March 4, 2009

(3:17 P.M EST)

BUFFALO, N.Y.—As the team prepares to go into the last stretch to the playoffs, Buffalo Sabres management signs Dominic Moore in a last minute effort for Ales Kotalik with a 2nd round pick in a four team trade, and sign veteran Tim Connolly and goalie Mikael Tellqvist.

Center Dominic Moore, acquired at the last minute of the deadline for Ales Kotalik and a second round draft pick in a four tream trade sending Kotalik to Edmonton , is a great playmaker with 29 assists, 41 points total with Toronto, and great potential to the Sabres.

Tim Connolly was signed to a two-year extension of $9 million, giving him a raise after missing 34 games in each of the past two seasons.

Goalie Mikael Tellqvist was traded to the Sabres from the Phoenix Coyotes for a fourth round draft pick for a backup role as Ryan Miller continues rehab on his ankle sprain.

So what grade do we give to the Sabres?

As I listen to the fans of Sabres in the past half hour on WGR550 AM radio, I hear good things about signing Connolly—only if he stays healthy, a good point—and good things about our new goalie for insurance, and Moore to add some firepower to the offense with the arrival of Thomas Vanek and Maxim Afinogenov tonight.

A signing of a goalie is a good addition to the team, as we have no timetable on Ryan Miller, and a good insurance help for these last 18 games.

The signing of a forward to help score goals where the Sabres offense is lacking was critical this deadline. Did we see that signing? Yes. Finally the Sabres management came through to get a playmaker and a help to the struggling offense.

I’ll leave the grade up to you in the poll.

The Sabres are searching a playoff spot between fifth and eighth place, where tonight is the start to a hopeful playoff run.

The Sabres play Montreal at 7:30 tonight at HSBC Arena, trying to end a three-game losing streak and to go into a tie with Carolina for ninth place. Tonight’s game will be Nationally Televised on Versus and TSN and on WGR550 AM radio, the Sabres’ flagship station.

                                                                                          -Bobby Giambra-