| Because of a recent rash of injuries to key players, the Buffalo Sabres are haggling over sums of money typically never mentioned in modern sports talk. When is the last time you heard a franchise concerned about $2,000? The Sabres are, because that's how much it costs against the salary cap to recall a player from the minors, even on a practice day. The Sabres began the season with $95,000 in available cap room and are now down to $35,000 remaining. That means that the Sabres only have enough cap room to pay for 17 more days of call-ups this season. Buffalo will receive some relief ($2.8 million) as long as center Tim Connolly (concussion) is on long-term injured reserve. If Connolly returns this season, which he hopes to do, the Sabres would then have to either waive or option at least one player. The Sabres have so little room under the cap, whether Connolly returns or not, that they really can't afford any healthy scratches. The Sabres have technically been optioning several young players back to the minors after almost every game, so that non-game days are not charged against their salary cap figure. These players are then recalled for the Sabres' next game. Believe it or not, the 21st century isn't all about millions.
Posted by Ted Rossman at 11/22/2006 11:24:00 AM |
