Mike Grier Signs One-Year Deal With Sabres
by David Oleksy on May 17, 2010 6:19 PM EDT
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PrintThe Buffalo Sabres are not remaining quiet this off-season, at least not early on in the process. They re-signed Mike Grier to another one-year contract ensuring that history would not repeat itself. In 2006 Mike Grier was offered a contract by the Sabres but he decided to leave town and eventually signed with the San Jose Sharks.
Grier has obviously decided the Sabres are headed in the right direction because in 2006 he left because he did not feel management was committed to winning. If Mike Grier likes the direction of the team, maybe we should too.
Grier does not bring a whole lot to the team offensively but he brings a commitment to winning and strong work ethic. Grier is great player to fill a third or fourth line role while mentoring some of the Sabres young players like Tyler Ennis, Tim Kennedy and Nathan Gerbe.
This signing is a great sign for the Sabres as they get ready for the 2010-2011 season. Not only do they retain the services of a work-horse veteran player, they are making strides in proving they are committed to putting a winner on the ice. In years past they would have waited until July 1 before making any moves but this season they have acted early and retained Grier.
It will be interesting to see what happens with Tallinder and Lydman now that Grier was signed.
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good start
Now show me more, Darcy. How about on draft day, holding a press conference to tell the sports fans of this long suffering city that you’re continuing to improve this team by announcing the trade of Drew Stafford and whatever prospect or draft choice you feel fit to Chicago for Patrick Sharp. And the trading of Tim Connolly to the St. Louis Blues for David Backes.
Then on July 1st, the signing of Colby Armstrong and Dan Hamhuis.
Why not get Joe Sakic out of retirement to play for the Sabres if you're asking for impossible things
Go Rockies! First and only member of the Manuel Corpas fanclub right here! :/
Everyone's favorite Buffalo Rumblings Anti-Tebow blowhard!
THIS IS BUFFALO NATION GODZILLA HAS AWAKEN - abayarde
by UZ on May 17, 2010 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Anyone think he might be getting at least an ‘A’ this year?
"Ok, its Gudda hoe, all about my Bills like Buffalo."
This is great news. A guy I would have been sad to see leave.
by bluecollarbuffalo on May 17, 2010 8:39 PM EDT reply actions
NO WAY !!!
STOP THE PRESSES … REIGER DOES SOMETHING RIGHT !!!!!!!!!!!
I know Rivet was hurt but Mike deserves the “C” … hands down.
Have you guys seen any of the comments on this on the Buffalo News site … most say it’s a bad thing to resign Grier … just shows them to be fans who don’t have a clue … seems to be a lot of them out there right now.
Silly, don't you know any move made by Darcy is automatically bad
It’s common knowledge.
Jesus wants to be like Ryan Miller when he grows up.
Probably my favorite current Sabre. He rarely does things incorrectly. He makes smart plays very consistantly and is very sound. He’s clutch and provides tremendous leadership. I’m very happy with this re-signing and look foreward to good news like this coming from the front office.
"What wins the majority of the time is blocking, tackling, throwin', catchin' and kickin" - Chan Gailey
by dragonwag0n on May 18, 2010 1:06 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
We didn't just sign 99 in his prime
But a very good first step to next year. Leadership is something this team has lacked and Grier will keep some of that here. Let us not forget that we just signed a fourth line winger and that there is more to do. A happy day for Sabre fans but just a small step in the right direction. Now comes the time for some real moves and we hope there are more to come.
Rookies are like teabags...you don't know what you're gonna get until you put them in hot water. -Harry Neale
Griere’s re-re-upping means that he thinks this team has a reasonable shot at contending. He’s not going to get many more chances at the Cup and would have been a fine addition to a number of teams looking to take the next step. That he chose to stay here sends a strong signal to the league and the pending UFA’s that Buffalo is a good place to play hockey and that management has turned things around.
Rivet + Griere could have a strong influence on former teammates considering signing here in Buffalo… With Backstrom getting signed long-term for under 7 million that might mean that Marleau could be had for similar money, or even a little less. 5 years 33 million, for example.
Rivet and Saku Koivu are good friends, and Koivu would be an excellent addition as the 3rd line center on this team.
Regier has options available to him. Let’s see how things shake out. I will be surprised if he doesn’t make at least 1 big move this off-season. I’m expecting 2.
Ta,
Really? Two big offseason moves? I’m not sure what you define as a “big” move but it sounds like you’re setting yourself up to be let down.
"The horse jumped over the f#@king fence."
- KV
Every so often Regier makes a big move. I think this is the season where it’s logical to make that kind of move. Myers and Ennis are on their ELC’s. Miller is entering his prime. They have a 2 year cap window to take a shot. Management has altered their stances on longer-term contracts. Golisano has opened up the purse strings now that the franchise has a proven track record of profitability. I see no reason1 not to do something now to improve the look and feel of this team.
