Chris Drury

[inkman]

Why not go for it now?

Being saddled with those players contracts, given their age and their current production, would have crippled the franchise. At least right now things look like they are on an upward trend. I think with the offseason moves and perhaps another trade deadline upgrade, the Sabres could put themselves in a good spot for years to come.

 

It's hard to see how the Sabres could possibly be "better off" when they completely fell off the table after losing those 2 guys, missed the playoffs for 2 years...

I can't argue how the loss of those players hurt the team. They weren't ready to spread their wings and grow into the roles that Danny and Chris fufilled. Derek Roy, Jason Pominville, Tim Connolly and Thomas Vanek; I'm looking at you. None of them mutured at the rate the organization had hoped. They remained follwers. It took the importation of leadership from Mike Grier and a little competition form the likes of Tim Kennedy to get these guys to wake up and play like men. I'm not convinced they will keep it up, but the early results are encouraging.

[Derrico]

The only problem with that statement is there really is no end. Just the Now....You can always plan for the future but when you can win it now why just let it go..Just to say "in the end we will be better off?" Hell no..Why not go for it now? Scared to pay the price to win it all? Why not do the right thing now? Why didnt they sign them to their deals earlier? Why didnt they add players to help them win it all??? You meen to tell me that we couldnt have gotten a really good pounding defenseman for Derek Roy and Another upandcoming player instead of justt sticking theyre heads in the sand and hoping they can sign them? If they had taken care of the "now" back then they wouldnt have been in the spot they were the past 2 yrs..Instead we are left with" In the End".. Well as I see it right now we still dont have any centers on this team worth a crap..I dont mean to go off on a tangent I just get sick of the excuses we sometimes make to make ourselves justify a series of bad decisions

 

Your saying that the Sabres could have obviously gotten "a really good pounding defenseman AND another up and comming player" for "a centre that is not worth a crap"??

 

You say in one breath that they could/should have got some big pounding dman (which there are few in this league) and an up and comming player for a guy that you basically call a bum in another sentence in ur statement. I thought they should have signed one at the time as well but obviously you need Chris wanting to stay to actually sign him and for some imaginary trade u wanted to see for Roy, u actually need another team also wanting to make that deal.

[wjag]

With all this bad publicity, I think it's time to roll out the LLWS highlights again. Chris needs a NY hug.

[stenbaro]

Your saying that the Sabres could have obviously gotten "a really good pounding defenseman AND another up and comming player" for "a centre that is not worth a crap"??

 

You say in one breath that they could/should have got some big pounding dman (which there are few in this league) and an up and comming player for a guy that you basically call a bum in another sentence in ur statement. I thought they should have signed one at the time as well but obviously you need Chris wanting to stay to actually sign him and for some imaginary trade u wanted to see for Roy, u actually need another team also wanting to make that deal.

No..What I said was We couldve gottena good pounding defenseman for Derek Roy and a good up and coming player...Not A good defensman and agood up and coming player for Roy...You misread..Probably changes things eh?

[Sabretip]

I loved Chris when he was here. I think alot of fans loved him. But he turned his back on the Sabres to fulfill his "childhood dream" so I'm actually getting some enjoyment out of watching him fail. I know it's off topic but I can't believe that fans here booed Campbell. The guy wanted to stay and they traded him. Buffalo (apparently) offered Drury similar money but chose the Rags. If anyone should get booed in this stadium it should be Drury!

 

 

I too was a huge Drury fan and still to this day am sore about his departure. The debate over how it happened will probably never get settled but I tend to still believe the accounts from the various TBN articles at the time (not just the opinionated Bucky Gleason but Vogl, Harrington and Graham were part of the research process) that Drury wanted to stay in Buffalo and was ready to sign an offer that was inexplicably pulled by Quinn. After that gesture that implied doubts by the team on Drury's tenure, he saw his fellow captain Briere get mistreated and ignored. That, more than all of the "playing for his boyhood favorite team (NYR)", likely pushed him to leave the Sabres and go elsewhere.

 

I also believe that if he had remained a Sabre, the team wouldn't have missed the playoffs the past two years and struggled so much with leadership issues as they did (if a lesser player like Grier can have such a calming influence on the team this season, it's safe to say Drury would have provided that the prior two years). I also think Drury's stats, as they exist today and with the Rangers the past two years, wouldn't be as mediocre as they are.

 

Just my opinion.....

