Packer76 Posted July 17, 2009 Report Posted July 17, 2009 At the risk of offending many Buffalo Sabres fans, I apologize in advance but here goes.... I?m a huge fan first and foremost, have since relocated to Naples Florida (Golisano's new home and boy is his house UNBELIVEABLE). I?ve relocated here shortly after college (Go Bonnies) as there just simply isn?t any opportunity in WNY anymore...I digress... We Buffalo Sabres Fans should be thankful we even have a team. With the amount of Brain-Drain WNY has seen, the decrease in population, corporate sponsorship, etc.....we truly are lucky. I?m so sick of people complaining about how the Sabres are run by DR et al, as on the whole, they do a pretty good job at keeping a contending team together in a small-market with a smaller team budget. We need to get over the Briere, Drury UFA of 2007 as it does nothing....its over, done with......Lets move on. Tell Bucky Gleason to as well.....Gosh am I sick of reading his column as he mentions this EVERYTIME he writes. Apparently he thinks he would made a good GM in the NHL........hum, then why is he writing columns instead of putting together rosters...........GET OVER IT ALREADY Let?s review the "non-signings" of UFA's over the years and their subsequent on-ice performance after landing the big contract McKee - how many games did he actually play in St. Louis? Not many....Score one for Darcy Drury - He hasn?t been too spectacular either and has a huge contract. Guess what team of overprices Free agents scored the least amount of goals last year.....any takers? Score one more for Darcy Briere - 11 goals last year while making ($8 mm, I think) That?s a pretty steep price/goal. Again, a huge contract ......Score one more for Darcy Grier - No real loss here Campbell - Clearly a top-notch offensive defensemen but come on, his contract is ridiculous... Let?s not forget he is pretty darn good and drafting and grooming players to become NHLers. Take a look at the production of these guys like Drury, Briere and others....Darcy gets these guys in their prime and lets them go after they have produced for the Sabres.... Granted, that?s how these guys land huge contracts but how many of them actually live up to these outrageous deals......not too many... Also, lets recap how Darcy gets these guys, he gets them on the cheap....Briere was acquired from Phoenix for Gratton (what has he dones since 2004) and a 4th rounder and got Briere and a 3rd rounder and lets not forget a ton of production from Briere over the next 4 seasons...........score two more for Darcy Drury - They got him from Calgary for Steve Reinprecht (who?????) and Rhett Warner (is he in the league anymore?).......again, nice job Darcy We will NEVER spend to the cap, we will never sign huge contracts for UFA's that are nearing or past their prime and we will never have big name son the roster. We will find good talent which hopefully blossoms into great talent.....we will watch these players grow and then when its time for them to sign a huge contract we will let them go.....and the cycle repeats itself. Will we be the Red Wings and contend each year?....nope . But will we make a run at it every so often.........hopefully..... But most of all.......I am simply happy that the Buffalo Sabres are still in Buffalo. Lets not forget in 2003 after the Rigas' went belly up and the franchise was bankrupt......how many of you were almost in tears thinking that the Sabres could "poof" vanish........move.......relocate.......and how many were hoping, praying that someone would step in and buy the team and promise to keep them here........Well, someone did and we still have a team. And now everyone complains at how he runs the organization all because he doesn?t want to bleed red every year. Trust me?.Losing money year after year on this franchise is a sure fire way for him to say "I?m done" and he would then find a buyer and we then go through the process of "nail biting" hoping , praying that the new suitor will keep the team in Buffalo. In closing........I bleed Blue & Gold, I love the team, but I am also a realistic person and understand why it is run a certain way. Am I happy coming in 10th place? , no.......But I am head-over-heels that we still have the Buffalo Sabres.....even if they go 20-62 next year... Ok, now unload on me? Go Buffalo!
inkman Posted July 17, 2009 Report Posted July 17, 2009 We will NEVER spend to the cap... False. They already did that in years past and are rapidly approaching that region again.
Packer76 Posted July 17, 2009 Author Report Posted July 17, 2009 False. They already did that in years past and are rapidly approaching that region again. Tell me your math? They spent 49 last year with the cap being 56? Do you consider that spending to the cap?
wonderbread Posted July 17, 2009 Report Posted July 17, 2009 you suck :nana: Pretty good sumation all in all. I think that most posters here agree with what you have written to a point. As far as spending to the cap, the team is pretty close to it however I would like to see that extra money that they have after the season starts used to bolster the line up to carry the team to the playoffs. Then again its not my money.
