montador, Kristian Huselius, Paul Gaustad, Jochen Hecht, and Jhonas Enroth arbitrations. (per the Rulebook, you can only sign two of Montador/Huselius/Hecht/Warrener, so keep that in mind)

Warrener
Terms: 1 yr
GM proposal: 1.4M; comps: Montador
Agent proposal: 1M; comps: Erskine, Semenov, Sarich, McLaren

Warrener's representatives would have taken the 1.4M offer and ran.

I award Warrener $1,400,000 for the 2012-13 season.

Montador
Terms: 1 yr
GM proposal: 1.5M; comps: Warrener
Agent proposal: 1.1M; comps: Foster, Koistinen

Montador's representatives would have taken the 1.5M offer and ran.

I award Montador $1,500,000 for the 2012-13 season.

Huselius
Terms: 1 yr
GM proposal: 3M; comps: None listed
Agent proposal: 3.45M; comps: Samsonov, Whitney, Umberger, Williams

Both parties understand that Huselius was vastly overpaid and was also injured for a portion of the season. The agents have expressed a willingness to accept a lower salary in hopes of a bounce back season. Much like Ryan Smyth got a 1.5M decrease, the same seems fair for Huselius in this case. Huselius's low CON makes him a difficult player to keep at such a high salary, although he has offensive talent and a serviceable DF.

I award Huselius $3,275,000 for the 2012-13 season.

Gaustad
Terms: 1 yr
GM proposal: 1.9M; comps: None listed
Agent proposal: 2.85M; comps: Armstrong, Bernier

It's impossible to think about a decrease in salary for Gaustad. With 70 CON, 89 HI, and a good enough FA to get by as a third line center, Gaustad has a big role on any team. He may be limited offensively, but that's not at all what he's expected to do.

With no comps listed and a decrease suggested, it's really hard to give any benefit of the doubt to the GM.

I award Gaustad $2,500,000 for the 2012-13 season.

Hecht
Terms: 1 yr
GM proposal: 2.45M; comps: None listed
Agent proposal: 2.75M; comps: Zubrus, Antropov, Cullen

Hecht isn't a bad player, he just doesn't do anything particularly well and has an average CON. You could certainly do worse than a player like him, but he is hard to find a spot in the lineup for with no offensive skills that stick out and very average defensive skills for any bottom six spot. He does have decent leadership, which is probably enough to keep him around in a limited capacity.

Managing just 27 points last year and not really filling a hole in the bottom six makes it difficult to rule on this case. Frankly, it's hard to see Hecht even being signed in free agency. But, there's a case to be ruled on here and I'm inclined to rule in the middle as the agent at least made a case while the GM went below the allowable 30% decrease.

I award Jochen Hecht $2,625,000, a decrease of 900k, for the 2012-13 season.

Enroth
Terms: 2 yrs
GM proposal: 2.5M per; comps: Pickard
Agent proposal: 2.2M per; comps: Gustavsson, Irving, Pavelec

Enroth is a borderline starting goaltender where we could have made a real case out of a decent-sized range. Instead, the GM offered more than the agent was anticipating, so Enroth will be at the GM's proposed salary.

I award Jhonas Enroth $2,500,000 for the next two seasons.


Greg, you can accept/reject these awards. Keep in mind, you can only accept two of Montador/Warrener/Hecht/Huselius, if you accept any of them.

[SabresGM]

Buffalo would like to accept the awards to Enroth and Huselius, and release the rest to free agency per the league rules.

[SabresGM]

Prospect contract offers:

14. Radek Faska: 2,000,000
74. Steven Hodges: 900,000
104. Francois Tremblay: 800,000
134. Jimmy Vesey: 600,000
164. Ilya Yamkin: 600,000
194. Ahti Oksanen: 600,000

[Virtual Jarmo]

Huselius, Enroth entered.