Drury agreed to deal last fall

The prevailing theme at Monday afternoon's news conference in HSBC Arena was that the player is the one who decides where he will sign as a free agent, not the team. That notion was repeated several times in different forms, leading one to believe Chris Drury and Daniel Briere simply didn't want to be Sabres anymore.

Turns out that couldn't be further from the truth. Yes, the co-captains on Sunday chose to play elsewhere. It even could be said they no longer wanted to be Sabres a few months ago.

But that wasn't always the case. Not nearly.

The Buffalo News learned a bombshell on Monday, and it will go down as one of the all-time embarrassments in Sabres history -- bigger than the broken fax machine, Artem Kryukov and the tumbling Jumbotron all rolled into one.

Drury last fall agreed to a four-year, $21.5 million contract to stay with the Sabres, a source with intimate knowledge of the negotiations told The News. The source said the sides made proposals -- the Sabres offered $20 million, Drury asked for $23 million -- and met in the middle. Then the Sabres either simply forgot or didn't feel the need make anything official. Maybe they didn't want to hurt Briere's feelings, but the Sabres never sent Drury's agent the agreed-upon contract.

After waiting for weeks, Drury instructed his agent to rescind their compliance because, the source said, Drury thought it was bad business.

What if Drury were to sustain a career-threatening injury on the ice? What if he were to get into a car accident? What if he were to slip into a prolonged scoring slump? With an unsigned contract hanging over his head, he would've needed to live up to those numbers (while getting paid a lesser sum) in order to guarantee its activation at some point. That's not the way it's done.

So Drury played the rest of the season with an uneasy feeling about how the Sabres conduct business and whether they truly wanted him around.

Sabres managing partner Larry Quinn and GM Darcy Regier insisted Monday they would have matched the Rangers' five-year, $35.25 million deal. In the process, they unfairly painted Drury as someone who couldn't wait to bolt for the door. The choice was Drury's, they suggested, and he chose the Rangers.

But he chose the Sabres first.

---Tim Graham

Comments

[Jaromir Jagr]

I am so happy that Quinn and Regier are ruining the Sabres, because I get to skate with my new wife, Kris Drury!

I am happy happy happy!

We will run you losers out of the league, before we choke in the playoffs again!

I love Kris!

[reg86]

I for one don't care if the story is true or not. I do know someone up in Conneticut who does know sources close to the Drury's. Chris had agreed.

The Sabres dragged their feet because they SUCK.

You've got two A**HOLES running this team. Not to mention an owner who doesn't know how to spell Paycheck (out)!

[Dave]

Wayne,

Here's an idea if you've had enough. Cancel your seats. How can you say you've had enough, but continue to line their pockets with your hard earned money?

[Dave]

Tim, you guys monumentally screw up in this "tabloid" on pretty much a daily basis. I wouldn't throw too many stones at anyone else if I were working there.

[Wayne M]

I am sick about the Sabre's horrific and inexcusable mis-management. I am a long time season ticket holder with an idea for retribution. I'm sure that the home season opener will include the hoisting of the last President's Trophy banner to grace the rafters of the HSBC. Why don't we all let these guys do it to a nearly empty facility? Everyone wait until after the game starts to settle into their seats. Let's embarass the Sabres brass for one of the worst gaffs in franchise history. I for one have had enough!

[terriblejournalism]

Tim, I don't think that anyone is arguing that monumental mistakes were made, but guys ran a story that implied that Chris Drury told you everything had been ironed out, he just never got a physical contract. That story most certainly HAS been debunked.

This part was debunked by a dude on the radio: "Then the Sabres either simply forgot or didn't feel the need make anything official." If TBN had been doing it's job this statement would have been followed up by a comment from the Sabres. "They forgot" sounds good, but it also sounds untrue. Too bad you didn't bother to investigate.

