Sabres reach 2-year deal with RW Patrick Kaleta

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -Right wing Patrick Kaleta gave up an opportunity to go to arbitration by agreeing to a two-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres.

Terms were not immediately available, but Kaleta was expected to earn a raise over the $522,000 he made last year. The deal, announced Wednesday, comes before Kaleta was scheduled to have an arbitration hearing on July 29.

Buffalo's sixth-round pick in the 2004 draft, Kaleta set career highs last season with 10 goals and 15 points in 55 games. He also had 89 penalty minutes.

Overall, Kaleta has 17 goals and 14 assists, and 241 penalty minutes in 153 NHL games split over four seasons.

Second-year Sabres center Tim Kennedy has an arbitration hearing set for Tuesday.