BUFFALO - Martin Biron admits he was a little naïve about his contract during the offseason.

After Philadelphia strung him along and eventually elected not to re-sign him, the goalie figured a team would snatch him up immediately in free agency. Biron compiled strong numbers during his two-year run as the Flyers’ starter. In 2008, he backstopped them to the Eastern Conference final.

But when the market opened July 1, the popular former Sabre found few clubs looking for a No. 1 netminder.

“Before we know it, it’s July,” Biron said Friday morning, before the Sabres beat his New York Islanders x-x at HSBC Arena. “You haven’t really anticipated what was going to happen. That made me grow up really quick. The middle of July you’re starting to think that you’re basically no good anymore.

“That’s a tough part,” he said. “In a month you go from thinking you’re going to be a top free agent, to thinking, ‘Man, what’s going on?’”

Biron said most of his career he played hockey and enjoyed life, never worrying about the game’s underbelly.

“Now I got to understand the business of hockey,” he said. “You get through it and you play and then you understand that there’s another side of the game.”

Biron, who was traded to the Flyers in 2007 after parts of nine seasons with the Sabres, had options, however. One of them included a return to Buffalo, where the 32-year-old would’ve backed up Ryan Miller. Even though the Sabres have a No. 2 in Patrick Lalime, Biron said the negotiations were “fairly serious.”

“Was I excited about possibly, maybe even thinking about coming back?” he said. “Definitely. I keep looking in the paper. I watch TV. I want to see what’s going on with (the Sabres). I know 95 percent of the guys very personally.”

But Biron likely would’ve played only about 20-25 games here. To become a starter again, he believes he needs to play regularly. So he signed a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Islanders in late July, a move he said wasn’t about money.

“I was very excited about possibly having the chance to come back (to Buffalo), but at the end you make sacrifices to be at the top level that you can,” Biron said. “That’s what it really came down to.”

So far, Biron has alternated starts with Dwayne Roloson, another former Sabre. In two games, Biron’s 0-1-1 with 2.52 goals-against average and .900 save percentage. He sat Friday. He should play tonight on Long Island against San Jose.

If Rick DiPietro, the Isles’ regular starter, returns from his hip injury, Biron could end up a coveted commodity on the trade market. In the meantime, he’s working toward becoming a starter again, a job he knows he can do well.

“I believe in myself,” Biron said. “I believe in my ability to go out and play at a high level and win some games and be a top goalie in this league.”

John Tavares, the Isles’ 19-year-old phenom, is the nephew of the Buffalo Bandits’ John Tavares, arguably the greatest indoor lacrosse player ever.

The younger Tavares estimated he’s watched about 20 of his uncle’s games here. The older Tavares attended Friday’s game.

“As a kid growing up, I always dreamed I was going to play with him,” the rookie said. “I think this is going to be the closest it comes to it, so it’ll be pretty cool.”

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