| The Buffalo News Jul. 19--The pieces are starting to come together, little by little, with every day the Buffalo Sabres are removed from the horror of last summer. There was a renewed sense of enthusiasm Friday in HSBC Arena after they signed Ryan Miller, a move that made their future seem brighter and their intentions more genuine. SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS Miller signed a five-year contract extension worth $31.25 million, placing him among the highest-paid goalies in the NHL. He'll be making $6.25 million each year throughout the deal, which is a sizable pile of dough for a guy coming off a mediocre season with a team that missed the playoffs. If he appears overpaid, look at the contract this way: Miller has $3.5 million remaining on his current deal. All told, he's on a six-year hitch for $34.75 million, about $5.8 million per season, which is plenty fair all the way around. The charge now for Miller is playing like a franchise goalie. The money wasn't important Friday so much as the positive message that reverberated throughout the organization and across the league. Sabres owner Tom Golisano and managing partner Larry Quinn have taken their share of criticism -- who, me? -- over the past 13 months. This time, they bucked up, did it right and restored a few ounces of credibility after losing a ton last summer. Now, the Sabres are back in the game. The contract extension was critical on many fronts. For once, it didn't take the Sabres an hour to make minute rice. The deal was done 18 days after they were eligible to begin negotiations. There were no lowball offers, no botching of tentative agreements, no animosity, no jerking around a star player, no distractions. It was a grand departure from business practices that led to Chris Drury and Daniel Briere bolting, Brian Campbell getting traded and the franchise landing on its ear. By golly, maybe they've finally learned their lesson. Miller wanted to remain here. The Sabres showed they were committed to keeping him. Everybody's satisfied. See how easy it can work? It shouldn't be lost on good, young players who are already in their system that they're skating in the right direction. Jason Pominville is more likely to remain on board rather than join the others who were forced to jump ship. Look around, and you'll find a core of players that can grow together for the next four years, perhaps much longer. Miller and Thomas Vanek are locked up for the next six years. Derek Roy has five years left. Paul Gaustad has four. So does veteran Jochen Hecht. Newcomer Craig Rivet has three years, Daniel Paille two. If they can get Pommer the Bomber signed, it would further secure their long-term future. Plus, the Sabres have their own AHL franchise after sharing the Rochester Americans with Florida in another misstep that was designed to save money. It should not be discounted. Miller, Roy, Vanek, Pominville and Gaustad were cultivated through the system. Buffalo has a group of prospects looking to follow them. Mike Weber and Andrej Sekera should be ready this year. Nathan Gerbe, Tim Kennedy and Chris Butler should push from Portland. Folks, that's how you build. And it should help recruiting. The Sabres have a terrible reputation for pinching pennies and alienating players. Free agents weren't exactly lining up to sign with Buffalo. Now, some will examine the future, perhaps take a longer look. Miller's contract doesn't ensure the Sabres will make the playoffs next season, but at least they can concentrate on hockey. They could still use another defenseman or two. Their special teams need to play better. Their franchise goalie needs to play like one. Things are looking better. bgleason@buffnews.com
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