According to TSN, the Buffalo Sabres have re-signed Henrik Tallinder, one of the key defensemen from their march to the Eastern Conference Final.It is a multi-year deal. Other terms of the deal have not been made public.
Tallinder played in all 82 games for the Sabres during the 2005-06 season, registering 21 points (6 goals and 15 assists). He was a league high plus-14 in the playoffs.
This signing brings the number of Sabres going to arbitration down to 9. The team had a league high, 12 players file for arbitration. GM Darcy Regier has also managed to sign Brian Campbell and Andrew Peters before going to Arbitration, while co-captain Daniel Briere had his hearing yesterday. The outcome of Briere's hearing should be known by tomorrow (Saturday).
NHL Jeff's Take: With so many Sabres being in the final year of their contracts in 05-06, it was common knowledge that it would be tough for Regier to keep his Eastern Conference Finalist team together. I don't think he expected to have as many as 12 players file for arbitration, but the 3 he has managed to remove from that list are a great start. Tallinder was a crucial part of the Buffalo defense which was made evident when he (among other defensemen) was out of the lineup when the Sabres Stanley Cup run came to an end. Sabres fans just have to hope now that Regier will be able to keep as many of the players going to arbitration as possible. Getting Goaltender Martin Biron and his $2 million salary traded (maybe to the Wings or Blues, although I am not sure the Blues have much to offer) would definitely help the cause. Regier may worry about trading Biron before he has restricted free-agent goaltender Ryan Miller signed, but it may be his only choice if he hopes to keep the team's number one offensive threat in Briere.
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