Buffalo Sabres 2011 Offseason

Buffalo Sabres Resign Top Goaltending Prospect Jhonas Enroth

The Buffalo Sabres re-signed their top goaltending prospect Jhonas Enroth to a two-year contact on July 21. The 23-year old restricted free agent Enroth is expected to get a hefty raise from the $685, 000 he made last year. Enroth, who will backup stud goaltender Ryan Miller next season, was impressive in his 14 game stint with the Sabres in 2010. Enroth's signing comes a day after last season's backup goalie Patrick Lalime announced his retirement. The 37-year old Lalime played 11 seasons in the NHL posting a 200-174-32 (ties) -16 (overtime losses).

Enroth, who took over for an injured Miller (upper body injury) late in the 2010 season, was 9-3-2 in 14 games. Enroth was especially good down the stretch going 3-0-1 during the final week of the season helping the Sabres clinch the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. For the season, Enroth recorded oneshutout and had a 2.73 goals against average to go along with a 90.7% save percentage. Enroth, who posted a record of 28-18-1 with the AHL's Portland Pirates, was recalled five times during the 2010-2011 season. While with the Pirates, Enroth registered five shutouts, had a 91.9% save percentage and a stout 2.37 goals against average. Enroth made history last season as he became is the first goalie to record his first three victories in a shootout.

Buffalo selected Enroth with the 46th pick of the second round in the 2006 draft from Sodertalje SK which is a junior club out of his native Sweden. After being drafted, Enroth spent three more years in Sweden before joining Portland in 2008.

With the signing of Enroth complete, restricted free-agent defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani remains the Sabres only unsigned player. Buffalo has already signed 14 players this offseason including forward Drew Stafford, defensemen Andrej Sekera, Christian Ehrhoff and Jordan Leopald. Due to all of their offseason activity, the Sabres will have to slash payroll as they were $2.5 million over the NHL's $64.3 million dollar salary cap. Although teams are required to be under the salary cap prior to the start of the season they are permitted to spend 10% over the cap in the offseason.

By Daniel Benjamin - Daniel Benjamin is a freelance sports analyst. Benjamin has been published on Yahoo Sports, Yahoo news, Associated Content and Real GM.com.

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Buffalo Sabres 2011 Offseason News

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