North Buffalo Posted July 17, 2009 Report Posted July 17, 2009 I think on the players you evaluated I disagree on a couple. Briere, Drury and Grier has something going. Also you can throw Sanderson in the mix too. Drury clearly needs a set up guy, but when he has one he is awesome. With Jagr, the Rangers had one, without him Drury fell on his face. Briere can't take a full season without taking some time off, but he can skate and had a connection setting up Drury. Griere is a hustler and I will take him over Paille, Mac and Hecht any day. Campbell is over paid and can't play D well enough... he should be made a forward and so are the others, but the Sabres could have had a couple of these guys locked in had they begun contract negotiations earlier or do we need to rehash Marcy's "I will not negotiate during the season tactics?" P.S. Why didn't the Sabres go after Peca and bring him back even as a third liner? That would have been nice now that he is clearly over his injuries and at a reduced price because of those injuries and his age? Still don't get the Sabres' slew footing themselves mentality.
BetweenThePipes00 Posted July 17, 2009 Report Posted July 17, 2009 Tell me your math? They spent 49 last year with the cap being 56? Do you consider that spending to the cap? Check out the 2006-07 numbers - http://nhlscap.com/2006-07_cap.htm ... And if you look at what they likely have to spend on RFA's, they will be much closer to it this season ... with everyone predicting the cap coming down, they will likely be very close again next season ... I think if you hang around this board for a while you will find that most on here are not screaming "spend more!" so much as spend smarter ... most of us understand the realities of Buffalo economics.
Packer76 Posted July 17, 2009 Author Report Posted July 17, 2009 I think on the players you evaluated I disagree on a couple. Briere, Drury and Grier has something going. Also you can throw Sanderson in the mix too. Drury clearly needs a set up guy, but when he has one he is awesome. With Jagr, the Rangers had one, without him Drury fell on his face. Briere can't take a full season without taking some time off, but he can skate and had a connection setting up Drury. Griere is a hustler and I will take him over Paille, Mac and Hecht any day. Campbell is over paid and can't play D well enough... he should be made a forward and so are the others, but the Sabres could have had a couple of these guys locked in had they begun contract negotiations earlier or do we need to rehash Marcy's "I will not negotiate during the season tactics?" P.S. Why didn't the Sabres go after Peca and bring him back even as a third liner? That would have been nice now that he is clearly over his injuries and at a reduced price because of those injuries and his age? Still don't get the Sabres' slew footing themselves mentality. i couldnt agree more on the "I will not negotiate during the season tactics" Hopefully DR learned a lesson here. Which I think he has. man, Briere could have been had for 5 years $5 per. Granted I bad mouthed him a little in th eprior post, but one thing he had with the rest of the team was cohesiveness, which is HUGE in hockey. Totally agree on Peca as well.....lets not forget he still lives in Buf
Packer76 Posted July 17, 2009 Author Report Posted July 17, 2009 Check out the 2006-07 numbers - http://nhlscap.com/2006-07_cap.htm ... And if you look at what they likely have to spend on RFA's, they will be much closer to it this season ... with everyone predicting the cap coming down, they will likely be very close again next season ... I think if you hang around this board for a while you will find that most on here are not screaming "spend more!" so much as spend smarter ... most of us understand the realities of Buffalo economics. Fair enough......I stand corrected :thumbsup:
Packer76 Posted July 17, 2009 Author Report Posted July 17, 2009 Fair enough......I stand corrected :thumbsup: Anyone ever get down thsi way to see a game at Florida Panthers? Best arena in the league, not nostalgia-wise, but modern-ness and hot-cheerleaders-wise? Look me up if you do as I got a great connection for tix. As you can see Im new to this board, never actually been on one before........kind of cool though..... clearly Im bored at work today!!!!
