Matt Ellis and the rest of the Sabres Free Agents

by David Oleksy on May 17, 2009 11:16 PM EDT

Somehow I forgot to add Matt Ellis to the original list of Free Agents. I'll add him to this summary of all the Sabres impending free agents.

Patrick Kaleta (RFA) - Read Post
Clarke MacArthur (RFA) - Read Post
Andrej Sekera (RFA) - Read Post
Drew Stafford (RFA) - Read Post
Max Afinogenov (UFA) - Read Post
Dominic Moore (UFA) - Read Post
Andrew Peters (UFA) - Read Post
Jaro Spacek (UFA) - Read Post
Mikael Tellqvist (UFA) - signed with Ak-Bars Kazan in KHL.

Restricted Free Agents

Patrick Kaleta - 2008-2009 salary: $ 491,667

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2008 - Patrick Kaleta	51	4	5	9	1	89	0	0	0	0	35	11.4

Kaleta is going to be relatively cheap for the Sabres to re-sign. Kaleta fills a definite role in the NHL and is too valuable to let go. He is the type of player that you either love him or hate him, but he is effective at what he does.

Clarke MacArthur - 2008-2009 salary: $522,500

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2008 - Clarke MacArthur	71	17	14	31	-4	56	5	0	0	2	108	15.7

There is definitely some concern that MacArthur could draw some interest on the open market. The Sabres would be able to match if he signs an offer-sheet with another club but they may not have the money to match an offer. C-Mac is a guy to keep your on as free agency approaches. There are plenty of teams that are interested in a young guy that scored 17 goals.

Andrej Sekera - 2008-2009 salary: $675,000

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2008 - Andrej Sekera	69	3	16	19	-11	22	1	0	1	0	84	3.6

Sekera is likely to get a raise from the Buffalo Sabres next season. His lack of confidence at the end of the season probably cost him a big payday and an opportunity to sign an offer-sheet. He will likely be re-signed to a two or three year deal for just over a million per season.

Drew Stafford - 2008-2009 salary: $984,200

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2008 - Drew Stafford	79	20	25	45	3	29	9	0	0	2	183	10.9

The Sabres will try to do everything they can to re-sign Stafford but just like MacArthur, finances could get in the way. The Sabres are well aware that they have a valuable commodity wit Stafford and will likely trade him away before July 1 if they don't feel they can sign him.

Unrestricted Free Agents

Max Afinogenov - 2008-2009 salary: $3.33 million

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2008 - Maxim Afinogenov	48	6	14	20	-7	20	0	0	0	0	93	6.5

Max is long gone. No need to say anymore.

Dominic Moore - 2008-2009 salary: $900,000

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2008 - Dominic Moore	81	13	32	45	-2	92	4	1	1	0	165	7.9

The Sabres won't re-sign Moore. He wasn't the player the Sabres had hoped he would be after they acquired him from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline. At his current price tag of $900K he would be a great player to have around but he is going to get much more than that next season.

Andrew Peters - 2008-2009 salary: $525,000

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2008 - Andrew Peters	28	0	1	1	-2	81	0	0	0	0	10	0.0

You know all my feelings on Andrew Peters. I think he will be re-signed but I'm not really sure why.

Jaroslav Spacek - 2008-2009 salary: $3.33 million

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2008 - Jaroslav Spacek	80	8	37	45	2	38	4	0	0	0	130	6.2

Spacek is going to get way too much money for the Sabres to re-sign him. I wouldn't quite rule it out at this point but would consider it unlikely. Spacek was probably the best D-Man on the team this year but someone else will have to fill his skates next season.

Matt Ellis - 2008-2009 salary: $475,000

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2008 - Matt Ellis	45	7	5	12	4	12	0	0	2	0	73	9.6

Matt Ellis did everything he was asked to do this season. The Sabres will try to re-sign him if the price tag is right. I think Ellis future is entirely up to Ellis. The Sabres will try to re-sign him but Ellis may want to go play elsewhere.

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