Buffalo Sabres forward Tim Kennedy awarded US$1-million contract by arbitrator

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Buffalo Sabres forward Tim Kennedy was awarded a US$1-million, one-year contract by an arbitrator on Thursday, two days after his hearing was held in Toronto.

As a rookie last season, the 24-year-old Kennedy made $635,000 while collecting 26 points in 78 games in a defensive role for Buffalo.

The Sabres have no option but to accept the contract terms. Teams cannot walk away from an arbitrator's ruling that is lower than $1,611,180, as per the NHL's collective bargaining agreement.