carpandean Posted July 17, 2009 Report Posted July 17, 2009 1) While you can't always trust reported numbers, by all accounts the salaries that the Sabres could have signed each of Drury, Briere and Campbell for at the start of their final years were a fraction of the ridiculous contracts that they ended up getting. 2) Steve Reinprecht was a pass-through player, who never actually played in Buffalo. Darcy traded Keith Ballard, a first-round (12th overall) defenseman prospect, for him before sending him off to Calgary (strange fact of the day: Ballard was later involved in a trade with Phoenix that saw Gratton going the other way.) So, it was really Ballard and Warrener for Drury. 3) As ink said, they spent to the cap in 2006-07 when they felt that they had a real contender. 4) It would be easier to forget about July 1, 2007 if they actually took steps to replace some of what they lost and any of the three subsequent offseasons (well, the rest of the 2007 offseason, all of 2008 - save for picking up Rivet for some leadership - and so far this offseason.) We still have 1-1/2 scoring-line centers. We still have no take charge, lead-by-example presence in the top six. I will agree that we are lucky to have a team here, but that doesn't mean we should just take what they give us without complaint. If we just re-sign Stafford/Sekera and fill the roster with last year's pirates, we will likely be over $54 million in salary/cap. That's not far below the league cap and will be right up there with all but the highest spending teams. So, it won't be a "not spending" problem, it will be a "spending poorly" problem.
Packer76 Posted July 17, 2009 Author Report Posted July 17, 2009 1) While you can't always trust reported numbers, by all accounts the salaries that the Sabres could have signed each of Drury, Briere and Campbell for at the start of their final years were a fraction of the ridiculous contracts that they ended up getting. 2) Steve Reinprecht was a pass-through player, who never actually played in Buffalo. Darcy traded Keith Ballard, a first-round (12th overall) defenseman prospect, for him before sending him off to Calgary (strange fact of the day: Ballard was later involved in a trade with Phoenix that saw Gratton going the other way.) So, it was really Ballard and Warrener for Drury. 3) As ink said, they spent to the cap in 2006-07 when they felt that they had a real contender. 4) It would be easier to forget about July 1, 2007 if they actually took steps to replace some of what they lost and any of the three subsequent offseasons (well, the rest of the 2007 offseason, all of 2008 - save for picking up Rivet for some leadership - and so far this offseason.) We still have 1-1/2 scoring-line centers. We still have no take charge, lead-by-example presence in the top six. I will agree that we are lucky to have a team here, but that doesn't mean we should just take what they give us without complaint. If we just re-sign Stafford/Sekera and fill the roster with last year's pirates, we will likely be over $54 million in salary/cap. That's not far below the league cap and will be right up there with all but the highest spending teams. So, it won't be a "not spending" problem, it will be a "spending poorly" problem. I stand corrected on some of my comments. I agree on the spending poorly remark. I really thought this year DR would be out there signing some UFA's. There is still a lot of second tier guys around. id love to see Bertuzzi in B&G. Yeah, Im pretty disappointed too that we havent at least signed SOMEOENE of importance
spndnchz Posted July 17, 2009 Report Posted July 17, 2009 Tell me your math? They spent 49 last year with the cap being 56? Do you consider that spending to the cap? Adding up the raises everyone got, if they had been applied in 07-08 they would have spent 58 million on the team. IMHO, I don't think they thought they had a chance last year and weren't willing to shell out the dough for anyone 'special'. With 16 players turning RFA or UFA in 09-10 and not being able to rid themselves of MAx, it just wasn't happenin'.
Packer76 Posted July 17, 2009 Author Report Posted July 17, 2009 Not to bring up the past or re-live it...........but, what th ehell happened to Max. how does a guy go to s#*t like he did? Dop you think it was the fact that he had a good group of supporting cast members in Briere and Drury or what. I mean, this guy when from highlight reel to goat.....and quickly. im pretty sure DR anf LF helped him pack his gear and had a plane waiting for him to get him out of Buffalo on Locker clean-out day!!
shrader Posted July 17, 2009 Report Posted July 17, 2009 i couldnt agree more on the "I will not negotiate during the season tactics" Hopefully DR learned a lesson here. Which I think he has. man, Briere could have been had for 5 years $5 per. Granted I bad mouthed him a little in th eprior post, but one thing he had with the rest of the team was cohesiveness, which is HUGE in hockey. I'm always curious as to why this subject comes up anymore. Miller, Pominville, Hecht, Connolly, and even the heavily reported negotiations with Campbell. Clearly that policy has changed and is a thing of the past. I'll also add that it was Golisano that learned from it, not Regier.
