Sabres Sign Thibault, Re-Sign Peters and Ryan

[blackngold]

Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier announced today the Sabres have agreed to terms with forwards Andrew Peters (two-year deal), Michael Ryan (one-year deal) and Unrestricted Free Agent goaltender Jocelyn Thibault (one-year deal) earlier today.

Peters, the 6-4, 247-pound native of St. Catharines, Ontario, appeared in a career-high 58 games for the Sabres collecting two points (1+1) and 125 penalty minutes last year. In three seasons with Buffalo, the left winger has appeared in 128 career regular season games compiling 376 penalty minutes and four points (3+1). Peters was selected 34th overall by the Sabres in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.

“Andrew has been the consummate team player over the past few seasons,” Regier said. “He has committed himself to improving his conditioning and skills to further his development and add to his contributions to the team.”

Ryan, the 6-1,188-pound center played in 19 games last season with the Sabres, picking up five points (3+2) including a two-goal performance against the Montreal Canadiens on March 2 during the 2006-07 NHL season. The 27-year old native of Boston, Massachusetts, appeared in 56 games with the Rochester Americans (AHL) last season, totaling 37 points (14+23). Originally selected 32nd overall in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars, Ryan was traded to Buffalo by Dallas along with the Stars’ 2nd round choice (Branislav Fabry) in 2003 Entry Draft for Stu Barnes.

“Michael is a young player who is ready to play full-time at this level,” said Regier. “He continues to develop and will be an important part of our club next season.”

Thibault (TEE-boh), the 5-11, 169-pound native of Montreal, Quebec, appeared in 22 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins last season, compiling a record of 7-8-2 with a 2.83 goals-against average. Thibault was a Group 3 Unrestricted Free Agent (age 28 or older or with at least seven accrued seasons). The 32-year old has an overall career record of 235-234-68-5 in 574 regular season games with 37 shutouts and a 2.74 GAA. In 15 NHL seasons, he has played for the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche, Chicago Blackhawks and Penguins. A member of the 2003 Western Conference NHL All-Star team, Thibault was selected 10th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.

[blackngold]

Good for Peters, glad it's more than just one year

[Rugged]

Bad for the Penguins. Thibault was a great backup/insurance policy to have.

[BROKEN*ORBITAL]

Sabres obviously let Drury and Briere go to ensure themselves enough money for these 3.

Good on Peters. Hope he sees more ice time next year.

[ValJamesRules]

Cheers to Petey.

Ryan has got good wheels, but he doesn't score enough.

And Thibault?? Good backup, but what about Conklin?? This team confuses me.

[shedthemitts]

Conklin is terrible over a whole season, I'm glad he's gone. Thibault is one of the premier #2 goaltenders in the league, let alone one that was a UFA this offseason. Cheers to Buffalo for landing him.

I'm not a real big Peters fan but hey, most fans love the guy and the organization seems to like him as well. Plus he's somewhat of a local product, being from St. Catherines, ON. Nice to have a heavyweight locked up for 2 more years.

[WanderingEye]

Like him or hate him, it's always a good thing to see a heavyweight get a contract in the league these days, and it's for two years... Peters had a pretty good season last year, too. The fans love him and Lindy Ruff seems to be a supporter so he should still have some opportunities to scrap. Just don't expect him to suit up for every game because that won't happen.

Mike Ryan reminds me of Denis Hamel, who excels in the AHL but can never make that last step up to the NHL. Even with the captains gone he will have trouble cracking the line-up as a regular player.

Conklin was just a stopgap from last season. Biron's trade left no backup in Buffalo, all they had was Adam Dennis, who wasn't ready yet, so they got Conklin for relatively cheap to ride the pine and get a few starts in to rest up Miller for the playoff run. I'm not surprised at all that he wasn't retained because his reputation and numbers are pretty brutal. Thibault is a good signing, he won't have to play too many games but he's a solid veteran who can step in and spell Miller when necessary.

[Faz]

I'd ASSUME Thibault wanted/got more than the Pens were willing to pay him? Because I thought he was a pretty solid backup option.

Also, Jocelyn is a girl's name.

[lilburtis9363]

awsome, Thibault will make a great backup, and i'm glad peters is still on the sabres, same with ryan

[blackngold]

Originally Posted by Faz

Also, Jocelyn is a girl's name.

yeah, the french are queer with names

[Rugged]

Originally Posted by Faz

I'd ASSUME Thibault wanted/got more than the Pens were willing to pay him? Because I thought he was a pretty solid backup option.

They signed three goalies in the last week: Sabourin (on the cheap compared to J.T.), David Brown and John Curry, so the writing was on the wall.

Originally Posted by Faz

Also, Jocelyn is a girl's name.

So is Dana.

[bengino]

Originally Posted by Faz

Also, Jocelyn is a girl's name.

no, Jocelyne would be a girl's name

Thibeault is a good pick-up for a back-up

[Isles4life]

Definite upgrade in the backup goaltending department for Buffalo. Also nice to see Peters get re-upped.

[DaveBrown69]

Good for Peters.

[Sourayman15]

yeah good for peters. (blah blah blah blah blah)
what really impressed me this year is his record. he won almost all of his fights! pretty impressive