What advantage does the team gain by announcing early?
As I usually say in situations like this, think like Bill Belichick. Would he spill the beans even a moment before the deadline? Nope.
I read about this yesterday. I have a feeling that he wrote his dissertation in the same way that many celebrities "wrote" their autobiographies, but who knows for sure...
Probably--although I don't think he should be, ideally. The Sabres don't have a goalie under contract for next season. I don't know how they're going to pull in two qualified NHL goaltenders between now and September.