The Buffalo Sabres signed free agent defenseman Steve Montador. The 6-foot, 210 lb. blue-liner agreed to a 2-year deal to play in Buffalo. Montador scored 4 goals and registered 21 points to go with 143 penalty minutes with the Bruins and Ducks last season.
TSN.ca reports that the deal is worth a total of $3.1 million. Montador would make $1.55 million a season.
The Montreal Canadiens have signed D Jaroslav Spacek. The 35-year old will make $11.5 million with a 3-year contract from the Habs. The Sabres made a one-year offer to Jaroslav Spacek before free agency began which he declined.
The defensemen on the roster:
Steve Montador
Andrej Sekera (RFA-tendered an offer)
Craig Rivet
Henrik Tallinder
Toni Lydman
Chris Butler
Nathan Paetsch
More details to come. Stay tuned to WGR 550 for the latest.
That took you guys way too long to get that on your website
07/01/2009 3:30PM
More
We need to make bigger signings than that.
07/01/2009 3:31PM
mckee
fine signing but Jay Mckee anyone??
07/01/2009 3:31PM
more?
like what? overspending for hossa until hes 42 years old? or paying 60 million to two guys for 5 years...no thanks. they addressed a need. montador is a nice addition to the D....
go make your "big" moves on yoru fantasy sabres season on NHL 09
07/01/2009 3:33PM
jay mckee??
you serious? hes broken down...no room for him on the roster.
you're probably they same guy that still wants ted nolan coaching the sabres...
what is with sabre fans wanting re-tread players?
07/01/2009 3:34PM
good pickup
I like the pickup. Hoping they pick up somebody else though. Maybe not today, but eventually.
07/01/2009 3:42PM
Good signing
He's a veteran, is physical, and is a steal. Typical Darcy pick up...good value.
07/01/2009 3:46PM
Underrated Sign
Montador has played with many defensive sound teams like Anaheim, NJ, and Boston last year. Hes tough and smart player, underrated at D. Good pick up
07/01/2009 3:46PM
Overspending on Hossa???
Pommer at 5.3M/year
or
Hossa at 5.2M/year
and you say over spending on Hossa.
07/01/2009 3:47PM
Moritz
Good pick up. Veteran, tough, and a good /-
Myers is going to add to the D...we should be OK. Need a tough forward now!!! Gerbe has to at least have a chance, but needs an enforcer type winger
07/01/2009 3:50PM
I am ok with it.
Better than a sharp stick in the eye.
07/01/2009 4:05PM
Panic Pickup!
Spacek gone! Darcy needs a body to try and sell these ballerina's!
07/01/2009 4:08PM
Darcy at it again
When was te last time a Darcy free agent worked out! HMMM...Never!
07/01/2009 4:11PM
fan
Spacek for Montador? I think we went down a little.
07/01/2009 4:12PM
Another Darcy Gem
Was Darcy not willing to give Spacek the money that Montreal did? Another off-season where this team gets worse.
07/01/2009 4:13PM
Top ten Darcy quotes!
10."Even thought we haven't made the playoffs I really like our core"
07/01/2009 4:13PM
teppo
it was teppo for Montador
07/01/2009 4:18PM
Top ten Darcy quotes
9."Even though Connolly gets hurt a lot, we love the way he Zamboni'e the ice when he gets knocked out of the game"
07/01/2009 4:19PM
Trades are Coming
Not a bad signing, but not a great one either. Here's hoping that Darcy starts trading and gets some forwards that can dig the puck out of the corners.
07/01/2009 4:20PM
3.83 million per
Sorry don't mind us not paying 3.83 million for 3 years. If Spacek decides to retire even after this season we would have had to pay him the rest of the contract. Thanks but no thanks
07/01/2009 4:21PM
Awesome
Back to ZERO defensemen who can run a power-play.
07/01/2009 4:23PM
Dont Forget
ZERO forwards who can run the PP too. (Kotalik gone)
07/01/2009 4:23PM
Top ten Darcy quotes
8."we were in the playoffs until the last couple games"
07/01/2009 4:24PM
Poll
Anyone think Tallinder will be on the sabres roster when the season starts? I vote no.
07/01/2009 4:25PM
top 10 darcy quotes
8. "Buffalo is committed to bringing in a group of B and C rate players to compete for the 10th spot in the eastern conference playoff race. we will remain in the hunt until the last week of the season, so that we will sell out 99% of our seats each year."
