Our Front Office is PISSING ME OFF.

[Cornellian]

From the Buffalo News, article here: http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabresnhl/story/99245.html

Ruff and managing partner Larry Quinn touched on a long list of topics during their 34-minute chat, including:

• Their strategy for signing free agents, a plan best described as unformulated.

“The guys that we’ll look at first and foremost are the unrestricted players,” Regier said. “You get to work on the process to understand where everybody from the players’ side would like to be. Then things do happen quick.”

• Whether it’s possible to keep cocaptains Drury and Briere.

“It still could happen,” Regier said. “Things have to fit. It has to fit for them, has to fit for us.”

• Contract talks with Vanek, a restricted free agent.

“I plan on talking to [his agent] Steve Bartlett,” Regier said. “I don’t know if it’ll be before July 1 or not. He’s a restricted free agent, he doesn’t have arbitration rights, he certainly is open to offers from other teams. Whether or not that takes place, how we respond in the event it does take place — it’s part of the process.”

It is now 15 days before July 1st. We are running out of time to have exclusive negotiating rights with these guys. The fact that we don't even have a formulated PLAN at this point to which players we will sign is downright laughable. I'm sick of this organization dawdling on this matter.

We sold the most merchandise this year and sold out every home game. Revenue is not a problem for this franchise, as confirmed by Quinn and Golisano's claims that payroll will increase next year. We have the means to keep at least one of our co-captains and Vanek. The "let's shrug our shoulders as another big-name player leaves because we're a small market" card can't be played anymore. I as a fan have invested lots of money this season in tickets and merchandise, and I demand to know that the full efforts of the organization are being utilized to acquire and keep the best personnel possible. GET TO WORK.

[Carl J. Ironsides]

I'm not too worried, Cornellian. Negotiations can take only a day if the offer is right, so I think two-plus weeks is enough time. I'll be very surprised if Chris Drury isn't part of a press conference at HSBC before July 1.

Regarding Vanek, I no longer have any fear that a team will try to pry him away with a RFA offer. Anaheim was able to re-sign Dustin Penner, an up-and-coming star, to a three-year, $7 million contract a few hours ago. The Ducks did so with no trouble from an outside party, even though Penner would have drawn a ton of interest as a UFA.

What I'm saying is, I expect Drury back for $6.5 million per year, Vanek for $3.5M and Briere to go elsewhere.

[billsfan69]

I'm not too worried, Cornellian. Negotiations can take only a day if the offer is right, so I think two-plus weeks is enough time. I'll be very surprised if Chris Drury isn't part of a press conference at HSBC before July 1.

Regarding Vanek, I no longer have any fear that a team will try to pry him away with a RFA offer. Anaheim was able to re-sign Dustin Penner, an up-and-coming star, to a three-year, $7 million contract a few hours ago. The Ducks did so with no trouble from an outside party, even though Penner would have drawn a ton of interest as a UFA.

What I'm saying is, I expect Drury back for $6.5 million per year, Vanek for $3.5M and Briere to go elsewhere.


I agree with you here. If Drury and Briere want to remain Sabres, they will sign quickly when we give them contract offers. If it takes two weeks to sign either of them, that means they pretty much weren't going to be Sabres next year anyway. Besides, Larry Quinn stated that payroll is going up next season, so that means even if Drury and Briere don't sign, they still intend to sign some pretty significant players. As for Vanek, teams in the NHL covets their draft picks, and the compensation required to pry Vanek away from Buffalo would be staggering.

[SabreNasty2630]

Drury is #1 man to get signed no doubt, but Vanek definately comes ahead of Briere, IMO. He is younger, may still get even better, where in Danny's case, as much as I like him, I think this last season will be his best point wise.

[JLB]

It's gonna get very interesting very soon.
:sabres:

[Bay Side]

It will all work out!!

[Fallsnative]

I believe a lot of Sabres fans share your frustration with the org. However, just because they dont tell us each day they are talking with the players, or what their plan is, doesnt mean its not happening. I would suggest that a plan has already been formulated, the seasons reasoning in why we didnt go all the way has been agreed upon, and now the front office is busy calling agents and working deals. I wish they would tell us what it is too, however that isnt reasonable considering all the other teams would like to know also. I cant say for sure Drury and/or Briere will be back. My hunch is they are going to let them both go, sign Vanek and try and sign Zubrus. I think our org believes the young guns in Rochester can fill in and take us forward.

[Larmo]

Have faith in Darcy. He knows what he's doing.

[buffjoe]

I think they will see what the trade market is like on draft day. Maybe they can deal away some salaries. No need to finalize their negotiations until they see what their cash position is after draft weekend. It still gives them a couple of days before July 1.

[voicekiller]

From the Buffalo News, article here: http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabresnhl/story/99245.html



It is now 15 days before July 1st. We are running out of time to have exclusive negotiating rights with these guys. The fact that we don't even have a formulated PLAN at this point to which players we will sign is downright laughable. I'm sick of this organization dawdling on this matter.

