Sabres walk away from Dumont arbitration award

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Sabres walk away from Dumont award

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Buffalo Sabres have decided to exercise their walk-away option on the arbitration award to forward J.P. Dumont. Effective immediately, Dumont becomes an unrestricted free agent able to sign with any NHL team. Dumont had his case heard by an arbitrator on Monday, July 31, and was subsequently awarded a one-year, $2.9 million contract.

I'm not really surprised by this move. There were too many times when it seemed he didn't show up.

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He's really not that great a player?

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Great isn't a word I'd use to describe JP Dumont. I didn't mind having him, but based on the rest of the teams salary, he didn't deserve as much as he'd be getting.

That would be just under Chris Drury...who was their highest paid player last year.

I'd say $2M - $2.5M maximum. It'll be interesting to see how much he gets as a free agent. I'm sure he won't be on the market long.

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Some Dumont rumours from FoxSports.com

The recent decision by the Buffalo Sabres to walk away from the arbitration award for J.P. Dumont have not only made the player a unrestricted free agent, but has also set the rumor mill buzzing as to where he may eventually sign. Recent reports indicate at least five NHL teams have contacted Dumont's agent, with the Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings believed heading the list. The Wings have been searching for a reliable 20-goal winger since Brendan Shanahan signed with the Rangers last month as a free agent. While Dumont's agent will likely try to get his client a contract worth close to the one-year, $2.9 million arbitration award, he could be willing to accept something in the $2 million range. As for the Kings, it's believe GM Dean Lombardi tried to acquire Dumont via trade in the wake of his arbitration award. An "unnamed Canadian team" has also reportedly contacted Dumont's agent, sparking speculation either the Ottawa Senators or Montreal Canadiens were the interested parties. Both clubs, however, have already committed over $41 million in salary for next season, leaving little room to absorb Dumont's salary. Dumont claimed he'd be very interested in signing with the Canadiens, even instructing his agent to put that team at the top of his preferred list if the club came calling, but thus far, GM Bob Gainey has yet to do so.

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An update...

The Canadiens are OUT of the JP Sweepstakes

JP Dumont's agent in a CJAD exclusive says the Canadiens as far as he's concerned are done---having never made an offer, while two other solid offers are in from Eastern Conference teams, and a Western Conference team has jumped into the bidding for the 20-goal scorer since last night.

While Dumont was awarded $2.9-million for this season by an arbitrator, the bidding is actually reset as low as his qualifying offer from last year, $1.6 million...but his agent says it could also go higher...and he didnt rule out the $3.5 million dollar level.

From recent reports, the two Eastern teams are the Leafs and Penguins, and the Western team is L.A.

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