I define big as a move for a #1 center, trading away one or two pieces of ‘the core’ that are not working. If Regier pulls off a trade for someone like Brad Richards and signs Saku Koivu in UFA, I would consider that 2 big moves. I think he’s also going to target a defenseman to upgrade one of the younglings while letting Hank walk.
Ta,
1 – other than over-the-top fan sarcasm and pessimism.
I agree that trading for Brad Richards and signing Saku Koivu would both be big moves I just think they’re hugely unlikely. Richards has a whopper of a contract (7.8 I think) and Minnesota is likely to resign Koivu if they can. But even beyond those two specific instances I just don’t think Regier is likely to make a big splash this year – even though I agree now would be the time to do it.
Maybe you’re right, and I kind of hope you are, but I’ll be pretty surprised if Regier makes big splashes this offseason and that doesn’t come from a place of sarcasm or pessimism because I think the moves Regier has made in the past have been pretty good – just rarely “big”.
"The horse jumped over the f#@king fence."
- KV
Saku Koivu plays for anaheim.
Mikko Koivu (who’s much less old) plays for Minnesota.
I realize its easy to get them confused.
Not even the Toronto Maple Leafs could kill my optimism
Tyler Ennis: Freed from Portland!
Oh, yeah, that makes sense. I thought Mikko Koivu was signed for another year and he is with Minnesota. I just got them mixed up. Saku Koivu is actually likely to be resigned by Anahiem though as they definitely have the cap space and he’s an A over there. But I don’t know, maybe he’ll want to go to more of a contender.
"The horse jumped over the f#@king fence."
- KV
Why? He went to play in the Heim with Selanne, who’s retiring? I think Koivu will be available at around $3 mill and since Rivet is one of his very best friends, it would make some sense for them to kick those tires.
Ta,
You might be right about this – at least I don’t know enough about it to say otherwise. My only caveat would be that Koivu is 35 and thus if he signed a contract and retired before its conclusion his salary would continue to count against the Sabres cap as per the CBA rules (I think). If he were willing to sign a one or two year contract that would definitely be worth considering.
"The horse jumped over the f#@king fence."
- KV
Richards contract is only for one more year and given the prices that players are getting signed for1, I think it’s reasonable to think that Regier would find an extension for him attractive below a $7 mil cap hit. 5 years, $33-35 million and a little front-loaded is doable.
Dallas needs to get younger and cheaper2 to do a proper rebuild and Richards, if not extended, would be a great way to hasten that process. Roy or Connolly ,Butler, Enroth and a conditional 1st3 for Richards is just not that big of a deal in the end. Moving out Stafford ($1.9) for a pick nearly washes out the increased cap hit.
In
Richards(+7.8)
Out
Roy (-4) / Connolly (-4.5)
Butler (-0.85)
Stafford (-1.9)
Net cap hit = +1.05 / +0.55
Ennis-Richards-Pominville
Kennedy – Roy – Vanek
Hecht – Koivu – Griere
Kaleta – Goose – Kassian
Ta,
1 – Backstrom only got $67 mil over 10 years. He and Richards could be seen as comps.
2 – with Tom Hicks in serious financial trouble and actively trying to sell the team.
3 – kicks in if we sign him to an extension.
I think Backstrom could have gotten more on the open market if he so desired but took a bit of a pay cut to ensure he’ll be playing beside Ovechkin for the next ten years. But more importantly I really don’t see Dallas trading Richards for a second or third line center, a struggling rookie defenseman, and a goalie prospect who hasn’t proven anything yet. To me that sounds more like a trade deadline deal. Beyond that though what you say sounds plausible enough, I just don’t see Darcy making a splash like that. I mean when was the last time Darcy traded for a player making upper level money? I say upper level money because obviously players have only been making 8 or more million a year relatively recently, but even before that I can’t remember Darcy bringing in a player who was already established enough to be making big time money. Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t remember it.
Also, bringing in Richards – even as you’ve laid it out here – and Koivu – again as you’ve presented it – would raise our cap approximately 4 million dollars and we while providing us with one less player. We’d have approximately 8 million left. Take 1.2 away for the likely deal Grier got we’d have about 7 million left. With that 7 million we would have to resign Kennedy, Kaleta, Tallinder and Lydman (probably if Butler is gone), which is doable but would mean we were spending right to the cap. I don’t think that is likely.
Would I like to see this happen? Yeah, I think it’s a gamble but one that could pay off. I’d be willing to give it a try. Do I think it’s going to happen? No.
"The horse jumped over the f#@king fence."
- KV
It’s doable. Richards would strain our cap situation along with Koivu. Malhotra could be had for a lot less, I’m thinking $6.3 over 3 years.
You aren’t resigning both Lydman and Tallinder. One of them at around $3 mil cap hit. Weber up from Portand at $0.65. Kennedy gets a QO, Kaleta gets a small raise to 600k. Kassian or a cheap 4th liner like McCormick at around $800 for Kass and $550 for McCormick.
