Sabres sign Chris Butler

The Sabres agreed to terms with Chris Butler, the junior defenseman from the University of Denver today. He'll leave school early and likely play in the A.H.L. next season, but don't expect him to be there for long. Darcy Regier said the Sabres have also spoke to South Buffalo's Tim Kennedy, a junior forward at Michigan State. Kennedy has expressed in the past he thinks he's ready for the next level. That leaves Boston College center, Nathan Gerbe, the MVP of Saturday night's national championship game. It's expected the Sabres will be talking to him as early as tomorrow, although Gerbe said today that he has yet to think about whether he will leave school early. All 3 could be in the Sabres training camp this spring.