We sold the most merchandise this year and sold out every home game. Revenue is not a problem for this franchise, as confirmed by Quinn and Golisano's claims that payroll will increase next year. We have the means to keep at least one of our co-captains and Vanek. The "let's shrug our shoulders as another big-name player leaves because we're a small market" card can't be played anymore. I as a fan have invested lots of money this season in tickets and merchandise, and I demand to know that the full efforts of the organization are being utilized to acquire and keep the best personnel possible. GET TO WORK.
They just signed their GM and coach, calm down there is still time...just because they haven't made public their plan doesn't mean they don't have one...and think a second, when have you know Darcy to ever tip his hat...ever? the whole demand crap has got to go...we all feel your frustration, but demanding anything is a little stupid, and childish. your better than that. relax and have some faith

[Hockeystud1414]

From the Buffalo News, article here: http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabresnhl/story/99245.html



It is now 15 days before July 1st. We are running out of time to have exclusive negotiating rights with these guys. The fact that we don't even have a formulated PLAN at this point to which players we will sign is downright laughable. I'm sick of this organization dawdling on this matter.

We sold the most merchandise this year and sold out every home game. Revenue is not a problem for this franchise, as confirmed by Quinn and Golisano's claims that payroll will increase next year. We have the means to keep at least one of our co-captains and Vanek. The "let's shrug our shoulders as another big-name player leaves because we're a small market" card can't be played anymore. I as a fan have invested lots of money this season in tickets and merchandise, and I demand to know that the full efforts of the organization are being utilized to acquire and keep the best personnel possible. GET TO WORK.

Yeah I hear ya...but they've made moves like this in the past and look at the teams we've had the last two years. One that comes to mind is when we got teppo to replace zhitnik and everyone flipped....and we were better off for it.

Remember this is a TEAM, not built around one guy and they obviously plan on keeping it this way, but I understand your concern and where you come from.

[unklechucky]

watch, we will be molded after the Ducks.

[Hockeystud1414]

watch, we will be molded after the Ducks.

So we could have 3 goons? Parros, Thornton, and may? haha, hey that'd match up with ottawa anyways...

[Thumper]

From the Buffalo News, article here: http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabresnhl/story/99245.html



It is now 15 days before July 1st. We are running out of time to have exclusive negotiating rights with these guys. The fact that we don't even have a formulated PLAN at this point to which players we will sign is downright laughable. I'm sick of this organization dawdling on this matter.

We sold the most merchandise this year and sold out every home game. Revenue is not a problem for this franchise, as confirmed by Quinn and Golisano's claims that payroll will increase next year. We have the means to keep at least one of our co-captains and Vanek. The "let's shrug our shoulders as another big-name player leaves because we're a small market" card can't be played anymore. I as a fan have invested lots of money this season in tickets and merchandise, and I demand to know that the full efforts of the organization are being utilized to acquire and keep the best personnel possible. GET TO WORK.

Then why don't you change "I believe" in your signature to "I"m pissed off!!!" ??? You quite obviously don't believe in too much right now. That's false advertising.

[Cornellian]

With little to discuss during the first round, the biggest Sabres talk in Nationwide Arena revolved around the status of co-captain centers Daniel Briere and Chris Drury, whose contracts are up.

The agents for both players were in Columbus, but neither Pat Brisson nor Mark Witkin was talking about their clients.

Sources intimate with the situation said the Sabres still have not made an offer to either of their co-captains. There have been no discussions beyond courtesy calls, no monetary figures and no years broached.

If the Sabres do decide to make offers before the free agency market opens for business July 1, both Briere and Drury are said to be uninterested in signing before they shop their services to the other 29 teams.

Such a bidding process would negatively affect the Sabres’ chances to a substantial degree. The Sabres might not be able to compete with teams willing to make an astronomical bid.



So, now can I panic?

[Sabres244]

So, now can I panic?

You already did....why change now.

Any rumor of Drury/Briere/Vanek and all of Sabres nations goes into full blown panic mode, get a grip.

[MauvaisSang]

It's beyond rumors at this point. We're a week away from free agency, and the Sabres haven't even brought up contract length or money figures with either of these guys. Does that sound like they have any intention at all of keeping them? I agree with Cornelius, I'm pissed. It's not even so much losing Briere and Drury, although that hurts. It's the general attitude this front office has when it comes to negotiating and resigning their players. They seem weirdly ambivalent, like they just dont give a sh&t. This year it's Drury and Briere... next year it might be Campbell, the year after Tallinder, Miller... I just see a trend forming, and I don't like it. I don't want to be the Eastern Conference version of the Edmonton Oilers.

[Cornellian]

244, my sense of panic doesn't come from The Buffalo News rumor mill, but rather that I expected Buffalo to do something during the draft to indicate what their organizational goals were. I found buffjoe's argument pretty compelling, when he said "I think they will see what the trade market is like on draft day. Maybe they can deal away some salaries. No need to finalize their negotiations until they see what their cash position is after draft weekend."

I know the draft's not over yet, but it's increasingly looking like the Sabres will be in the same position post-draft than they were pre-draft. Which means that they should have been negotiating pre-draft. But we haven't gotten anywhere with these guys.

If I'm wrong, the loss of reputation will be well worth having Briere or Drury back on the team. I'll be right there celebrating with you guys. But if I'm right, don't expect me to be above saying "I told you so."