BC-HKN–Sabres-Moves, 0410

Sabres extend offers to 12 players, including Connolly

jwmsfon

By JOHN WAWROW

AP Sports Writer

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) – The Buffalo Sabres extended one-year qualifying offers on Tuesday to retain the rights of 12 players, including center Tim Connolly, who missed all of last season with a concussion.

The move to retain Connolly, who was offered the mandatory 10 percent raise over the $1.24 million he made last season, was a clear indication that the Sabres believe he can resume playing.

Connolly missed all of last season, experiencing post-concussion symptoms after he was knocked out by a hit in a preseason game in October. He wasn’t cleared to resume skating until the end of March, and has spent the past few months working out under the team’s supervision.

“He’s absolutely fine,” Connolly’s agent J.P. Barry said. “Tim feels he’s come a long way in the last few months. … And he’s ready to go.”

Connolly was considered the key player for Buffalo in a deal that sent former Sabres captain Michael Peca to the New York Islanders in June 2001. He has 22 goals and 48 assists in 162 games with the Sabres.

Other Sabres extended offers were goaltenders Martin Biron and Ryan Miller, forwards Milan Bartovic, Norm Milley, Andrew Peters, and Taylor Pyatt, and defensemen Brad Brown, Brian Campbell, Rory Fitzpatrick, Doug Janik and Henrik Tallinder.

The Sabres also re-signed forward Ales Kotalik by exercising their option to extend his contract by one year.

The moves came prior to Thursday’s start of the NHL’s free agency period.

The Sabres stand to lose only two players to free agency, veteran defensemen Alexei Zhitnik and James Patrick. Despite offers from the Sabres to re-sign him, Zhitnik had previously expressed an interest to test free agency.

Patrick completed his 21st season and sixth in Buffalo, and hopes to re-sign with the Sabres. His future, however, is uncertain because of a potential labor dispute that could disrupt the start or all of next season.

Last month, the Sabres extended offers to eight other players – including high-scoring forward Daniel Briere – that were competing at the World Hockey Championships. The moves were made in order to retain their rights as well as to provide them health insurance in the event they were hurt in competition.

Biron, Briere, Campbell, Fitzpatrick, Tallinder, Maxim Afinogenov, J.P. Dumont, Mike Grier, Jochen Hecht and backup goalie Mika Noronen have until July 15 to determine whether to file for arbitration.

AP-ES-06-29-04 1654EDT