Roy's arbi-hearing tomorrow...

[jlpubarch]

Will he be signed before the hearing...IDK...

I'm not so sure everyone is seeing eye to eye on who he is to be compared to. Some people say this Penner signing may effect it, I personally don't know. Some people compare him to the likes of Legwand, Staal, etc...I'm not so sure.

In any event, Darcy has had since the Vanek bomb hit to get this guy locked up, and instead we're playing the same old song and dance.

Other teams are signing their players to avoid arbitration, and some teams are signing OTHER teams' players to offer sheets, potentially raising his value even more.

I know Darcy stresses that the agents may not be a receptive audience, in hopes of finding the greatest value, but this is just getting old.

We either:

- abolish agents as a profession (their social status lies somewhere between brokers and dirt) They haven't a care in the world if the NHL goes into another lockout lapse, they just want to get paid now, and they convince their clients as much.

- light a bonfire in the room directly below Darcy's office When the fire penetrates through the flooring, he will literally have a fire burning under his a$$, speeding up these processes.

[Carl J. Ironsides]

In any event, Darcy has had since the Vanek bomb hit to get this guy locked up, and instead we're playing the same old song and dance.

I can't in good conscience blame Regier for this. What incentive does Roy really have to sign a deal before arbitration, unless the proposed long-term contract is for huge money and years? It's not Darcy's fault in this instance.

Roy, in his mind, would probably be better off signing a one-year, $4 million deal than a four-year, $13 million contract.

[smashingt2312]

I dont think he signs before the hearing. And i hope he doesnt get insane money, by that i mean over 3.5 but i can see it happening.

[Bay Side]

Does he make more this year than Dumont got last year......? I think so. I think he gets 3.25 from the arb.!

[Bay Side]

I forgot the arb. process, when do they announce the arb. award??

[foster]

I don't have a good feeling about this.

[Iggy72]

Oh boy, here we go again...

Pax.
Iggy72

[SabreGirl]

I heard they were comparing him to Horton in Florida who had very similar numbers (now I have to go check) who just signed a 6 year $24M contract. I'm not sure I want to pay Roy $4M/year.

Yes, Horton and Roy have almost identical numbers: Horton 62 Pts/Roy 63; Horton +15/Roy +37; Horton 61 PIMs/Roy 60 PIMs; Horton 208 GP/Roy 194 GP; both are Centers. I guess this is what the going rate is for that level. Seems high to me.

[ddpderek]

I really hope we lock him up before the hearing. I do 4 years 13 million or something in that ball park.

If he gets 4 or above ill be speechless because Briere got 5 last year and hes strides above roy at the points they went to arb.

[MauvaisSang]

If this goes to arbitration, I don't think the results are going to make anyone here happy.

[two4trippn]

Horton is a better player and signed cheap to me. If Roy doesn't agree before arbitration tomorrow, I honestly see Darcy attempting a trade before losing another player with a one and done.

[amico1990]

why horton? him and roy don't play the same game at all...horton and penner maybe, but not roy. Roy is good but hes not as good as horton.

[buffalofan19]

Regier was on WGR this morning and he said he expected Roy to fall between Stempniak and Horton.

[HorsePWR]

I'd hate to lose Roy, but he is one of my least favorite Sabres. His flops and embellishments give the game and our franchise a bad name. His upside though, is incredible. He is one heck of an asset to the team and I truly hope he sticks around.

[theratt17]

^^What side are you on^^ lol

[SabreGirl]

I agree with everyone about Horton being a better player. The problem is (apparently) the numbers are so similar Arbitration 'judges' usually don't know anything about the players other than what the numbers are on paper.

I also despise the diving. It is so cheesy and players that do it definitely hurt their reputation.

I think any arbitration awards is going to be too high for what I think he deserves right now.

[Thumper]

Anyone who would like to find the next "Briere" type for the Sabres doesn't need to look any further than Derek Roy. Where he lacks a bit offensively compaired to Briere, he excels defensively.

I'm not too sure why so many Sabres fans rip Roy for diving but always gave Briere a free pass.

I'd like the diving to stop as much as anyone else. But the positives in his game just can't be ignored.

[JLB]

love em or not we need this guys skills.
coaching has to take some responsibility with his swimming technique.
bottom line he's worth having.

:sabres:

[SabreGirl]

Anyone who would like to find the next "Briere" type for the Sabres doesn't need to look any further than Derek Roy. Where he lacks a bit offensively compaired to Briere, he excels defensively.

I'm not too sure why so many Sabres fans rip Roy for diving but always gave Briere a free pass.

I'd like the diving to stop as much as anyone else. But the positives in his game just can't be ignored.

I agree that Roy brings the defensive game Briere doesn't have. He is a pest out on the ice to the other team and he manages (quite often) to pin a team on the PP deep in their end with his antics. He is very effective that way. He is a scorer too, which adds to his value. The problem I have is he's a 2-year player and he wants $4M. I understand that other 2 year players are getting that kind of money (ie Horton, etc), but I am of the mind that something has got to give -- the NHL couldn't support lesser payrolls three years ago and it led to a lockout. Teams didn't get richer and this overpaying for players has to stop. I still believe a player needs to earn his pay as well as have an incentive (the thought of a bigger paycheck in 2-3 years) and not get rewarded with a huge contract after 1 or 2 good seasons. What is Briere's motivation to play his guts out in Philly? He never needs to work again and he hasn't even stepped on the ice once in a Flyers jersey.

I don't care who is diving -- I hate it. I really lost a ton of respect for Briere over his antics last year (spearings, diving). I have to say, though that Roy did clean the diving up last year. Let's hope he stops it this year.

I'd like to see him get $2.5M; $3; $3.5 and $4 over four years. That I could live with -- a slow progression that, by year 4 would really show what he's made of and then he can get the big paycheck....or not.