Sabres preview NHL Draft

The NHL Draft is coming up this Friday.  NHL free agency begins on July 1st.  The quiet offseason for the Buffalo Sabres will get busier starting this week.

General Manager Darcy Regier discussed both issues during a media briefing on Monday afternoon. Regier touched on a variety of issues.  He talked about the team needed more accountability in the dressing room, more toughness and some of his plans for free agency.

Regier said the team has made an offer to unrestricted free agent defenseman Jaroslav Spacek.  Regier believes that Spacek may wait until July 1st to test the market.  Other Sabres unrestricted free agents include Max Afinogenov, Teppo Numminen, Andrew Peters, Domonic Moore and Matt Ellis.  Regier did not comment on their status.

Restricted free agents include Drew Stafford, Clarke MacArthur, Pat Kaleta and Andrej Sekera.

Regier was asked if the Sabres have enough on their team now to contend for a playoff spot. something they have failed to do the last two years.

"You throw Tim Connolly in there for a full season.  You look at Ryan Miller's game over the course of last season.  We've got a group of guys that are maturing, and maturation is a big thing.  We're no longer a young team, we're certainly not an old team.  We're a team that still has a lot of upside."

Regier said the unrestricted market will be slow this year, because many of the league's good players have been tied up with long term contracts.  Although he did say some team may be looking to unload those players, especially with the salary cap expected to stay where it was last year. 

Regier twice mentioned Tim Kennedy, the South Buffalo native and AHL's rookie scoring leader.  He could see a role for Kennedy, especially at center.  Regier also was asked about last year's top pick, defenseman Tyler Myers.  Regier says he will get a chance to make the Sabres after an outstanding season in junior hockey.  Myers would have to either make the Buffalo roster or stay in junior hockey. He is not eligible for the AHL.

The Sabres have the 13th pick in the first round, which will be held Friday in Montreal.  The remainder of the draft picks will come Saturday.