This is the headline you ran on the front page.: "Newly signed Rangers center Chris Drury says he had agreed to Sabres pact in fall"

You debunked it yourselves with a correction tucked into the second page the next day:

"A story on Wednesday’s Page A1 regarding Chris Drury and the Sabres attributed information on contract talks to “an industry source with knowledge of the negotiations.” A headline incorrectly attributed that information to Drury, himself."

YOU GUYS DEBUNKED YOUR OWN HEADLINE.

Many people have argued that sports are at the heart of the Buffalo community. As such, I think it is the responsibility of TBN to be level headed in its stories. You did the already heartbroken community a huge disservice by obviously slanting this story. Yeah, everyone wants someone to blame, and maybe in this case there is a clear culprit, but you guys muddied the waters with straight up bad journalism.

We deserve better.

[Tim]

Nothing has been debunked. Sabres' management's handling of Drury and Briere was a monumental screw up. There is simply no excuse for their actions and omissions last fall, during the season and since the end of the season.

[tiger sabre]

I agree TBN's article placing the blame for the loss of Drury squarely on the shoulders of Sabres' management has been debunked. I also place much of the blame for Drury's departure in Drury's corner. Essentially, neither Drury nor his agent had the guts to admit to Sabres' management, after withdrawing from the deal presented in Fall 2006, that Drury preferred to wait till the end of the season to test the free agency market. You will never convince me that Drury and his agent did not come to believe, soon after the start of last season, that Drury would fetch much more in free agency than the what the Sabres initially offered. The Sabres management, unfortunately, were simply naive in allowing Drury to lead them on. That the Sabres management asked Drury to allow them the chance to match any offer Drury received in free agency, as well as the fact that there was no backup plan in place should Drury jump ship, only reinforces the notion that the Sabres placed much faith in Drury's remarks about wanting to remain in Buffalo.

[Mark F]

With Mair and Numminen signed, the Sabres are on their way to the Cup!!!!!!

[terriblejournalism]

This story has been more or less debunked, people. The Buffalo News is selling you crap in order to SELL PAPERS. The fact that there is no follow up article to this story is an embarrassment, and the manner in which TBN "corrected" its headline which implied Drury was their source is down right shameful. This town deserves better.

Yeah, the Sabres management screwed up, but the real crime against Buffalo is that our paper can't be bothered to correctly report HOW they screwed up. TBN wanted to stir the community up, and it worked. Too bad they willingly chose to only present one side of the story.

This is a major newspaper, not 6th grade. Real journalists save their biased mudslinging for their friends and family, like the rest of us.

Shame on all of us for swallowing this story, and shame on TBN for completely failing the Buffalo sports community.

[terriblejournalism]

This story has been more or less debunked, people. The Buffalo News is selling you crap in order to SELL PAPERS. The fact that there is no follow up article to this story is an embarrassment, and the manner in which TBN "corrected" its headline which implied Drury was their source is down right shameful. This town deserves better.

Yeah, the Sabres management screwed up, but the real crime against Buffalo is that our paper can't be bothered to correctly report HOW they screwed up. TBN wanted to stir the community up, and it worked. Too bad they willingly chose to only present one side of the story.

This is a major newspaper, not 6th grade. Real journalists save their biased mudslinging for their friends and family, like the rest of us.

Shame on all of us for swallowing this story, and shame on TBN for completely failing the Buffalo sports community.

[SabreFan]

It is just astounding how the progress we made towards a Stanley Cup over the past two years could be totally wiped out in one day. Had Drury and/or Briere stayed, I had the Sabres winning the Cup within the next 3 years. Now, who knows, if ever? We took two giant steps back from the progress we made over the past two years. Just a shocking development.

[venom]

How bad did Darcy screwup? Put it this way, Chris Drury a notoriously PRIVATE individual had taken so much crap from darcy he decides to sign with the New York Rangers. How much of a private life will Mr. Drury be able to have in NY and yet he still goes there? Hey Greedy Briere, can the Briere Bunch expect a susbstantially larger amount from you now that you are vastly overpaid, or will you be deserting them as well?

