Sabres re-sign two RFAs

BUFFALO, N.Y., Aug. 9 (UPI) -- The Buffalo Sabres on Friday retained two restricted free agents, signing right wing Ales Kotalik and center Curtis Brown to one-year contracts.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Kotalik, whose deal includes a club option for 2004-05, ranked second among NHL rookies with 21 goals last season. He totaled 35 points, nine fewer than rookie scoring leader and Calder Trophy winner Henrik Zetterberg of the Detroit Red Wings, despite playing 11 fewer games.

The longest-tenured player on the Sabres, Brown collected 15 goals and 16 assists in 74 games last season, his eighth with the team. He led Buffalo with four shorthanded goals and four game-winners while tying for the lead with a plus-4 rating.