Sabres sign Bowling Green forward Derek Whitmore

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Interesting strategy the Sabres are employing to restock their team with prospects.

Sabres sign former Bowling Green forward Derek Whitmore - NHL - Yahoo! Sports

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP)—Forward Derek Whitmore signed a two-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday after completing his four-year career at Bowling Green.

An undrafted free agent, Whitmore had a career-high 27 goals and added 10 assists in 38 games as a senior, A native of Rochester, he finished his NCAA career with 103 points (70 goals, 33 assists) in 143 games.

There were rumours he was going to sign with the Sabres before it was announced and although the Sabres were tightlipped about it, his agent was yappy.

Sabres may sign Whitmore | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle

"He has followed the Sabres very closely," said Steve Bartlett of Pittsford-based Sports Consulting Group, Whitmore's family advisor and soon-to-be agent. "He's sent me texts during the year, 'Did you see that goal (Thomas) Vanek scored?'

"He slugged it out over the past few years and maybe he was not noticed in the first wave (of prospects), but he has really worked hard."

Bartlett confirmed that contract talks have gone well for the senior forward and he is hopeful the deal will be completed soon.

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Amerks notebook: Whitmore comes full circle | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle

Whitmore, who recently completed his senior season at Bowling Green University, signed a two-year NHL contract with the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday.

The contract is for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons, so Whitmore signed an amateur tryout contract with the Rochester Americans in order to get a taste of the pro game for 2 ½ weeks.

The 5-foot-10, 189-pound forward join the Amerks for practice today and is hoping to make his pro debut on Friday when the Manitoba Moose play again at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial. "Words don't describe it," Whitmore, 23, said. "I've never been so excited about a practice."

Sabres scout Jon Christiano is a big reason Whitmore signed with his "hometown" NHL team. Christiano was the Amerks' assistant coach when he first saw Whitmore play. He was a teammate with Mark McCutcheon, son of then-Amerks coach Brian McCutcheon, on a Rochester midget travel team.

Christiano has tracked his career ever since, from the Greece Lightning, to Boise, Mont., of the America West Hockey League, to Waterloo, Iowa, and Lincoln, Neb., of the United States Hockey League, and finally to Bowling Green.

"Derek's gift is that he has a knack for scoring" Christiano said. "He has scored at every level and he has become a complete player. His other skills are sufficient enough to make an investment in him."