Sabres re-sign former first-round pick D Kalinin

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- Defenseman Dmitri Kalinin re-signed with the Buffalo Sabres late Tuesday, ending his threat to spend next season playing in Russia.

Terms of the deal were not immediately known. Kalinin made $935,000 last season, a year in which he led Sabres defensemen in scoring with 10 goals and 24 assists.

The deal was reached before a midnight deadline set by Kalinin, who had already agreed to a one-year contract to play for Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Russian Superleague.

The contract with Metallurg, which Kalinin backed away from, was to take effect Wednesday. It included a clause that would've prevented him from returning to play for the Sabres in 2004-05.

Sabres general manager Darcy Regier was not immediately available for comment. He was in Montreal attending Canada's 2-1 win over the United States in a World Cup of Hockey game.

While Kalinin was seeking a long-term deal, Regier had previously said the two sides had discussed a short-term contract. Regier also said that any deal must fit within the team's salary structure.

Kalinin was the Sabres' first-round pick in the 1998 draft, and completed his fourth full season with Buffalo.

Kalinin's loss would have been a big blow to the Sabres, who could lose veteran Alexei Zhitnik to free agency. Zhitnik, an unrestricted free agent, is seeking offers from other teams.