Buffalo Sabres offseason options

by Steve

The Buffalo Sabres since the lock out have had one of the most dominating, high scoring, efficient, most winning, copied team in the Nation Hockey League. Yet they have failed to even reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Sure only 2 teams make it after a grueling first 3 rounds of best of 7 series, but literally and figuratively the Sabres haven't been close to winning the cup. The Sabres are at a crossroads this offseason, with highly talented players once again becoming free agents. Perhaps it is time for the Sabres again to move in a different direction, here's what I suggest.

Chris Drury was a highly touted player with a Stanley Cup under his belt early in his career. Won the Hobey Baker and Calder Trophy, yet was traded to Calgary before the opening of the 2002 season. He was again traded the following year to the Sabres. Every time prognosticators predict contracts it is more than what they thought. Everyone is saying Drury will get around $6+mill for this season, so it shouldn't be a shock if he gets more. If Drury refuses to pay for less, the Sabres should walk away. There are other Drury's out there that won a Championship early in their career playing a smaller role and looking to prove themselves. Well at least isn't that why everyone loves Darcy Regier in the first place, cause he found that guy? Maybe in hindsight, being 20/20 and all, a trade should have taken place before this point.

Well if he will stay for $6 or less keep him, if not oh well, he didn't win here the last two years whats to say he will in the next 2. Next is Dan Briere. It took Briere 4 seasons after making his NHL debut to prove he was worth being drafted in the first round by the Phoenix Coyotes. In 2001 he scored 32 goals yet was traded to the Sabres in the middle of the following year for Chris Gratton, a journeyman veteran filling a need on a team looking for a cup run. Look where he is today, a top 10 scorer in the NHL and a man contending for a $7+ contract. Sure it took the Sabres 3+ season before they realized his full potential and they were on their way to their own Cup run, but the guy was had for a career 15 goal scorer who had some grit in the corners. Again if Regier is so great, can he not find the next Briere?

Ideally you don't get rid of these guys. Realistically you can't expect to find the next Briere/Drury that readily or easily. However, that is what the Sabres, a small market team with a fan base that readily accepts winners however ignores mediocrity, must do to compete every other year. Of course I would not be suggesting getting rid of Drury and Briere if they did not have to but, $7 million? No or VERRRRRY few players are truly worth that much money, and frankly neither of them are worth that much per season especially in a small market.

The next player on the proverbial chopping block could be Thomas Vanek. He scored 43 goals last season, led the league in plus minus, and all in only his 2nd season. But are the Sabres or anyone else ready to shell out $4 or god forbid $5+ mil to this guy? He was mediocre in the playoffs yet showed some brilliance at times. He has only played 2 seasons and for all we know could have peaked. Yes it seems unlikely that he did, but who the hell knows, maybe he's a flash in the pan. Preferably the Sabres would like to sign him to another 1 year deal as they own his rights since he is still a Restricted Free Agent then seek a longer deal after seeing another season wit the kid. But, a crazy desperate franchise cough Flyers cough, could throw mad jack at this guy hoping to build a team around him. Mad jack being $5+ mil which would cost roughly um 4 FIRST ROUND PICKS if the Sabres don't match. So even the Flyers wouldn't be that stupid, but what about $4.5 mil and 2 first round picks. It is an unwritten rule you don't go after highly touted RFA's but thats just cause few have reached RFA status without a contract and are worth a high price. Maybe the Sabres should take the draft picks assuming Darcy is a genius and can simply plug in the next Vanek into the lineup.

When are the Sabres going to find out exactly how good players like Roy and Pominville are? Or for that matter Vanek, Connolly, Stafford, and other prospects? Is Pominville a 40 goal scorer consistently, he's still young and now has a plethora of playoff experience. How about Roy, he has shown goal scoring touch, some grit, can anyone say, Briere? We don't know, but until the Sabres truly depend on these guys alone, we won't know. Then again if you don't have to why even try to find out. But I believe that the added pressure and scrutiny can bring out the best and even the worst in players. If Vanek, Roy, Tin Can, and Pominville come to the realization that they are "the man" how will they handle it? I for one am willing to watch a 6, 7, or 8 seed team for a season to find out about these players.

However, is it really that easy to just flip a switch and regain the spot as a true Cup contender? Probably not, especially after losing alleged franchise players at the same time, Drury/Briere. Then again Miller is heralded as a top echelon goalie, and hasn't Brodeur led his team to at least the 2nd round and a few Stanley Cups along the way? Maybe goaltending (which supposedly the Sabres have solidified) is more important than a forward or center who has played in the Cup finals before. Then again it could be a combination of both.

I suggest, trying to sign them, if they want 5 years and $30 mil well PEACE OUT. There has to be some $3-4 million players than can have a similar impact and gel with this current team in place. Bolster the defense with some grit, find some players that are unable to get that big contract yet and are still hungry for the cup and $$greener$$ pastures (Briere and Drury 4 years ago) and see where it takes them.

This could be the ultimate test (outside of actually winning the cup) for Darcy and Ruff, yet another rebuilding with out a major drop off, because as we should have learned after the cup runs of 98-00, with a drop off in wins so does the drop off in attendance, at least in Buffalo.