Not defending management but......

[buffjoe]

I don't believe the "players don't want to come to Buffalo" statements that have been flying around lately. For every Briere or Drury there are five others that quietly signed for good money to stay here. Look at how many players are making more than 1.5 million on this team. I would say 95% of their roster is happy, well-paid and completely loyal.

[The Grin]

I've been wondering about this. It is sort of a "chicken and the egg" question. Have the Sabres even gone after a lot of free agents? Or, have they not signed free agents because no one was willing to come?

[TheAnswer74]

I've been wondering about this. It is sort of a "chicken and the egg" question. Have the Sabres even gone after a lot of free agents? Or, have they not signed free agents because no one was willing to come?

Coming to Buffalo and staying in Buffalo are too different things. Once your here, you will probably like it, or at least not hate it unless your a big city type guy, most hockey players aren't.

But if your a free agent from a another team, Buffalo doesn't seem to be very high on the list.

I believe Spacek is the best free agent we have signed in a long long time.

[bps21]

I think it mostly stems from the previous regime and Hasek leaving while making it publicly known that they don't have a commitment to winning.

We've done a lot of winning since the lockout...which should change some of that perspective...unfortunately not re-signing our own guys under the new regime (Drury, Briere and Campbell) raises those questions again. Sure we've signed a bunch of guys and some of them to longer deals than we'd EVER give out in the past...but Drury and Briere BOTH leaving was a huge hit on the franchise...especially when you miss the playoffs after winning the President's Trophy with them.

It's easy enough to change that perception. Get back into the playoffs and keep your goalie. If both those things don't happen (and to a lesser extent Pomminville as well) then we're talking about a team that's in just a lot of trouble perception wise...and in reality as well.

[ricogarion]

Then this front office can do what it can to change that perception,correct previous errors to assure they don't happen again.And play to win the whole thing not just cash in on playoff revenue. Gosh, I hate the obstacles before this team. Being a fan is fun at times but with it comes some frustration.