The Buffalo Sabres aftermath

by Steve

Sunday Bloody Sunday (one week later)

One of if not the darkest days in Buffalo Sabres history has pasted, its only a week but it seems like it was yesterday. By now Drury is shopping for a house in the Hamptons while little Dan Briere is searching for a nice part of Philly where he will be living for the next 8 seasons (assuming there isn't a lock out and he requests a trade). Most Sabres "faithful" are still begrudging Darc and Quinny, the Buffalo News comes out with a new column by Gleason daily ripping the organization while the few die hard homers have moved on and accepted the new Sabres.

For me, since Black Sunday, it seemed to get worse each day. New details and stories emerged daily. Monday was the infamous press conference where management actually said they would be less competitive, something about a two legged horse, and how they wished they did things a bit different. Then it was about Drury discussing a contract in September and agreeing in principle to a 4 year extension worth somewhere around $23 mil and the Sabres dragging their feet for 2 weeks. Then it was Edmonton perhaps single handedly brining the NHL back to a lockout and offering Vanek 7 years $50 million. Instead of taking the 4 draft picks, turning their backs on the fans and basically buying a one way ticket to Hamilton ON the Sabres matched the offer. And finally, it was the revelation that the Sabres didn't talk to Briere in January or even after the arbitration ruling about a long term deal and lied, well according to Briere's Agent, and of course Lindy's comments err lack of comment saying "no comment" about the entire situation.

Sure, Darc and Quinny are completely inept clueless and lack foresight but its tough to blame them in the Vanek situation. He came off a career year, a career that has lasted 2 seasons, he was benched a little over a year ago in the playoffs but is only 23 and has tremendous upside. Negotiating with Vanek would have never happened and Edmonton fucked up and fucked the sabres, the new NHL!

The argument that, well if the Sabres signed Briere to 5 and $25 mil and Drury to $5.3 or so a year, twenty-three year old Vanek would be gone. BS, Numminen wouldn't have been brought back at 2.6 mil or Kotalik and his 2+ mil would have been shipped else where. Either way something would have been done, the cap is $50.3, you have your two corner stones and your young phenom locked up for the rest of the decade, the fans would have been in full support and the cash would have continued to roll in, further more the team would be much better. Now the Sabres will spend around $46 mil or so and struggle in the first round of the playoffs. Great fiscal decision there.

Losing those two might not be so bad, they are 30+(Briere will be 30 Oct 6th) and never won anything here, between the two of them they have 1 Stanley Cup and that was because of Forsberg/Sakic/Roy etc etc. And of course the fans will be back, I mean they payed for the season tickets, and what else is there to do in January, not NFL playoffs yet. So what was the worst thing to occur following the worst day in Sabres history this decade?

TEPPO NUMMINEN and his $2.6 million contract. Sure he is a veteran presence and does the little things well. But the dude is 39 soft and not the answer for the Sabres defensive issues. Sure, to my shocking surprise he didn't break down in the playoffs, probably cause he doesn't bang in the corners and punish opposing players. In all honesty I can not for the life of me think why Darc decided to bring this guy back. Take his 2.6 try like hell to peace out Spacek and his $3.3 mil and hand it to a Sheldon Souray. Sure he is a possible defensive liability and sometimes a road cone in his own zone, but the dude brings heart. He also has leadership ability, scores, and is straight up nasty. Was it me or was the Sabres power play anemic in the post season? Is toughness and heart a weakness on this squad? Uhhh YES, Souray would have provided all of that, and the young defensemen in the system, ready to make the leap, would have had an available spot on the roster opened for them. I guess that is too much common sense though, or maybe Spacek is immovable or management still likes him who knows, but at this point can you really trust them?

But hey don't say I didn't warn you all of this happening, I mean I had a running count down till dooms day.. either way who wants to be the top dog, wasn't the season before more fun any way?