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BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Center Marek Zagrapan, the Buffalo Sabres'
first-round draft pick last year, was among four players signed by
the team. The Sabres also announced Tuesday that former defenseman James
Patrick was hired as an assistant coach. For Patrick, a 21-year NHL
veteran, this is his second stint as a Sabres assistant after he
left the team before last season to play in Germany. Patrick ended his NHL career after playing six years with the
Sabres. He fills the spot on Lindy Ruff's staff vacated by Scott
Arniel, who in July was hired as head coach of the American Hockey
League's Manitoba Moose. Zagrapan, selected 13th overall, signed a three-year deal worth
about $2.3 million on Sunday, and has joined the Sabres for the
start of their rookie training camp. He had 35 goals and 52 assists
for 87 points in 59 games last season with Chicoutimi of the Quebec
Major Junior League. Zagrapan is expected to open this season with Rochester,
Buffalo's AHL affiliate. The Sabres also re-signed three minor-league forwards, Jiri
Novotny, Michael Ryan and Chris Thorburn. Ryan and Thorburn signed
$450,000 contracts for this season. Novotny, drafted 22nd overall in 2001 by Buffalo, made his NHL
debut last season, scoring two goals and an assist in 14
regular-season games, and had no points in four playoff games. He
also led Rochester with 54 points (17 goals, 37 assists) last year. Thorburn, Buffalo's second-round 2001 draft pick, had an assist
in two games last season, and added 23 goals and 27 assists with
Rochester. Ryan has spent the past three seasons in Rochester after
being acquired by Buffalo in a trade with Dallas in March 2003. The Sabres, who open training camp Friday, also announced that
assistant coach Brian McCutcheon has been promoted to associate
head coach; scout Kevin Devine has been promoted to director of
amateur scouting; and scout Scott Schranz has been promoted to
director of amateur scouting operations.
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