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Lancaster, NY • United States • 36 Years Old • Male
We Buffalo Fans are doing alot of "back of napkin" figuring on the Sabres contracts and salary cap next year but not many are considering the actual dollars they spend compared to their budget. Get out your abucus and follow along.

According to http://www.nhlnumbers.com/buf.htmlthe Sabres spent $45.43 million (actual dollars) on their players salries last year and report a modest profit. I woudl assume they would want to stay very near the same number for next year.

Heres a breakdown
While the following players cap number remains constant (because the cap number is the average salay over the life of the deal), the following players have actual dollar increases set for next year.

Afinogenov +500k
Kotalik +500K
Pominville, Jason +450K
Gaustad, Paul +100K
Connolly, Tim +800K
Spacek, Jaroslav +250K
Lydman, Toni +600K
Tallinder, Henrik +900K
Kalinin, Dmitri +500K
Campbell, Brian +500K
Miller, Ryan +500K

That adds up to $5.6 million dollar actual dollar increase from last year... and $26 million in total sallary cost for these players next year.

Add in RFA increases
Vanek with a $2million dollar raise (jump from $950k to $3mil.)
Roy with a $1million dollar raise (jump from $627k to $1.6 mil)
Paetsch with a $100k raise (jump from $500k to $600k)
Paillie with a $250k raise (jump from $750k to $1mil)

$8 million increase over last year... and $32.2 in actual salary cost

Add in (the following salaries that remain constant)
Hecht $2.35mil
Stafford $1mil

We're at $35.5 in actual salary cost for 9 forwards, 6 defensemen and 1 goalie.

If we assume that the actual budget remains the same for the year (which i would assume is the case). That leaves us about $10million in actual salary dollars for next year to add at minumum 3 forwards and a backup goalie.

Given that Drury might command $7mil next year, there is no way we sign him AND Zubrus and/or Briere. In fact... Drury at $7mil might be too much alltogether.
Filed Under:   salary cap   drury   Buffalo   Sabres   free agents   cleon  
May 22, 2007 6:00 PM ET | Delete
Your math is flawed. The cap is expected to go up to $50 million next year. I figured that if Briere and Drury take discounts to stay in Buffalo and each make $6 mill, we have a chance at keeping them both, BUT likely at the expense of Vanek, almost certainly Zubrus, and maybe even Roy. The numbers ARE tight, but they do have a LITTLE wiggle room, especially if they wish to dump a Kotalik or Kalinin's salary, together which would save $5 mill. wonder what they might do...
May 22, 2007 6:01 PM ET | Delete
BTW, my thinking is NOT that Briere
May 22, 2007 6:02 PM ET | Delete
that msg got messed up. my thinking is not that briere AND drury will stay, i'm just saying it's remotely possible. i see briere going, sadly.
May 23, 2007 8:57 AM ET | Delete
NOTE**** This calculation is not about the Salary Cap.... its about actual dollars the Sabres a willing to spend on salaries.
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