Jay McKee on Waivers: Will Buffalo Come Calling?

Jay McKee still makes his home in Buffalo during the summer months, Jay McKee still trains in Buffalo during the offseason, will Jay McKee return to Buffalo for the 2009-2010 season? Truth be told, I haven’t a clue. But we can certainly speculate on it.

McKee originally signed that 4 year, $16 million back in 2006, one of the first to cash in on Buffalo’s 2 great runs. Since he signed that monstrosity, he has played a total of 158 games, or if you will, 64% of those he was signed for. He only put up 17 points in those 3 years.

But let’s be honest, that’s not what he’s built for. He’s a puck sponge, one of the most fearless blueliners I’ve ever seen. And he was a fantastic stay at home defensemen in his time in Buffalo.  Who doesn’t remember his courageous play there in the playoffs against Carolina, where only a bad infection from guess what, a blocked shot, sidelined Mckee during the Eastern Conference Finals.  He was one of those guys on that team that truly made them special; a leader by example, on and off the ice.  But now it seems, St. Louis never got that same player that we saw in a decade of service in a Sabre sweater.

Since he was placed on unconditional waivers, and then bought out, the Blues will be on the hook for two thirds of McKee’s $4 million salary for next season ($2.64 million). However, they will be able to spread that out over a 2 year period, so St. Louis will be absorbing $1.32 million for both this coming, and the season after that. At that point, McKee becomes an unrestricted free agent and gets to join the fun on July 1st.

He may not have fit in with St. Louis’s plans, but what about Buffalo?  At what price do the Sabres take a look at Jay?  I’d say that under $2 million I’d be more than willing to bring McKee back to Buffalo, especially with Jaro Spacek looking to be headed out the door.  Hell, could this even be one of those vaunted “Home Town Discount” situations?

He and Lydman could make a pretty formidable shutdown pairing, and it would certainly allow the Sabres much more flexibility with the lower end of their defensive corps, or even perhaps, give them the flexibility to move a Tallinder. With Spacek and Numminen on the way out the door, the question marks surrounding Tyler Myers, even 2nd year guys Andrej Sekera and Chris Butler as well, the Sabres have an opening, one that Jay McKee could certainly fill.

Count me as one of the pro-McKee guys.  I’d say make an offer, bring him back GMDR.

Tags: Buffalo Sabres, Jay McKee, St. Louis Blues