Published: July 16, 2008 11:09 pm            

SABRES: Paille signs, MacArthur accepts offer

Restricted free agent Daniel Paille agreed Wednesday to terms on what sources say is a two-year deal with the Buffalo Sabres that will pay the former first-round pick a total of about $2.2 million.

Paille, the 20th overall pick in 2002, emerged as a solid two-way forward in his first full season with the Sabres last year. He set career highs in goals (19) and points (35) while playing in 77 games.

Paille played significant minutes on the team’s penalty-killing unit, was tied for the team lead in short-handed goals with three, and found his way onto coach Lindy Ruff’s shortlist of plays for pressure-packed third-period situations.

He also finished fourth on the team with a plus-9.

“Danny is a talented young player that can make a difference at both ends of the ice,” Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier said in a statement on the team’s Web site. “Danny has been a key component to our penalty killing unit and we look forward to helping him continue to develop with our club for years to come.”

Paille has 49 points in 120 career games.

Also on Wednesday, forwards Clarke MacArthur and Mark Mancari accepted their qualifying offers.

MacArthur, a 2003 third-round pick, played predominantly with Buffalo’s AHL affiliate in Rochester last season, but collected 15 points in 37 games with the Sabres.

Mancari, a 2003 third-round pick, led Rochester in scoring with 57 points in 80 games this past season. He was selected by Buffalo in the seventh-round of the 2004 draft.

        

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