[Jaromir Jagr]

My new fiancee Kris Drury loves it in Manhattan.

She said that Buffalo's full of losers.

I love Kris! She looks almost as pretty in BlueSkirts as I do!

[catonij]

Both of these players were very calculated during this whole process. They created the perception to the fans that they wanted to stay in Buffalo, when in fact the knew more than likely they would leave, especially Drury. The Sabres will overcome this. There is still a good core of young talent. Yes management could have done things a little better, but Drury and Brierre's motivations were what was best for them under any circumstances.

[Robert Balko]

Let's see John Muckler gets fired after building another Cup team (Sabres '99 was still his team), for reportedly not signing over the hill but rugged Gary Roberts. Darcy Regier, I mean Niles Crane, loses to of the best centers in the league and gets a contract extension. But I've figured it out, no one else wants to come here and do the job, that's the only explanation I can think of. This team now has the makings of a heartless non-hitting no guts team and that's exactly what are GM is. His ability to wait til the last minute on everything from signings to trades is maddening. Its the raeson why we lose good palyers, get faxes stuck in machines, and why we overpay for players like Spacek. Watch how long it takes for him to sign Vanek, and if he lets Roy go to Arbitration he's a complete idiot. Start making commitments early Darcy and you will save a lot of money. Have some foresight because right now you have none. And if I here them talking about the future anymore I'm going to puke. We are sick of hearing it, we've heard it since you took over in '97. If this is how it's going to be Mr. Golisano, just move the team. We had a chance to compete for a Championship for the next 4 yrs if your GM signed Briere and Drury last yr. Now we have gone 4 yrs in reverse. If that kind of incompetence happened at other companies, heads would roll. Bring Muckler back or someone who has the guts to really see the future and has the guts to make the moves at the proper times.

[Bob]

The Sabres blew it with Drury not finalizing an agreement last year. Briere was over priced but not Drury. Wonder if they are going to make any moves? Disappointing to say the least.

[Todd]

I think Buffalo got what it deserved recently by letting Larry Quinn be in Sabres management again. It's not like he has not dumped key personnel after a good run before (Nolan). The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results.

[Jason]

BTW has anyone noticed LQ's pretty tan in the press photos?
Usually during the most important weeks of my year I'm not sitting on a beach NOT doing my job!
Way to go Larry!
Once a bozo always a bozo..

[Buffalo Girl]

You have GOT to be kidding me. Teams like the Ducks are already shoring up, and the Sabres are just letting them go one by one. Drury, arguably the best clutch player ever and one of the best in the locker room, cannot be replaced. Heart is harder to replace than skill. Ask the Avs how it felt. The Sabres will never win the Cup without spending the cash. And face it, our small market team won't do it. The team will start losing, then the fans will stop going. Then the organization will be "bleeding money". Then they'll move to a different city. Come on. Golisano isn't stupid. To me, it's a step towards leaving Buffalo.

[Joanne]

Look Out Regier, "Chicken Little", the sky Is falling. After destroyig a team that was superb you are taking it apart one player at a time. You Clinched it this time with your pathtic, lies and rude business ethics. Now the heart and soul of the Sabres, Drury and Brier have left, maybe you and Quinn can fit the bill on the Ice!

[dave]

Drury needs the money to help recoup the loss on his home. The economy here SUCKS!

[Jan]

Ha! Losers of Buffalo keep eating your chicken wings and drinking Genny Cream Ale while crying your sorrows away fatties. Let the countdown begin for when the Bills and Sabres wake up and realize they are really located in Buffalo and move. Let's go Dolphins, LETS GO! Let's go Flyers, LETS GO!

[john]

Nice spelling DeeDee, you must be from Love Canal.

[Mark]

Darcy says the community shouldn't give up on the team. We haven't given up on the team. We've given up on him and Quinn.