07/01/2009 4:27PM
Top ten Darcy quotes
7."Roy and Pomnville are gong to come out of the slumps they have been in the last 2 years, and when they do look out for the speedy midgets"
07/01/2009 4:29PM
Top ten Darcy quotes
6."Did I tell you have much I like our core?"
07/01/2009 4:31PM
Tallinder
I sure hope he is is not. Lydman too.
07/01/2009 4:33PM
monty
a good signing he could be tough and he is only 29 years old spacek 35 years old.
07/01/2009 4:34PM
Top ten Darcy quotes
5."Kalinin is a top defensman in the NHL, any team would kill to have him"
07/01/2009 4:37PM
Teddy
Ted Nolan should be coaching this team--maybe they wouldn't be such a bunch of Sallies
07/01/2009 4:37PM
Top ten Darcy quotes
4."We are not going to make a trade for the sake of making a trade even though we haven't made the playoffs in years"
07/01/2009 4:38PM
Power Play
So who QBs the PP??
07/01/2009 4:39PM
Bob Corkum
Any chance of bringing him back?
07/01/2009 4:39PM
Top ten Darcy quotes
3."Pomnville is one of the best 2 way forwards in the league"
07/01/2009 4:40PM
Top ten Darcy quotes
3."Pomnville is one of the best 2 way forwards in the league"
07/01/2009 4:42PM
Next To Work On
Komisarek!!!
07/01/2009 4:42PM
Top ten Darcy quotes
2."I would take Roy and Pomnville over Briere and Drury and day of the week"
07/01/2009 4:45PM
Re: Next To Work On
Don't hold your breath for that one.
07/01/2009 4:45PM
Oh Well!
Monty is nice -- BUT --- he does not put them in the net --and he does not keep them out! Miller is soft -- our D is soft and we need to score more goals -- Did this really address a need or fill a hole? You are correct sir -- just filled a hole!
07/01/2009 4:48PM
if darcy cared
after 2 year's of not making the playoffs with this "core", isn't it time to consider that its not going to work and trading them all for prospects is the only way to get back to the playoffs? Take a look at nhl.com and check out all the big moves teams AHEAD of the sabres are making. How exactly is a team that can't make the playoffs, has no leadership, and no toughness, and no tact going to compete with teams better than them, getting better?
07/01/2009 4:52PM
Top ten Darcy quotes
1."I have been scouting the Disney on ice skaters and woud like to announce we have signed Vern Troyer to Quarterback our PP with Derek Roy and Jason Pomnville! We hope teams will fall over laughing when playing us, which will give us a opportunity to put up some goals!"
07/01/2009 5:02PM
Good riddance
Hopefully Spacek can take some more ill-advised slap shots from the point on the powerplay that get blocked by the guy directly in front of him just like he did for us in the clutch this season. We definitely could use some breakaways or even some penalty shots. Real smart player, one you can definitely win with. Right.
07/01/2009 5:06PM
Montador
Is that it! We just went to below average, unless someting else is up. Ah crap, Lapiererre went to the Flyers. Missed the boat on that one!
07/01/2009 5:11PM
bring in gionta.....
Just do it and make some of us happy.
07/01/2009 5:14PM
On The Radar in Blue and Gold
Camalleri and Komiserek. Bye Hecht and Tallinder! (Soon)
07/01/2009 5:30PM
same old sh!t
i dont think a single team in the league would want hecht or tallinder. i bet they wont go anywhere
07/01/2009 5:46PM
We Know Officially
We won't be ahead of Montreal or Boston in the standings. Scratch Camalerri. He's in Montreal!
07/01/2009 5:51PM
Wooo
Let's sign McKee and Miro back, he's won a cup now, so he's got to be better! lol
07/01/2009 5:56PM
Speaking of disney on ice
Jay McKee does magic tricks...
07/01/2009 5:57PM
free agent signings
Spacek just made over 3.5 mil a year. he was a free agent signing that worked!
07/01/2009 5:58PM
free agent signings part 2
what about drury he was a free agent signing I think he was worth it hearing all of sabres fans still whining about losing him!
07/01/2009 6:07PM
problem not with regier or ruff
The problem is not with regier or ruff, the problem is higher in the organization, can we say larry quinn
07/01/2009 6:09PM
Regier MUST GO!!!!!!!!
How pathetic can a front office be??!!! How it hurts to be a Sabre fan!! The deep pain!!!!
