Sabres sign Darche

Journeyman minor league left winger Mathieu Darche signed a one-year, $575,000 contract with the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.
Darche, 31, was an unrestricted free agent, who had a career-high 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 73 games with Tampa Bay last season. He has spent most of his career in the American Hockey League since breaking into the NHL as an undrafted free agent with Columbus in 2000. Darche also played for Nashville and San Jose.
The Sabres are well-stocked at forward and are expected to have Darche open this season with their new AHL affiliate in Portland, Maine.
"I figured that's where I'll have a good chance," Darche told the Syracuse Post-Standard. "Lindy Ruff is a lot like [former Tampa Bay coach] John Tortorella. You get what you deserve. I decided the fit was good in Buffalo, and I liked the talk I had with Darcy Regier."
Newsday is reporting that Tortorella will be the next coaching candidate interviewed by the New York Islanders, who recently fired Ted Nolan.