Sabres sign Dennis Persson

[BillsfaninVirginia]

Just got the text that the Sabres have signed former 1st round pick (06)defenseman Dennis Persson to a 3 year contract.

[Papaduke]

Got it too... Lets hope he takes to the NA game better than the SEL game

[anEinherjer]

Wait, ANOTHER draft pick signed?

Who are these guys? Doing their job? It's amazing! Thanks be to Bucky for pushing them otherwise Darcy would be spending his days playing golf. /sarcasm...

[pigpen65]

This is very surprising from everything i've heard about Persson. There may be more involved with the signing though. From what i understand, when a team does not sign a 1st round pick, they get a compensatory pick in the 2nd round. Because of the lack of an agreement with the Swedish league, there would have been no compensation this year. So where they may have been a silver lining in previous years to let Persson go unsigned, they really had nothing to lose (or gain) this year.

[Soldat93]

Awesome! I was hoping we sign him, I think I might be the only person here that thinks he has a good future though lol. He's such a smart player...Just doesn't have his head in the game enough. But hopefully that's just youth.

[BlackRockBills]

Good stuff. Be interesting to see how he takes to the league.

There's a corny joke to be made about finding a missing Persson, but I'll abstain. :)

:sabres:

[Buffalo87]

This is very surprising from everything i've heard about Persson. There may be more involved with the signing though. From what i understand, when a team does not sign a 1st round pick, they get a compensatory pick in the 2nd round. Because of the lack of an agreement with the Swedish league, there would have been no compensation this year. So where they may have been a silver lining in previous years to let Persson go unsigned, they really had nothing to lose (or gain) this year.

Yeah, I think you nailed it. Any other year I think we may let him go but since we wouldn't see a compensatory pick this year (it would be 30 picks after he was originally draft, so it would be 54th overall) I think they didn't see any reason not to sign him.


I'm really glad to see this. The guy obviously has talent, he's just been in an absolutely terrible situation in Europe bouncing around from league to league, team to team, getting very limited ice time. Hopefully he can get his game back on track in the AHL next year.

[ricogarion]

SABRES INK PERSSON TO THREE-YEAR DEAL ~ http://sabres.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=365092

[SabreBill30]

Awesome! I was hoping we sign him, I think I might be the only person here that thinks he has a good future though lol. He's such a smart player...Just doesn't have his head in the game enough. But hopefully that's just youth.
Sorry but this just got me. lol

Anyway, I hope you're right about the good future.

[Bosco]

The signings continue

Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier announced today the Sabres have agreed to terms on a three-year entry-level contract with defenseman Dennis Persson, Buffalo’s first-round choice (24th overall) in the 2006 Entry Draft.

Persson (6/2/1988, 6’1”, 181 lbs.) split last season between Djurgarden of the Swedish Elite League, and Nykoping of the Swedish second tier league. Persson recorded one assist and 6 PIMs in 21 games with Djurgarden, and added four points (1+3) and 14 PIMs with Nykoping.

For his career Persson has one point in 30 Elite League games with Djurgarden, along with 14 points (5+9) in 72 second tier league games with Nykoping, Vasteras and Almtuna.

Persson represented Sweden at the 2006 World Junior Championships, and was considered the team’s most consistent defenseman with six points (1+5) in five games

http://sabres.nhl.com:80/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=365092

[SabreBill30]

Nice avi but here was a thread from earlier.

http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=140406

[ksl66]

He will be a three year project, I would expect to see him post Tallinder/Lydman. Good signing, it would be a shame to completely waste a first round pick.

[Bosco]

Sorry I missed the first post

[dmbfn40]

Your avi freaks me the hell out.

[BanditsRock11]

Merged.

[Bay Side]

Thats good news!

[mikgaes]

We're gonna have one hell of an AHL team again. That Rochester owner is stupid.

[Soldat93]

Sorry but this just got me. lol

Anyway, I hope you're right about the good future.

I'm glad someone caught that lol. He reminds me of Lydman sometimes, one second, he's making a good play, next, looks like he's never played before. But he's got talent, hopefully coaches will get him undercontrol.

[Papaduke]

What Persson will get in NA that he did not get in Sweden is relative stability. He played for 5 or 6 teams in the last 2 seasons. It would be best for Persson to get one solid season at the AHL level just to see where he is at developmentally.

[Buffalo87]

Now reporting the Persson will remain in Europe this season which makes no sense to me.

[anEinherjer]

He's young and doesn't want to move the US yet. Or he's still working on his English. Or he's a momma's boy.

Who knows. Worry about it AFTER next year if he doesn't come over...