Sabres Improve In Waiver Draft

Despite frequently receiving criticism from many fronts, the waiver draft proved to be a welcome helping hand to Buffalo. While Vesa Toskala was never claimed, three players became Sabres with only one leaving; Eric Fehr was taken by San Jose in the first round, but they were happy to take advantage of the preceding teams' disdain for goaltenders by snapping up Pascal Leclaire from Nashville. Buffalo was also able to strengthen their defensive line with a pair of blueliners - first, offensive defenseman Johan Fransson from Florida, then hard-hitting enforcer Branislav Mezei from Toronto. Despite missing out on Patrick O'Sullivan, who was confusingly unprotected by the Edmonton Oilers in favour of Tom Kostopolous, the process has been a success this year. Mezei is likely to fit in alongside Trevor Daley or Denis Gauthier on the third defensive pairing, whereas Fransson is expected to join Rochester in the AHL.