daryls61
July 1st, 2007, 11:57:09 PM
I have to admit that I had that same feeling you get when your girlfriend dumps you when I heard about Brierre and Drury. My first thought was that it would never be any better than it was the last 2 years.
Now that I have time to reflect a little, I think that there are options out there that will allow us to field a better team than last year.
1. We did not win the cup with Drury and Briere so why tie up all that money in players that are good but didn't win the cup with. Granted it may not directly be their fault but since we need better players other places, might as well move on without them them.
2. There is always the RFA market. What I mean here is players that are RFA but arbritration elligible. With the salaries we have seen today and the Sabres experience last year with arbritration it might be safe to say that some good players out there will not be signed after their arbritration award because teams spent so much on the UFA's. There could be options out there that we have not even considered yet but maybe Regier has.
3. We have depth at center. In simple terms, Connely replaces Brierre. The issue is replacing Drury.
4. Got to get a little bigger on defense. This si probably where a trade comes in. Darcy has always been spot on with his trades so ther are probably options here that we may not have considered but Darcy has.
5. We have to think playoff performance with any player we sign from this day forward. I could care less what his production is during the regular season. I want to know how he performs in the playoffs. If he can play playoff hockey, he can play for us. This is where the second tire FA come into play. It is really these players that put teams over the top. Bad teams sign big name FA to help their fan base. Good teams sign second tier FA to win the cup.
Hope these thoughts make you feel a little better.
Now that I have time to reflect a little, I think that there are options out there that will allow us to field a better team than last year.
1. We did not win the cup with Drury and Briere so why tie up all that money in players that are good but didn't win the cup with. Granted it may not directly be their fault but since we need better players other places, might as well move on without them them.
2. There is always the RFA market. What I mean here is players that are RFA but arbritration elligible. With the salaries we have seen today and the Sabres experience last year with arbritration it might be safe to say that some good players out there will not be signed after their arbritration award because teams spent so much on the UFA's. There could be options out there that we have not even considered yet but maybe Regier has.
3. We have depth at center. In simple terms, Connely replaces Brierre. The issue is replacing Drury.
4. Got to get a little bigger on defense. This si probably where a trade comes in. Darcy has always been spot on with his trades so ther are probably options here that we may not have considered but Darcy has.
5. We have to think playoff performance with any player we sign from this day forward. I could care less what his production is during the regular season. I want to know how he performs in the playoffs. If he can play playoff hockey, he can play for us. This is where the second tire FA come into play. It is really these players that put teams over the top. Bad teams sign big name FA to help their fan base. Good teams sign second tier FA to win the cup.
Hope these thoughts make you feel a little better.