[DeeDee]

Send Drury packing. him and his press calling wife. Ehat was the crap, I just got three of my boys registered in achool were not going anywhere. Are you an aspiriing actress, need some camera time. If you were ever a real sabre and we were going to match what your getting paid you wouldn't have entertained the idea at all. Not only dod you entertain it, you abanded your family. Hit the raod, we don't need you.

[rp77]

At what point is there accountability for the incompetance of the front office? Any other profession and these guys are out on the street. Maybe we need 10,000+ fans outside the arena with signs saying Fire Quinn & Regier....or do we stage a walkout like the Pittsburgh Pirates fans did to show our disapproval? I woke up at 2am daily to watch the '06 playoff push from onboard an aircraft carrier halfway around the world, and paid for the NHL Center Ice package to watch this entire past season from where I'm stationed in California.....can't really see there being much to watch this year once Quinn and Regier are done butchering the team.

[Mike Carrato]

The scariest thing is that this doesn't even surprise me. This team has already shown us the depths to which it will go...

Man, what a difference 2 months makes...

[Lawrence]

HAH the Sabres brass has concocted a no-brainer, low cost and instant winner of a strategy to combat all this boycott talk, put the nay sayers to bed and do serious damage control all at once.

The team will change the logo once again and that will answer ALL OUR PRAYERS. (Sarcasm, what a beautiful thing!)

[K. Pinto]

When I saw Regier's expression on today's picture in the paper, and when I read that he felt disappointed and nervous, I have to say it brought a little smile to my face. Even though it's doesn't compare to the disappointment Sabres fans have felt towards this organization the past few days. I hope that Regier feels a bit of the nauseating feeling I had this morning when I saw Captain Clutch on the front page wearing number 23 while no longer sporting the blue and gold. I hope that this organization feels the pain at hearing Briere matter of factly stating to the press that he's a Flyer now. I hope that Regier on some level understands that he's not the only one affected by this awful turn of events. That he's not only let himself down, he's let down a city who embraced this team wholeheartedy. If this had happened anyplace else the man would be out of the job.

[Don]

Thanks for showing us the love Regier, Quinn and Golisano. We sell out every regular and post season home game. We purchased sabres merchandise at a far greater rate than the rest of the NHL hockey world and this is how we are treated. We even had 8000 people watching the games outside for crying out loud. Thats about 27000 people. Let's not count the game when they decided not to sell beer outside. Only about 50 people showed up for that one. You'd think they would've learned then. They are either too stupid, too ignorant or too arrogant or most likely all 3. Regier made sure he got a new deal before any of this happened or came to light. What a self serving moron. I IMPLORE ALL SABRES FANS EVERYWHERE - BOYCOT THESE IDIOTS. Good luck trying to lure other players here. Who in their right mind would want to come here and play for these idiots of society. Bad things follow Quinn around like the plague. Why is he even in the picture? Just because he had a hand in getting the new rink built? He knows zero about the game of hockey, loyalty or trust. Does Golisano treat his employees at Paychex like crap too? Thanks for screwing up the team before they won anything.

[Vera]

Like every other Sabres fan, I am truly disapointed that we lost both Danny and Dru. They are great players, and I have to wish them well (just not when they play us. ^.^)It was a stupid mistake on Regier's part, but they didn't make the team great. It was everybody on the Buffalo Sabres (and in the offices) for the '06-'07 season that got the team where they are. One (or two) player(s) don't make a team. People who think that our winning days are over don't understand that hockey is a TEAM sport.

But regardless of the mistakes the front office has made, I can't stop watching. I was reading some of the other comments, and while reading reg86's, I got nauseous. How can you grow up watching a team, grow up watching the French Connection, and just give up like that? How can someone just stop watching?

I didn't grow up watching hockey; my family isn't really into sports, so I guess I haven't been there for all the disapointments in the past, and I can't fully understand his (and most other fans) disapointment. I really don't want to; beacause, at the end of the game, or at the end of a season, it's still my team. Regardless of the stupidity of the front office, or how well the team played. I can't just walk away, I can't just give up, and try and find a better team. I know I won't.

