Continuing a string of recent re-signings of key players, the Buffalo Sabres today inked right winger Jason Pominville to a five-year contract extension. Financial terms weren't disclosed but they should be available soon.

Pominville stated late last week his intention to get a new contract in place with the Sabres prior to the start of training camp on Friday, a view the club's management evidently shared.

It's not surprising the Sabres would lock up the 25-year-old Pominville, who has made steady improvement in each of his three NHL seasons, including an impressive 80-point performance in 2007-08, making him the Sabres second leading scorer (by one point) behind Derek Roy.

The Sabres management took a lot of justifiable criticism in recent years for failing to retain their best players, losing notables such as Daniel Briere, Chris Drury, Jay McKee and JP Dumont to free agency.

Since last summer however they've shown a willingness to retain their better young player, matching a hefty offer sheet from Edmonton for Thomas Vanek and re-upping Pominville, Roy, goalie Ryan Miller and forward Paul Gaustad.

Keeping those key young players in the fold should go a long way toward improving roster morale as well as that of the team's loyal fanbase, who'd begun to question the club's committment to winning after losing those key aforementioned veteran free agents.