Encouraging Larry Quinn Interview

[tom webster]

Ther's a three part Larry Quinn interview on WGR550.com that I am told is very encouraging to those who hope they are prepared to make a run at it this year. Just thought I'd let you know.

[spndnchz]

I listened to all of this this morning and took some notes. When I get home I can say more but, yeah, very encouraging.

 

A few things LQ said that I remember:

They could have got 4 1st rounders for Briere but preferred the cup run.

Aside of trading Miller or someone like him they will do anything they can to win the cup.

Many changes coming for the 40th anniversary next year.

He talks to sugar packets twice a day and SP is much involved with the team. LQ says SP would be in town now that the first of the year has come, he's been in tax exile.

[carpandean]

They could have got 4 1st rounders for Briere but preferred the cup run.

Could you imagine what kind of team they could have built with those four plus the four from Edmonton for Vanek?! Ah, hindsight, why do you tease me so?

[nucci]

Could you imagine what kind of team they could have built with those four plus the four from Edmonton for Vanek?! Ah, hindsight, why do you tease me so?

Can you imagine the reaction if Briere was traded at the deadline that year?

[carpandean]

Can you imagine the reaction if Briere was traded at the deadline that year?

Oh, I definitely don't think that they were wrong to keep him, but it does make you wonder, "what if?"

[end the curse]

"Changes for next year"...I would imagine that's Quinnese for DEATH TO THE SLUG!

[LabattBlue]

Can you imagine the reaction if Briere was traded at the deadline that year?

Briere was good and I wish he was still here, but that good? I'd love to know who offered that deal up or is Quinny just blowing some smoke up our regarding something that can't be proved one way or the other by the listening public?

[nfreeman]

Could you imagine what kind of team they could have built with those four plus the four from Edmonton for Vanek?! Ah, hindsight, why do you tease me so?

I will continue to defend the Sabres keeping established NHL scorers instead of acquiring 1st-round picks.

 

The 4 first-rounders for Briere would've presumably come from a Cup contender that year -- so likely they would've been fairly low down in the first round. It's highly likely we'd be talking about 4 more Barrett Heistens or Viv Savages or Danny Pailles. Edmonton's picks would've been better, but how many would've turned into 40-goal scorers? And how many first-round picks has it been for the Sabres over the years between 40-goal scorers?

 

Can you imagine the reaction if Briere was traded at the deadline that year?

Exactly. You don't trade your co-captain and scoring leader when you're trying to win the Cup.

[shrader]

Briere was good and I wish he was still here, but that good? I'd love to know who offered that deal up or is Quinny just blowing some smoke up our regarding something that can't be proved one way or the other by the listening public?

 

I would guess that a lot of team throw random offers out there just for the hell of it. Either it starts a conversation or it's a diversionary tactic for other deals.

[spndnchz]

Briere was good and I wish he was still here, but that good? I'd love to know who offered that deal up or is Quinny just blowing some smoke up our regarding something that can't be proved one way or the other by the listening public?

 

More than once during the interview he said things that really made me feel like they had no intention of keeping Briere and every intention of keeping "leadership player like Drury".

[BuffalOhio]

More than once during the interview he said things that really made me feel like they had no intention of keeping Briere and every intention of keeping "leadership player like Drury".

 

Whoa, I just noticed spndnchz's interests! #2 is my favorite thing, too! Woot! Boing!

[JJFIVEOH]

Could you imagine what kind of team they could have built with those four plus the four from Edmonton for Vanek?! Ah, hindsight, why do you tease me so?

 

Come back and ask that question WHEN Vanek starts scoring again. :D

[JJFIVEOH]

I will continue to defend the Sabres keeping established NHL scorers instead of acquiring 1st-round picks.

 

The 4 first-rounders for Briere would've presumably come from a Cup contender that year -- so likely they would've been fairly low down in the first round. It's highly likely we'd be talking about 4 more Barrett Heistens or Viv Savages or Danny Pailles. Edmonton's picks would've been better, but how many would've turned into 40-goal scorers? And how many first-round picks has it been for the Sabres over the years between 40-goal scorers?

