Another Piece Of Last Year's Puzzle Leaves

This time, it's Pierre-Marc Bouchard. After a season-low 32 points in the full 82 games, the overriding opinion was that Bouchard was no longer worth the excessive salary he was being paid and so was actively being shipped around for potential buyers. There was interest on some fronts, but none seen to be better by the package paid by San Jose, who were allegedly most interested in Bouchard because he clicked with Calder Trophy winner Anatoli Ovsianikov and that made Cory Whitteaker wet himself - that's quoted verbatim from the trade confirmation, for your information, we did not make that up in any shape or form. The main attraction for the Sabres was slashing Bouchard's $3.5 million salary from the already over-the-cap salary budget, although the actual reduction was lessened by the $1.2 million in salary coming the other way. At the end of the season, Bouchard was seen as the third choice centre behind Mike Cammalleri and Jay McClement, and was effectively surplus to requirements.

In addition to the cap cut, the Sabres picked up two prospects and a penalty killer. Defenseman Valdis Rostoks was a second-round pick in the 2010 draft who was then noted for his defensive abilities and has developed well with the AHL's Cleveland Barons, and could easily team with Leon Fooland to provide a true top-quality pairing. Left winger Brian Barnes was another 2010 pick who has so far yet to play in the ITC, spending the past two seasons with Sault St. Marie of the OHL who projects as being a fantastic offensive talent, if a little lacking in his own end. Jordan Foote, the last part of the deal, has spent time with both San Jose and Detroit and has made his name as a hard-checking defensive forward most at home killing penalties. To go along with this, the Sabres have made an offer to the New York Rangers’ restricted free agent Martin Legault – if he accepts and the Rangers decline to match it, he’s expected to slot in the open third-line centre spot.

Along with these further changes, the annual training camp begins soon. Seven of the 2010 draftees will be attending, including nineteen-year-old goaltender Ed McCarty, as well as Charlie Harrah and Oleg Konovalov, the two 2009 draftees who spent time with the pro team last season.