Sabres sign Brian Gionta

Finally, Brian Gionta’s childhood dream has come true.  After beginning his NHL career in 2001 with the New Jersey Devils, Gionta is finally a Buffalo Sabre.

Gionta grew up in Greece, New York, which is just outside Rochester.  On Wednesday, the Sabres signed the former Montreal Canadiens captain to a three-year deal.  “This was my childhood team growing up, and it’s a dream come true to play for them and to put on the jersey,” Gionta said in yesterday’s press conference.

Gionta’s career high in goals is 48 and happened during the 2005-06 season with the Devils.  Last year with Montreal, Gionta scored 18 goals.  But that isn’t why the Sabres signed him.  It’s a plus – only 2 Sabres scored more goals last season – but the Sabres like Gionta’s character, experience, and leadership.

“We’re excited for the chance, myself and my family,” Gionta said.  “Our expectation is to come here and field a winning team.  We like the direction that Mr. Murray is going with the team, and obviously Mr. Pegula.  We’re confident that we can come here and be a part of something big.”

And Gionta is aiming high.  “We want a winning culture and to make sure we’re competing for the Stanley Cup.”

Not too many people expected the Sabres to do much on the first day of free agency.  Who would want to come to Buffalo and play for the worst team in the NHL?  The Sabres weren’t even meeting the cap floor after buying out defenseman Christian Ehrhoff on Sunday.  But they shocked the hockey world on Wednesday with the signing of Gionta as well as three other free agents: Matty Moulson, Cody McCormick, and Andrej Meszaros.  Moulson and McCormick chose to return to Buffalo after both were traded to the Minnesota Wild at the trade deadline, and both bring leadership to the team.

“I think it says something that we were as busy as anybody, that we were able to attract players of this caliber to want to come here.”  Then he smirked and added, “I like to rub it in a bit that you guys didn’t think anybody was gonna come here.  I just think it was a great day for us.”

The Sabres also re-signed Marcus Foligno to a two-year deal.

And they traded a 2016 second-round pick to the Canadiens for Gionta’s teammate, Josh Gorges.  Gorges’ story makes it even better.  On Saturday, Montreal’s general manager informed him that he had reached an agreement to trade Gorges to the Maple Leafs.  Gorges rejected the trade.  He had also had the Sabres on the list of teams to which he could refuse a trade.  But Gionta helped to change his mind.

“He’s a good friend of mine,” Gionta said of Gorges.  “We spent a lot of time together in Montreal, and I think he’s gonna be a great fit for here.  He’s a heart-and-soul guy who leaves his heart out on the ice every day and does anything for the team, and I think he’s gonna be a great example for a lot of the young guys here.”

“I just think it was a great day for us,” Murray said.

“I can’t wait ’til September comes,” Gionta said.

Neither can we, Gionta.  Sabres fans have a season to be excited about.