07/01/2009 6:10PM
overspending on hossa..
yes his deal is similar to pommer...but the difference is you wont be paying that money to pommer when he's 42, like the hawks will
07/01/2009 6:12PM
Quinn must go
A gm is as pathetic as a vp(larry Quinn) handcuffs them. Quinn was in the organization the last time we stopped getting talent here, and firing gm's and coaches, that were doing good.
07/01/2009 6:14PM
Bottom Line
We are really gonna suck this coming season! Will it get worse?
07/01/2009 6:16PM
overspending on hossa
blackhawks overspent on hossa, why i say this is because yes hossa can score but there is not a defensive bone in his body, pommer, will continue to grow in the nhl, hossa is set in his ways. They are the same type of scorer, but pommer gives you defense.
07/01/2009 6:19PM
powerplay QB
Reggie can QB the PP, and no, that isn't sarcasm. (Bob Z)
07/01/2009 6:22PM
Re: Bottom Line
this is sad seeing what some have written here it can't get worse lets see,...we're weak at defense (even though out new signing gives us toughness) Our goaltender that everyone said we had to sign is weak, and our offense is lacking. Our pp is terrible, and now has no qb. So hearing all this, the Sabres can only get better.
07/01/2009 6:24PM
CHEAP SKATE
this is the real meaning of the term " cheap skate"
07/01/2009 6:26PM
They Seem Happy
Listening to Shoppe and the Bulldog, they seem happy with what Regier is doing. Bull! What a bunch of kiss asses.
07/01/2009 6:34PM
OJ
Check out SI's top 25 free agent busts since 1997- The Sabres have five on the list who left for more money - Campbell, Drury, Briere, McKee and Audette - interesting list
07/01/2009 6:59PM
Just Read Some Of The Fan Forum
Now I understand what Walmart means or what the term Walley World is. Great job guys. What a dissapointment this is on our Sabres. Regier must be fired.
07/01/2009 7:01PM
RE: They seem Happy
Schopp and Bulldog want to make sure they stay on Darcy's good side! I heard when they interview Darcy, Bulldog rubs Darcy's back while Schopp gives Darcy Fellatio!
07/01/2009 7:06PM
Re: Just Read Some of The Fan Forum
I Agree! Can I get a refund on my seasons committment? I'm a sucker. Now what?
07/01/2009 7:13PM
The Grading Day One UFA Sabres.
F-
07/01/2009 7:20PM
REFUND
Can we get a refund on the past 2 seasons!
07/01/2009 7:22PM
Grading Schopp and the Bulldog
F-(Thats being nice)We need to them off the air!
07/01/2009 7:29PM
Sabres
How many people stopped watching the Sabres last year and will not watch them this year?
07/01/2009 7:31PM
1 less fan
Until this Sabres Administration is gone I will not watch the Sabres!
07/01/2009 7:32PM
I am done
Refusal to admit mistakes!!!!!!!!!!!!!Darcy,wake up your team sucks!!
07/01/2009 7:33PM
Remembering A John Muckler Press Conference Way Back
Let's talk baseball!
07/01/2009 7:36PM
Re: 1 less fan
Make that 2!
07/01/2009 7:37PM
the fans sabres dont wan't
the fans that talk about not watching the sabres because why, they didn't get the player you wanted! A five year old acts like that, and are the fans the sabres don't really care about. you are what we call bandwagon fans, you come and go like the wind! The Sabres don't need fans like that they need die hards. My goodness grow up from kindergarten!!!!!
The salry cap is a reality, it stayed the same, and may go down next year, A lot of freeagents next year, because teams won't be able to afford the players, a.k.a the blackhawks
07/01/2009 7:39PM
won't keep Sabres in Buffalo
You think not going or not watching will really force the Sabres into making moves? It will force them to either disband, or move out of Buffalo. You won't get the Sabres to spend more money by getting them to lose money!
07/01/2009 7:46PM
Simple "won't keep"
Right up Balasie's alley.
07/01/2009 8:14PM
Let's Stay Positive.
Beauchemin.
07/01/2009 8:16PM
Re:The Fans Sabres don't want
It is not there refusal to get free agents. its there refusal to admit this team is garbage! Give me a losing team that gives "Effort" every game over an over paid no pride players that win. If you think this team will win, just give me your money and I'll urinate on it for you!
07/01/2009 8:23PM
If they want to leave, BYE!
If the Sabres want to leave Buffalo let them! Why should we be honored to have a Hockey team? I thought it was everyone dream to play pro sports!!