[darksabre]

I too was a huge Drury fan and still to this day am sore about his departure. The debate over how it happened will probably never get settled but I tend to still believe the accounts from the various TBN articles at the time (not just the opinionated Bucky Gleason but Vogl, Harrington and Graham were part of the research process) that Drury wanted to stay in Buffalo and was ready to sign an offer that was inexplicably pulled by Quinn. After that gesture that implied doubts by the team on Drury's tenure, he saw his fellow captain Briere get mistreated and ignored. That, more than all of the "playing for his boyhood favorite team (NYR)", likely pushed him to leave the Sabres and go elsewhere.

 

I also believe that if he had remained a Sabre, the team wouldn't have missed the playoffs the past two years and struggled so much with leadership issues as they did (if a lesser player like Grier can have such a calming influence on the team this season, it's safe to say Drury would have provided that the prior two years). I also think Drury's stats, as they exist today and with the Rangers the past two years, wouldn't be as mediocre as they are.

 

Just my opinion.....

 

I've been meaning to post my feelings on Drury but you've taken the words out of my mouth. Chris wore my lucky number here, and he played in a way that I respected. He was tough and a leader and I liked his game.

 

Chris is to the Rangers what Gomez is to Montreal.

 

I'm sure Drury wants to go somewhere else as much as the Rangers fans wish he would. I would bet that as much as he wants to play for the Rangers, he'd rather be somewhere winning and playing in a system that fits his strengths. Playing on the Rags has stifled him.

[CallawaySabres]

I've been meaning to post my feelings on Drury but you've taken the words out of my mouth. Chris wore my lucky number here, and he played in a way that I respected. He was tough and a leader and I liked his game.

 

Chris is to the Rangers what Gomez is to Montreal.

 

I'm sure Drury wants to go somewhere else as much as the Rangers fans wish he would. I would bet that as much as he wants to play for the Rangers, he'd rather be somewhere winning and playing in a system that fits his strengths. Playing on the Rags has stifled him.

 

Too bad he didn't figure out that the system he thrives was the none he left. Take care and brush your hair 23!

[darksabre]

Too bad he didn't figure out that the system he thrives was the none he left. Take care and brush your hair 23!

 

I guess the good thing about having the Rangers around is that if we ever want anyone from them, we wont have to worry about the players we send them being even remotely effective.

[nfreeman]

I guess the good thing about having the Rangers around is that if we ever want anyone from them, we wont have to worry about the players we send them being even remotely effective.

Somewhat related: here is a pretty good piece from the hockey news ripping Sather for continuous mismanagement of the Rangers.

[Derrico]

No..What I said was We couldve gottena good pounding defenseman for Derek Roy and a good up and coming player...Not A good defensman and agood up and coming player for Roy...You misread..Probably changes things eh?

 

Sorry man, I really don't wanna agrue, but your later point was that we don't have a centre who is worth a crap. You don't get a banging defenseman OR an up and comming player for someone described as that.

[Derrico]

I too was a huge Drury fan and still to this day am sore about his departure. The debate over how it happened will probably never get settled but I tend to still believe the accounts from the various TBN articles at the time (not just the opinionated Bucky Gleason but Vogl, Harrington and Graham were part of the research process) that Drury wanted to stay in Buffalo and was ready to sign an offer that was inexplicably pulled by Quinn. After that gesture that implied doubts by the team on Drury's tenure, he saw his fellow captain Briere get mistreated and ignored. That, more than all of the "playing for his boyhood favorite team (NYR)", likely pushed him to leave the Sabres and go elsewhere.

 

I also believe that if he had remained a Sabre, the team wouldn't have missed the playoffs the past two years and struggled so much with leadership issues as they did (if a lesser player like Grier can have such a calming influence on the team this season, it's safe to say Drury would have provided that the prior two years). I also think Drury's stats, as they exist today and with the Rangers the past two years, wouldn't be as mediocre as they are.

Just my opinion.....

 

Totally agree with you on this....

[stenbaro]

Sorry man, I really don't wanna agrue, but your later point was that we don't have a centre who is worth a crap. You don't get a banging defenseman OR an up and comming player for someone described as that.

Derek Roy 3 yrs ago was viewed as a good up and coming center with very good potential...He also was putting up good numbers....Not gonna argue either but a player like that gets you a hard hitting defensmen..Not anorris winner but a good solid dman...Its a moot argument anyways but your original point is what my argument was against, not the players to add to....

