BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Three Buffalo Sabres players could become unrestricted free agents because the team -- in a move made by the National Hockey League -- withheld deferred payments owed on Jan. 1, according to a published report.

Center Curtis Brown and defenseman Jay McKee were to receive $133,000 and defenseman Brian Campbell was owed $25,000. However, in a decision made by the NHL, the Sabres did not issue the checks, The Buffalo News reported in Thursday's editions.

The hockey team filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday.

"Free agency benefits players, and with the way money is with some of the higher-market teams there could be some good offers for not only me, but the other guys that could be in the same situation," McKee told the newspaper.

"I like it here," McKee added. "And if it ever did get down to (unrestricted free agency) I would hope Buffalo gave me the offer no one else could match. But they're in a sticky situation here."

Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier said the payments were affected by the Sabres' bankruptcy.

"The probability is they're going to get paid," he said. "The timing is still a question mark. I don't really have a lot of information on that. I know the reason they didn't get paid is the payments and the timing of when they were due happened to coincide with when we were running out of money. Choices and decisions were made."

Regier said the NHL made the decision.

"The decision not to pay these three players, to not make the payments, was made at the level that involved the league and their outside counsel," Regier said. "This decision was made by the league, which is supervising the team."

A player who has not received due compensation has the right to file a grievance through the NHL Players Association within 90 days, according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

A team has 14 days to rectify the problem once it has been notified of a player's grievance. The NHL has seven days to compensate the player if that cannot be done, or it can order him waived or grant him unconditional free agency.

The league would not back the Sabres' debts to Brown, McKee and Campbell because deferred money is not guaranteed, an NHL spokesman told The News.

How long is McKee willing to wait?

"That issue will be raised by my agent (Pat Morris)," McKee said. "He's going to possibly pressure me to ... I think a lot of people outside of the situation would think I'm not a very intelligent person if I didn't press that issue and file a grievance."

"But I'm going to give (the Sabres) time," McKee added." I have no qualms with the organization here. I think I've been treated very well by the organization."

Brown believes it's too early to discuss the issue.

"In a baseball game, you're going to home plate without stepping on first, second or third," Brown said. "I think we're jumping to conclusions way too quick."

Campbell declined comment because he has not spoken to his agent, Larry Kelly, who has been out of the country.