 

 

Exactly. You don't trade your co-captain and scoring leader when you're trying to win the Cup.

 

:thumbsup:

 

Not to mention the fact that all those first-rounders would be spread out over a couple of years. Also not to mention the fact that they would have no benefit to the team in the near future. It amazes me how many people want to change things considering the Sabres are in the top 4 in the league yet many still consider there is a lot more left in this team. Don't mess with a good thing!

[SwampD]

I will continue to defend the Sabres keeping established NHL scorers instead of acquiring 1st-round picks.

 

The 4 first-rounders for Briere would've presumably come from a Cup contender that year -- so likely they would've been fairly low down in the first round. It's highly likely we'd be talking about 4 more Barrett Heistens or Viv Savages or Danny Pailles. Edmonton's picks would've been better, but how many would've turned into 40-goal scorers? And how many first-round picks has it been for the Sabres over the years between 40-goal scorers?

 

 

Exactly. You don't trade your co-captain and scoring leader when you're trying to win the Cup.

Viv would have been great if he didn't "have a good time,..all the time."

[carpandean]

Just to be clear - for those who seem to believe otherwise - I was kidding. Not trading Briere was the right move and, while four first rounders from Edmonton has the potential to be a nice draw, so was signing Vanek. It's just fun to think about having three first round pick (ours, Edmonton's and whoever Briere would have gone to's) for four years.

[Rip Titwide]

Briere was good and I wish he was still here, but that good? I'd love to know who offered that deal up or is Quinny just blowing some smoke up our regarding something that can't be proved one way or the other by the listening public?

 

This.

 

Whoa, I just noticed spndnchz's interests! #2 is my favorite thing, too! Woot! Boing!

 

THAT!

[VansTheMans]

More than once during the interview he said things that really made me feel like they had no intention of keeping Briere and every intention of keeping "leadership player like Drury".

 

Its because they didnt.

 

Internally, it seems as if they decided well before negotiations began that they would keep Drury, dump Briere.

 

Drury strikes me as a man of principles.

 

I get the feeling Drury walked because the organization fukked up both HIS and DB's negotiations. I mean REALLY fudged up. He took it as a sign.

 

He saw them drop the ball with his contract (damn that fax machine).

 

He watched them screw his co-captain DB (I'm inclined to believe he MUST have been in contact with DB regarding the status of how his new contract was doing, i.e. no progress whatsoever).

 

He saw the writing on the wall. This was not an organization committed to winning. This organization was not committed to retaining their star players.

 

Blame LQ, blame DR, blame TG. Either way. The organization messed it up bad, and we lost both our co-captains. July 1st 2007 was a sh!tty day indeed.

 

What they should have done was have bilateral sit down talks with both of them together, in the same room. I have to think they would have taken a hometown discount if they knew the organization wanted to keep them together for their remaining years. That speaks volumes. Could you imagine DB and Drury being on the team for 5.5/yr for the rest of their healthy hockey years? It most likely could have been done if the organization had handled things properly.

 

Now maybe I'm wrong. I know people love to cling to the excuse, "SCREW DRURY, HE ALWAYS LOVE NYR BLAH BLAH". I don't buy that. Drury may have said he always wanted to play for the NYR, but wouldn't you say the same thing to a team who just committed 7mill/yr to you? What would you say? "Hmpf, I'd rather be playing for Buffalo". Um, no. I don't buy that. If Drury had his heart set on the NYR, he wouldn't have ever even began contract negotiations with the team in Feb of 2007 (which he did).

 

You have to read in between the lines.

 

/end rant

 

Sorry, had to get that off my chest.

 

As far as the initial thread purpose: We'll see what this organization does at the deadline. I have to believe they will do very little. We have our core locked up for several years, so there's no huge urgency to win the cup. I mean, think about it. 2006-2007, two of our biggest players were pending UFAs. If there was ever a time to give up picks and prospects in order to acquire a rental of WINNING THE CUP magnitude, it would have occurred that year. Instead, they opted for a middle of the road rental, Zubrus.

