Mike Grier spent two seasons in Buffalo, but signed as a free agent with San Jose in 2006 because he didn’t feel the Sabres were committed enough to winning. Grier signed a one-year contract with Buffalo this week. It’s funny how things change when training camp is a month away and you still don’t have a contract.

Grier was considered a leader on a Sabres team that reached the Eastern Conference finals in 2006, and while he doesn’t provide the type of offense that Buffalo needs, as Top Shelf points out, “Grier’s strengths – playing hard every shift and not hesitating to call out those who don’t – are desperately needed on the Sabres roster.”

At 34, he’s still capable of playing decent hockey. He put up 23 points last season and was a plus-8 in 62 regular season games. Only Toni Lydman (162) had more hits than Grier (147) last season on Buffalo’s current roster.

Interestingly, as the BfloBlog points out, the Grier signing may also signal that the team is having difficulties trying to re-sign RFA forward Drew Stafford since they now have 12 forwards signed for next year, not including Cody McCormick, Nathan Gerbe, or Tim Kennedy.

Grier’s signing is a positive move for the Sabres, but for a team that has missed the playoffs the last two seasons, they might have a difficult time convincing their newest player that they are committed to winning again.

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