The Sabres will put this behind them, and the fans should too. Sure, we probably won't be winning the President's Trophy next season. Does it really matter? It's an honour, of course, and I'm so happy we did it last year. But win or lose, Buffalo and surrounding suburbs, the Sabres are still OUR team. They need to see we still believe. And I, for one, can't just walk away when my team needs me.

[O.J.]

If Larry and Moe refuse to negotiate contracts during the season, then just what exactly is it that they do between the months of August and June? And if the last few weeks are an example of your hard work, then I think it's time to move on to something else. Maybe you two should go take some business courses at a your nearest high school. This way you can still get an education, and spend a few days of the year negotiating with your star players!!! Thanks a lot!!!

[Elaine, Mesa AZ]

Quinn said "I think we probably failed somewhere".
THINK........HELLO???????????

[Brian]

I have been a Sares fan since 1975. I think I now will have to rethink my position on that.
Larry Quin seems to cause trouble wherever he goes. Ask Ted Nolan and othert previous employees of Quin.

[Paul Langendorfer]

I posted yesterday on maybe Regier and Co. had it right, but then I read this and I honestly felt sick to my stomach. How many excuses can we be expected to believe? First the fax machine gets stuck, now this. Maybe Regier can get a clue and unjam the fax machine when Golisano realizes how useless him and Quinn are sends them to work at Kinkos in the Boulevard Mall.

[reg86]

This weekend was one of the saddest in my life as a Sabres' fan. Worse than "No Goal".

Regier should've been fired years ago. I knew when Larry Quinn came back we were in trouble.

I was living in NYC during "No Goal". I cried, literally, for days. I thought we were about to do great things the following year. So, I moved back. Yes, I moved back to Buffalo because I wanted to be a part of something special.

I grew up with the French Connection. The Sabres were my team forever.

Then I moved back. And the BS started immediately. They didn't go out and get "The Tools to Finish the Job". I felt duped.

I moved out of Buffalo 2 years later. I couldn't handle it. No more heartbreak. No more. I moved to Florida. Watched the Lightning - with Andreychuk - win the Cup. Finally, a part of something special.

But I retained my love for the Sabres. New owner. New hope. Then two straight Conference Finals. Three pieces to go to the puzzle and the Cup could've been ours.

Then it happened again. When will I learn? Black Sunday.

Mr. Golisano, if you're reading this passionate pleas from "real" fans, you must take heed and act. Because as of today, I will no longer support the Sabres. I can't. I have learned my lesson. You have alienated me as a fan.

And though I hate the Rangers, I love Chris Drury. And though I hate the Flyers, I love Briere and Biron. I also love a team that went out and got what they needed to compete - Hartnell (toughness) and Timonen (PP specialist). And though I rarely get to see a Flames game, you gotta love the way they treat their players.

As an exiting fan, I've got some advice - FIRE REGIER! FIRE QUINN!

One last piece of advice, you may have heard of him - or maybe not, since you don't know jack about hockey - NEIL SMITH!!!

Let the demonstration march to HSBC (I always hated that name) begin. Demand your money back. Take action, Buffalo - because nobody else will.

So long. Thanks for the memories Perreault, Robert, Schoenfled, La La, May, Hasek, Martin, King Kong, Sauve, Desjardins, Edwards, Peca, Drury, Briere, Miller, Barnes, Hannan, Mcquire, Ray, etc... you know who you are.

So long.

[Kitty]

OK hold it for a minute. From what I heard, Golisano told the Sabres to pay what they needed to pay to keep these two. So they wouldn't negotiate during the regular season--So what!! Is it normal practice to negotiate during the season? I don't believe so. These guys may be good, but they are not Gretzky and Hasek, are they? NO ONE is irreplaceable. If the team falls apart because it lost 2 guys, then it has bigger problems than we want to admit. Both of these men went on and on about how much they loved the Buffalo area, loved the fans, loved the loyalty. Well, you know what..loyalty runs both ways. Ruff could have made more money elsewhere, but he chose to stay. Hockey tickets are not cheap and neither was all that Sabres junk that people bought at record rates. But when it comes time to look at staying or going, Drury and Briere couldn't get out of here fast enough. These guys are making millions of dollars for playing a game. And in the end, they still couldn't get the job done. Where's the Cup, my friends? Not here!!

