The Buffalo Sabres have resigned forward Patrick
Kaleta to a 2-year $1.815 million deal and will avoid an arbitration hearing. The rugged right winger was optioned to the little used team elected arbitration.
The Angola, NY native will get $860,000 in 2010-11 and $907,500 in 2011-12. This is a very good deal for the Sabres as a top prospect will generally get around $850,000.
Team sources cited a desire to protect Kaleta from offer sheets but it is also speculated they were motivated to take the power play clause out of Kaleta’s potential deal.
This will be Kaleta’s last RFA contract, after it expires in 2012 he will become an unrestricted free agent. Kaleta put up career numbers for Buffalo this season. In 55 games he scored 10 goals (2 short handed which led the team) and 5 assists with a +2 and 89 pim.
Kaleta appeared on WGR550’s “The Howard Simon Show” this morning but did not hint at a new contract being signed. In fact Kaleta talked about not wanting to go to an arbitration hearing, which means one side or the other lowered their demands at some point today.