Ennis (0.875) – Richards (7.8) – Poms (5.3)
Kennedy (0.55) – Roy (4) -Vanek (7.14)
Hecht (3.525) – Malhotra (2.1) – Griere (1.4)
Kaleta (0.6) – Goose (2.1) – Kassian (0.85)
Sekera (1.0) – Myers (1.3)
Lydman (3) – Monty (1.55)
Weber (0.65) – Rivet (3.5)
Miller (6.5)
Backup (0.8)
Without extras, that lineup costs 54.5 million. Add Gragnani (0.55) and Gerbe (0.85). That puts us at 56mill on a cap of around 57. That’s fine. It leaves room for callups and banks plenty of salary for the deadline.
Replace Gerbe with someone cheaper, McCormick at 0.55 and add Koivu at 3.0 that puts you at 56.6 mil. A little too close for my liking. It would mean Kassian staying in Juniors and filling his spot with someone slightly cheaper.
Ta,
I think you’re underestimating what some of these players are going to earn next year. Kaleta is going to make more than 600K. Kennedy is going to make more than league minimum. If we give Weber a full time spot we really don’t have a 7th defender – I’m not comfortable with McNabb, Brennan, or Schiestel seeing significant time (a real possibility in this scenario considering Rivet is likely to miss the beginning of the season). Signing a backup G at less than a million means in all likelihood a downgrade from Lalime – another prospect I’m not thrilled about.
This scenario isn’t impossible – I just think it’s very very very unlikely.
"The horse jumped over the f#@king fence."
- KV
I’m not disagreeing with you. Just pointing out that it’s possible and given the window of opportunity with Myers still on his ELC we have more cap space than we normally would, where Pominville’s contract would be eating us alive.
I think just adding Koivu, Cullen or Malhotra would work magic on this lineup. Add a guy like Konopka to add more jam to the 4th line along with center-depth and faceoff prowess. If those are their moves up front and they juggle their centers at the deadline, I’m okay with that. This would give them more room to improve the blueline, going after an upgrade over one of the younger guys.
See my post below about how much room we actually have once you commit to moving a couple of players.
Ta,
I agree that now (or maybe next year) is our window of opportunity with Myers, Miller in his prime, etc. I’d like to take a shot and spend to the cap.
I also agree that Pominville’s contract is going to kill us. I hate it. I was looking today at Ryan Kessler’s contract that he just signed for 5 million a year. These guys have similar numbers except that Kessler has been trending up while Pominville has trended even or down. Kessler’s bigger, a Selke nominee, finishes his checks and is basically better than Pominville in every category except scoring (where they’re approximately even). And Kessler is now going to be making 300K less than Pominville. Drives me crazy.
I’ll never understand why people seem to hate Roy so much when Pominville generally puts up worse stats and makes 1.3 million more per year.
"The horse jumped over the f#@king fence."
- KV
Richards can’t play three positions at once. Even if the Sabres brought in league minimum players to replace Butler and Stafford the net cap hit would be 2.10 / 1.6 as the league minimum next year will be .525.
"The horse jumped over the f#@king fence."
- KV
Ruff doesn’t like more than a 22 man roster, ideally. He hates having young players sitting idly not playing. He’d rather them in Portland and call them up as needed. So, I expect a 22 man roster maximum, 21 if Richards is brought in to bank cap space for injury and wiggle room at the deadline.
Ta,
My point had nothing to do with roster size – except that you need at least 12 forwards and 6 defensemen. If you trade two roster players for Richards and drop a third player you have to fill those two roster spots. So when you said:
In
Richards(+7.8)
Out
Roy (-4) / Connolly (-4.5)
Butler (-0.85)
Stafford (-1.9)
Net cap hit = +1.05 / +0.55
What you should have said was:
In
Richards (7.8)
Forward (.525 league minimum or .8 rookie)
Defenseman (+.525 league minimum or .875 rookie)
Out
Roy (-4) or Connolly (-4.5)
Butler (-0.85)
Stafford (-1.9)
Net cap hit = between +2.675 and +1.60
There might be a little wiggle room there since Butler didn’t spend the whole season with the Sabres – but Stafford had a roster spot all year and would need to be replaced. Trading Stafford doesn’t remove 1.9 million from the salary cap it removes 1.9 million minus his replacement’s cap hit which makes it closer to 1 million, not 2. I realize it might sound petty but a million here and a million there really adds up.
"The horse jumped over the f#@king fence."
- KV
Griere’s re-re-upping means that he thinks this team has a reasonable shot at contending.
I agree with this. No offense to anyone, but i trust Grier a little more than random people on the internet in terms of what the Sabres’ chances are. :)
Not even the Toronto Maple Leafs could kill my optimism
Tyler Ennis: Freed from Portland!
Mike Grier
I’m glad they finally re signed someone with heart. I guess they had to raise ticket prices to pay for it, huh?
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