[kathy]

Zubrus just signed with NJ. Anyone else? Vanek, how about you? How much cap space are these guys trying to save, anyway?

[Ticked Off Fan]

Yes, both Regier and Quinn are incompetent and should resign today but the real problem is Golisano. He has the last word on everything that goes down at HSBC. His silence is deafening. Why haven't we heard from him? Is it because he's afraid to face the fans and admit Regier and Quinn lied and also admit HE BLEW IT? By the way Quinn yesterday said there would be no refunds issued but I called and was told you can get a refund on your 07/08 tickets just by requesting it in writing.

[Charles]

As a Supreme Court Justice said last week. "Never has so few screwed up so much in so little time!"

Mr. Golisano, in order to restore the faith of your fans, Quinn and Regier must go.

[Peter]

“I think we probably failed somewhere.”

Ya think?

I think Darcy and Larry should both submit their rresignations for what happened. The office is a mess, and they have no one besides themselves to thank.

[Enough.]

None of this should come as a surprise to those of us who have long lived in Buffalo. The actions taken by Buffalo Sabres management mirror the impotence of the city’s government, where brazen arrogance and an emboldened indifference to public opinion have resulted in years of broken promises and unfulfilled potential. Darcy Regier well expressed that when he berated our outrage by countering that “the sky is not falling”. While other teams GMs would say that they are making moves to win a Stanley Cup, Darcy suggests that we be content with being “less competitive”, being happy to pay for a team which he concedes, therefore, will not make it to the Stanley Cup. It is unclear what role Mr. Galisano, if any, plays in this. However, I would ask him this: how long would a general manager of his Paychex business be in his employ if he were content to have only a share of the business, saying that it was too difficult to try and beat out other competitors in the marketplace?

The inane reasoning of not signing current superstar players for the sake of being able to sign younger players in the future not only defies logic, but it shows Mr. Regier to be unforgivably lacking in knowledge of basic facts: do you think the Anaheim Ducks are sorry they had the aging Scott Niedermeyer and Teemu Selanne this year? Were the Carolina Hurricanes sorry they paid an aging Rod Brind’Amour 2 years ago? Was the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Management ill advised to pay for the services of an aging Dave Andreychuck several years ago? And how did age vs. youth work out for the Dallas Stars during the 98-99 Stanley Cup playoffs?

No one should excuse Regier and Quinn for their failures based on salary cap or market size issues. That is nothing more than whining in an attempt to divert attention from their incompetent leadership. All fans should be incensed at this failure, and Mr. Galisano should quickly re-think his misguided faith in these 2 to run this organization. For those of you who think these the rantings of a fair-weather fan, I suggest investing in some medication for your heart, which will no doubt take a continued beating over the next several years. And for those of you possessed of naiveté of such gargantuan proportions as to believe Regier and Quinn innocent in all of this, I have some swampland in the Pacific to sell you.

[Vernon]

Heres a couple of quotes that really stick out in my mind from "management."
1. “Chris Drury, to me, is the epitome of a great hockey player and a great person,” Quinn said. “I really wanted him to continue here. We weren’t able to do that." From what I read today, they could have had him at what could be seen as cheap at 4 years $21.5 million.
2. “I think we probably failed somewhere.” All I can do is laugh at that.
3. “We can sit around and say we should have done things differently, could have done things differently, but we are where we are. We’re in a marketplace that has really taken off.” There was no market place when you agreed to a deal during the season for $21.5 million!
4. The Sabres admitted mistakes were made and claimed to have learned a valuable lesson in losing free agent co-captains Daniel Briere and Chris Drury: It doesn't pay to do business anywhere near July 1. How come all the fans knew this, but the people who run the team and make all the decisions didn't? Are we surprised that this happened? I truly feel they wanted to stay in Buffalo, but like they said, you want to be in a place you feel wanted! The fans wanted them back, to bad the 3 blind mice running the team didn't.