 

Maybe Darcy will pull something out of his ass and acquire a puck moving PP QB dman, but Im doubtful.

[SabresRepublic]

Its because they didnt.

 

Internally, it seems as if they decided well before negotiations began that they would keep Drury, dump Briere.

 

Drury strikes me as a man of principles.

 

I get the feeling Drury walked because the organization fukked up both HIS and DB's negotiations. I mean REALLY fudged up. He took it as a sign.

 

He saw them drop the ball with his contract (damn that fax machine).

 

He watched them screw his co-captain DB (I'm inclined to believe he MUST have been in contact with DB regarding the status of how his new contract was doing, i.e. no progress whatsoever).

 

He saw the writing on the wall. This was not an organization committed to winning. This organization was not committed to retaining their star players.

 

Blame LQ, blame DR, blame TG. Either way. The organization messed it up bad, and we lost both our co-captains. July 1st 2007 was a sh!tty day indeed.

 

What they should have done was have bilateral sit down talks with both of them together, in the same room. I have to think they would have taken a hometown discount if they knew the organization wanted to keep them together for their remaining years. That speaks volumes. Could you imagine DB and Drury being on the team for 5.5/yr for the rest of their healthy hockey years? It most likely could have been done if the organization had handled things properly.

 

Now maybe I'm wrong. I know people love to cling to the excuse, "SCREW DRURY, HE ALWAYS LOVE NYR BLAH BLAH". I don't buy that. Drury may have said he always wanted to play for the NYR, but wouldn't you say the same thing to a team who just committed 7mill/yr to you? What would you say? "Hmpf, I'd rather be playing for Buffalo". Um, no. I don't buy that. If Drury had his heart set on the NYR, he wouldn't have ever even began contract negotiations with the team in Feb of 2007 (which he did).

 

You have to read in between the lines.

 

/end rant

 

Sorry, had to get that off my chest.

 

As far as the initial thread purpose: We'll see what this organization does at the deadline. I have to believe they will do very little. We have our core locked up for several years, so there's no huge urgency to win the cup. I mean, think about it. 2006-2007, two of our biggest players were pending UFAs. If there was ever a time to give up picks and prospects in order to acquire a rental of WINNING THE CUP magnitude, it would have occurred that year. Instead, they opted for a middle of the road rental, Zubrus.

 

Maybe Darcy will pull something out of his ass and acquire a puck moving PP QB dman, but Im doubtful.

 

Plenty of interesting analyses going on here but whatever they thought and whatever they did and whatever

happened does NOT compare to what is actually a premier hockey skill venue in Buffalo and we have all we need else

there are upstarts in the ORG ready to fill any potential void!!! This is one dynamic - special team and the players on it

will adjust their play to achieve the greatest hockey award.

 

Kaleta is a case in point from the less experienced group. Methinks he now realizes that he would be a far greater contributor to the overall skill set if he focused on the skating and mental part of his game rather than the goon/physical!

 

GO BUFFALO!!!

[nfreeman]

They could have got 4 1st rounders for Briere but preferred the cup run.

Briere was good and I wish he was still here, but that good? I'd love to know who offered that deal up or is Quinny just blowing some smoke up our regarding something that can't be proved one way or the other by the listening public?

I listened to the interview tonight. Just to clarify, he didn't actually say someone offered them 4 first-rounders. He was discussing how the Cup is the goal, and accordingly, even though it might've been the right long-term move, they didn't even think about trading Briere at the deadline in '07 because they were going for the Cup, "even though we could've gotten 3 or 4 first-round picks or whatever." So, not quite a smoking gun.

[inkman]

I'd love to know who offered that deal up or is Quinny just blowing some smoke up our regarding something that can't be proved one way or the other by the listening public?

Pure speculation on his part.

 

I would guess that a lot of team throw random offers out there just for the hell of it. Either it starts a conversation or it's a diversionary tactic for other deals.