[Derrico]

Derek Roy 3 yrs ago was viewed as a good up and coming center with very good potential...He also was putting up good numbers....Not gonna argue either but a player like that gets you a hard hitting defensmen..Not anorris winner but a good solid dman...Its a moot argument anyways but your original point is what my argument was against, not the players to add to....

 

My only point that I continue to post on here is that I'm tired of talking about what could of/should have happened three years ago. I believe that this group of guys can go a long ways in the playoffs. I do feel like the Tin Man and Roy are legitimate. Maybe I'm overly optimistic but the pessimism (possibly justifiable) is justing getting too old. I'm definetly not saying this just to you in particular, I read tons of posts about how badly management has mishandled situations in the past. But hey, if we paid Drury/Briere even close to the money they wanted than we might not have Miller right now. It seems like the Sabres have finally turned a corner in their franchise and have got past the Drury/Briere soap opera of three years ago.

[Sabretip]

I've been meaning to post my feelings on Drury but you've taken the words out of my mouth. Chris wore my lucky number here, and he played in a way that I respected. He was tough and a leader and I liked his game.

 

Chris is to the Rangers what Gomez is to Montreal.

 

 

Considering how lukewarm a reception Gomez has gotten from Montreal fans and hasn't exactly produced the way the Habs expected, I don't think the Drury-to-Gomez is a flattering comparison.

 

I wonder if Drury has spoken to Grier since Grier returned to Buffalo. At the time Drury left in 2007, there were several reports by the media citing Drury doubts about the organization's commitment to winning (i.e. the Briere situation) - which echoed what Grier said when he left in 2006. With people like Grier and Rivet now on board, Drury's leadership would have been quite effective right now in forming a core group for the other players to look to. Part of me firmly believes that guys like Connolly, Roy, Vanek and Pominville would be far more effective (offensively and defensively) in support roles rather than the "core" roles they got handed by default when real leaders like Drury, Briere and Grier left. The stats sure seem to point that way at least in the latter 3's cases - they all have dropped in production since 2007.

[stenbaro]

My only point that I continue to post on here is that I'm tired of talking about what could of/should have happened three years ago. I believe that this group of guys can go a long ways in the playoffs. I do feel like the Tin Man and Roy are legitimate. Maybe I'm overly optimistic but the pessimism (possibly justifiable) is justing getting too old. I'm definetly not saying this just to you in particular, I read tons of posts about how badly management has mishandled situations in the past. But hey, if we paid Drury/Briere even close to the money they wanted than we might not have Miller right now. It seems like the Sabres have finally turned a corner in their franchise and have got past the Drury/Briere soap opera of three years ago.

I agree it looks like they have turned the corner. But they are still a real center away from doing anything..My point was with my original post rather than saying "in the end " we are better off when I would rather worry about now than in the end...

[SouthernSabre]

Considering how lukewarm a reception Gomez has gotten from Montreal fans and hasn't exactly produced the way the Habs expected, I don't think the Drury-to-Gomez is a flattering comparison.

 

I wonder if Drury has spoken to Grier since Grier returned to Buffalo. At the time Drury left in 2007, there were several reports by the media citing Drury doubts about the organization's commitment to winning (i.e. the Briere situation) - which echoed what Grier said when he left in 2006. With people like Grier and Rivet now on board, Drury's leadership would have been quite effective right now in forming a core group for the other players to look to. Part of me firmly believes that guys like Connolly, Roy, Vanek and Pominville would be far more effective (offensively and defensively) in support roles rather than the "core" roles they got handed by default when real leaders like Drury, Briere and Grier left. The stats sure seem to point that way at least in the latter 3's cases - they all have dropped in production since 2007.

 

I totally agree. We do need a gamechanger!

[KD in CT]

I'm not surprised, though, that the Rags fans are ready to kill him. But they should be more pissed at the FO for massively overpaying for a blue-collar, second-line player, giving him superstar first-line money and a No Movement Clause to boot, when in reality he's a solid two-way player, a regular 20-25 goal, 30-35 assist guy who is not nearly worth the money that he got from NY.

 

Spot on. I remember being surprised at the time by the reaction of the NY media and fans about what kind of player they thought they were getting. There's no doubt they were all snake-charmed with his Houdini act in the playoffs that year.

 

What I find amazing is that it's not just fans that are easily fooled by short term performance, but GMs whose job (you would think) should allow them to separate fact from fiction. It's like the Mets thinking Carlos Beltran was gonna hit 40 HRs every year in Shea Stadium after that hot playoff year for the Astos.