SwampD Posted July 17, 2009 Report Posted July 17, 2009 Welcome to the board. Nice 1st post, but I just want to say that I am really tired of the,"Just be happy we have a team" line. I think it is an excuse that is used to justify poor performance. Where are the Sabres going to go? You talk about Buffalo's economy, but the economy is bad almost everywhere. And where it's good, they don't care about hockey. Just like needing to get over Drury and Briere(I actually was never to upset about that), we need to get over thought of the team moving. Play and compete, or move on. Again welcome.
carpandean Posted July 17, 2009 Report Posted July 17, 2009 I really thought this year DR would be out there signing some UFA's. There is still a lot of second tier guys around. id love to see Bertuzzi in B&G. Yeah, Im pretty disappointed too that we havent at least signed SOMEONE of importance Unfortunately, with the contracts that they have, they either needed to trade away salary or pass on Sekera/Stafford in order to have the money to sign anyone of importance. Right or wrong, Darcy will never be heavily involved in the UFA market, especially the big name ones (our former players are all good examples of why that part is not such a bad policy.) As for Bertuzzi, I like his skills, but just can't get by the Moore incident. The guy shouldn't be in the league. But I digress ...
inkman Posted July 17, 2009 Report Posted July 17, 2009 man, Briere could have been had for 5 years $5 per. :D I can't tell you what a chubby this gives me. I'd expalin but it would take the better part of an hour to do so.
hopeleslyobvious Posted July 17, 2009 Report Posted July 17, 2009 Well thought out post. I would have liked to have kept Grier at the price the Sharks gave him...in fact, the Sabres offered him a similar deal. He didn't want to stick around though. Hard to blame the front office for that. I am not happy with our roster as it stands right now; however, since it's mid-July and not early October, I am not losing any sleep over it yet.
inkman Posted July 17, 2009 Report Posted July 17, 2009 Hard to blame the front office for that. I thought Grier left because of the front office.
carpandean Posted July 17, 2009 Report Posted July 17, 2009 I am not happy with our roster as it stands right now; however, since it's mid-July and not early October, I am not losing any sleep over it yet. Yeah, that's where I am at. I expect to be disappointed come October, but until that day comes, I won't complain about what they haven't done yet. I just hope that Darcy surprises me over the next couple of months.
Packer76 Posted July 17, 2009 Author Report Posted July 17, 2009 Unfortunately, with the contracts that they have, they either needed to trade away salary or pass on Sekera/Stafford in order to have the money to sign anyone of importance. Right or wrong, Darcy will never be heavily involved in the UFA market, especially the big name ones (our former players are all good examples of why that part is not such a bad policy.) As for Bertuzzi, I like his skills, but just can't get by the Moore incident. The guy shouldn't be in the league. But I digress ... I agree on big bert, he shouldnt be in the league.....but he is. I put him in the same category as Avery.......I HATE those two players, HOWEVER, I would love them to be on our team... It sounds so wrong but its true.
Stoner Posted July 17, 2009 Report Posted July 17, 2009 TW hasn't been around yet to clear this one up: Golisano hasn't lost money every year. He's also seen his buy-low, sell-high strategy progress quite nicely. Lack of opportunity in WNY? To quote the late nfreeman: nonsense! I will also quibble with the idea that those who leave represent a "brain-drain."
nfreeman Posted July 17, 2009 Report Posted July 17, 2009 Yeah, that's where I am at. I expect to be disappointed come October, but until that day comes, I won't complain about what they haven't done yet. I just hope that Darcy surprises me over the next couple of months. This is my position as well.
nfreeman Posted July 17, 2009 Report Posted July 17, 2009 TW hasn't been around yet to clear this one up: Golisano hasn't lost money every year. He's also seen his buy-low, sell-high strategy progress quite nicely. Lack of opportunity in WNY? To quote the late nfreeman: nonsense! I will also quibble with the idea that those who leave represent a "brain-drain." Reasonably witty but of course 100% erroneous.
Packer76 Posted July 17, 2009 Author Report Posted July 17, 2009 Yeah, that's where I am at. I expect to be disappointed come October, but until that day comes, I won't complain about what they haven't done yet. I just hope that Darcy surprises me over the next couple of months. True that! Just somethign, one signing, thats all it would take for us to smile and say, bring on October! I have noe more comment. What does everyone think about the Conolly signing?
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