This.

 

More than once during the interview he said things that really made me feel like they had no intention of keeping Briere and every intention of keeping "leadership player like Drury".

I thought this was common knowledge at this point. Guess not.

 

He saw the writing on the wall. This was not an organization committed to winning. This organization was not committed to retaining their star players.

At least he's with a team committed to that winning principle. Not so good at executing it but they try really hard. Sorry Captain Intangibles...

[LabattBlue]

I listened to the interview tonight. Just to clarify, he didn't actually say someone offered them 4 first-rounders. He was discussing how the Cup is the goal, and accordingly, even though it might've been the right long-term move, they didn't even think about trading Briere at the deadline in '07 because they were going for the Cup, "even though we could've gotten 3 or 4 first-round picks or whatever." So, not quite a smoking gun.

Thanks for the clarification. The "whatever" part is closer to what they would have received for Briere. Only in his dreams were the Sabres going to get 3 or 4 first round picks for Briere.

[Eleven]

Thanks for the clarification. The "whatever" part is closer to what they would have received for Briere. Only in his dreams were the Sabres going to get 3 or 4 first round picks for Briere.

 

I don't know about that. The Leafs just gave up two first-round picks for Phil Kessel, right? And Briere was the MVP of the All-Star Game that year. It's not a total exercise of the imagination to envision a team offering 3.

[sweeper]

"Changes for next year"...I would imagine that's Quinnese for DEATH TO THE SLUG!

 

 

I didn't read the rest of the replies thus far, so my apologies if someone else said this already...

 

He's said on WGR over a year ago that this is the last year for the slug. He repeated it earlier this year.

 

Next year our current thirds will be the primary home jersey, a white version of that will come out, and they will have all new thirds also. Baring any usage of the slug on the thirds (which I wouldn't even care about to be honest), the slug is all but GONE.

[nfreeman]

I don't know about that. The Leafs just gave up two first-round picks for Phil Kessel, right? And Briere was the MVP of the All-Star Game that year. It's not a total exercise of the imagination to envision a team offering 3.

Right on. And the Oilers had to give up a 1st, 2nd and 3rd for Dustin Penner (and those picks were high in their respective rounds because the Oilers are a lousy team).

[Stoner]

I just listened to the whole interview -- half an hour or more of my life I want back. Is Bulldog Mike Schopp's bitch or what? Mike dominates the interview.

 

Anyway, I didn't hear anything "encouraging." I heard LQ being the master politician that he is. He makes Bill Clinton look like an amateur in parsing words and speaking out both sides of his butt cheeks. The evidence of how good he is at spinning BS is that some serious fans here actually heard something to be encouraged about, when the man literally said nothing.

 

He praised how cohesive the team is, mentioned how the players moreso than in previous years seem to care so much about each other ("inside-out guys"), then said he didn't know if the Sabres might make a Marian Hossa-like trade, where several Sabres would depart -- of course, in the phrasing, some people will hear LQ say the Sabres are considering it, and others will hear that they never would do that. That's just how brilliant the guy is.

 

Clearly, Darcy's MO is that he's not going to disrupt team "chemistry" when the team is winning. The pertinent thing I heard LQ say, while also saying how desperately they all want to win a Cup for the tortured fans of Buffalo, is that he wouldn't want "lose their chance" to win a Cup during The Miller Window that he thinks will last the next five years, to get one chance to win it this year.

 

Another example:

 

LQ said he thinks the game needs to be more offensive, then had to cover his tracks to admit that the Sabres are one of the best defensive teams in the game. They're as good as anyone at playing the trap and sitting on leads -- and they're pretty boring. And, yes, Lindy still has no clue what he's doing coaching the offensive side!

 

The perfect hockey score, according to LQ: 4-3. I take it that's always with Buffalo on top. Four goals a game? How do owners expect the game to become so offensive-minded when they put guys like Lindy Ruff behind the benches, doing whatever is necessary to win, at any cost, even if it means putting the fans to sleep, like last night?