[ThugB]

OK, someone f'd up and should be held accountable. I'll admit it, I cried when I heard the news that Drury was leaving. Not so much for Brier because I had a feeling that he would be gone after last season anyway. I am a die hard Sabres Fan and will still support the players and Lindy no matter what (if not the management). There is still a lot of talent on this team. Noone is giving them a fair chance. If I were one of them reading all of this I would take it as the Buffalo fans only care about Brier and Drury and the rest of the team is crap. I for one believe that we could still have a fighting chance and I will always love the Sabres. GO SABRES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sabres fan]

I find it ironic that on the 10th anniversary of Larry Quinn screwing up the Sabres (Muckler, Nolan and Hasek), the “Arrogant One” is at it again. When will this guy learn how to conduct business and stop lying to the fans? I wonder if he finds this story laughable.

[Sean]

I believe these two free agent losses may just be the start of a sinking ship, and may result in the Sabres leaving town, just like the Bills within a few years. An AHL hockey franchise will end up replacing them here. The Sabres will suffer in the standings, causing attendance to suffer after next year, and thus, causing the Sabres owner to lose money and eventually sell the team to an out of town owner. It doesn't appear ownership is willing to send the money to contend, and this will cause a ripple effect in terms of not getting quality free agents and losing more of their own players down the road. Plus, the economic situation in this area will only get worse while most of the other markets will get better, causing the salary cap to keep increasing and endless sea of red ink for the Sabres. Who knows, maybe someone will buy both the Bills and Sabres and move them both, leaving Buffalo out of the pro-sport spotlike forever and saving us fans from experiencing once seems to be constant heartache.

[Ex-pat Buffalonian that wants to move back]

I think this point has been made, but I'll make it again.

Everybody's blaming Quinn and Regier for this. Quinn and Regier - the two guys who for the last 3 years have had heaps of praise and accolades bestowed upon them for their forethought and hockey-smarts. Then they do something so inconceivably daft and nobody thinks that their hands were tied? The architects of one of the best teams in the NHL and the model that so many other teams are now trying to emulate suddenly went brain-dead on this one issue?

You're not looking high enough up the food chain. They weren’t allowed to pull the trigger on the Drury deal. They’re being good soldiers and publicly falling on their sabers for their incompetent commander.

Its Golisano folks.

It's Golisano who'd love to have his "one-day contracts".

It's Golisano who, while counting this years profits, said just last month he wouldn't spend to the cap (wouldn't spend TO the cap, not OVER it – which would be understandable) for this next year. Because, he said, the Sabres couldn't make money spending to the cap next year unless they went into the second round of the playoffs. Are you frickin' kidding me? Are we supposed to believe that BS? Was there some reasonable doubt of that not happening with Drury and/or Briere on the roster? How many more Drury and Briere jerseys do you think would have been sold next year?

There is inconceivable, indefensible, short-sighted stupidity here. And it's all on the part of Golisano, Golisano, Golisano.

[Paul]

Sabres Mgmt simply out-smarted themselves. There is some kind of relationship or other problem among Regier, Quinn and Galisano. Unfortunately, we will never know what it is.

[Disappointed]

The more I read about this the more sick it makes me feel. I dont understand, if you have an agreement what are you waiting for send the paperwork. The Sabres are the Pittsburgh Pirates. I dont care about the future I want the Cup now. Darcy and Larry ( i use first names because I have lost all respect for them) you need to wake up and realize professional sports is what have you done for me lately not what will you do. Larry talks to the media and the fans like we are stupid and he is better than everyone. i knew that he would blame the player. The more i think about the press conference with some of the answers Darcy gave is that he does not agree with Larry and in his own way he took shots at him, maybe I am wrong.