07/01/2009 10:53PM
injuries
Not that any one is overpaid, and don't care it is a fact that the sabres have the worst luck as it comes to injuries. Defense was decimated and so were the forwards. and if we remember gomez took out our goaltender. remember rivet had been an iron man till he got here coincidence? if we stay healthy we win!!!!!injuries are not regiers fault.
07/01/2009 11:46PM
guys
are we really pissed with the lack of free agent signings? I know I'm not; free agents are for filling in holes. The sabres have a huuge problem. Their team is complete and utter crap. Aside from miller and vanek, they don't have a good nucleus, yet reiger is sinking the ship counting on guys like hecht, pominville, roy, and former amerks to step up and lead the team to the stanley cup. Well guess what, we aren't this 'young' team anymore. We are going to be what we are now: a weak, injury-filled, heartless, streaky bunch of forwards and a swiss cheese defense that ryan miller makes look semi-decent when they really are not even close to nhl-level. and as bad as our d was last year, we lost one of our better players and replaced him with a 3rd pairing type of player. I'm not going to sit here and say im not going to watch the games; im sure i will; and im sure i will end up going to a few like i always do, but they are really testing the fanbase's loyalty here. Don't forget, 3 years removed from the stanley cup finals, 9000 people were going to games per night. how long do you think the city of buffalo is going to keep paying their hard earned paychecks toward a team that went from the best team in the league to a perennial mediocre team? darcy, do you really think that the "you better support us or we will move" BS and the "this is as good as a small market team can do" lines will sell out the arena much longer? Get a winner back in buffalo. You made your mistakes; admit them and do what you got to do: clean house. NOW!
07/01/2009 11:55PM
definitely time to clean house
It needs to be done.
07/02/2009 2:55AM
RE: More
Ahh chill out there buddy. dont play fanatasy hockey, thats for fags like u. when i say "more", i mean we need to sign MORE than him. if thats all we pick up and ur happy, then u dont know the state the sabres are in.
07/02/2009 6:37AM
Nice pickup, but....
Will add some things the Sabres need, maybe he can shake up those guys who "don't come to ready to play." However, this is a defense who just lost their only point getter. Expecting Butler to pick that up better work out better than Sekera. Like both the youngsters, but maybe more pressure than they need.
07/02/2009 7:37AM
Grading Schopp and the Bulldog
B-. YOu just need to remember that they have no greater ability or talent than the average guy watching a game in a bar.
07/02/2009 7:43AM
Bring Nolan Back
Lindy has had a great run but the team plays like a bunch of scared middleschoolers. Bring back Teddy, Boughner as an assistant. You see, Teddy is not afraid to call a spade a spade and for that, he is blackballed by the likes of Quinn.
07/02/2009 10:07AM
PP
They really need to address their PP. Hopefully they can land Schnieder for a year until Sykera is ready. After FA calms down, they should trade the heartless but talented forwards for some heart and soul guys. Thats just my take (-Kevin)
07/02/2009 10:45AM
I see whats going on here...
Has anyone noticed that the Sabres are reducing they're cap number every year now. Between Max, Teppo,Peters,Moore,Spacek,and Ellis not being resigned is in the area of 10 million dollars shed off payroll.Not to mention the 1.5 million less from late last year with the Moore, Kotalik swaps. So we have shed 11.5 million in salary since the trade deadline and added 1.55. Now I know that a couple of our restricted are going to get hikes and our draft picks also need to be signed. Not to mention that we operated 7 million under the cap last year. So for all you morons out there who stand by the inactions of this management and are probably the same ones who buy season tickets. Seriously though, if your team is making 5-10 million profit because you sell almost every game out no matter what product that you put out there, what would you do?
07/02/2009 2:58PM
seriously?
regier is the most horrible gm ever. he gives up spacek for a player ive never even heard of. why couldnt he have given spacek that deal? he is so cheap, our power play sucks now. is he just trying to make the team worse than they are now?
07/02/2009 3:53PM
Just get one.
Well, he had a nice /- last year anyway. Good "type" of player I guess.
However, the Sabres need a veteran forward; preferably one that...you know...works hard.
There's plenty of guys out there now that can help them, and they're not super expensive:
Todd Marchant
Chad LaRose (my preference)
Travis Moen.
I'd even settle for one or more of the following:
Peter Schafer
Blair Bettes
Brad May
Brendan Morrison
Mikael Samuelsson
There's no excuses here. They're not going to be expensive (except may Samuelsson), and they're all experiences forwards (some with Cup experience).
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