Sabres match Oilers offer to Vanek

Sabres general manager Darcy Regier just announced the team will match Edmonton's seven-year, $50 million offer to forward Thomas Vanek.

Your reaction?

---Steve Jones, Deputy Sports Editor

Comments

[Will Klimowicz]

DRURY, CAPN' CLUTCH??
Let’s face it. The Sabres seeming unwillingness to negotiate with Drury and Briere, a year or so ago, is something that will forever elicit head-scratching amongst Sabre followers. One thing, however, needs to be made perfectly clear. The Sabres, while being a regular season phenom in 2006-2007, were a major playoff bust. True, they did reach the Conference Finals, but in each and every playoff series, the President Trophy winners were pushed to the limits, not to mention pushed around physically. The Sabres actually took a major step back this past playoff season. In 2006, they took the Canes to game 7 on a withered defensive line, while in 2007, they were man-handled overwhelmingly by Ottawa. Need I mention arguably the most lackluster, gutless, and feeble of efforts ever witnessed in a Sabre playoff performance, a must-win game three against the Sens, the “the most important game in franchise history,” according to some Buffalo sports writers?

Briere and Drury captained that sorrowful game, which if not for Ryan Miller, could have easily transformed from a 1-0 loss, into an 8-0 debacle (such a lopsided score would have truly represented the Sabres’ pitiful effort).

Drury, by signing with the Rangers for allegedly the same amount he could have gotten in Buffalo, perhaps came to a self-realization that he simply could not handle the pressure of being in a small-market town, under the glaring spotlight of owning up to his moniker, “Captain Clutch.” Perchance Drury could not own up to the fact that as the veteran co-captain, he could not rally a young team to play to its potential when it truly counted most. His trek to the Rangers, could very well be an attempt to hide in the shadows of Jagr and Gomez for similar money and less heartburn.

As for the Thomas Vanek situation, from a public relations standpoint, the Sabres’ Management had their hands tied on this one. If Vanek had slipped away, it would have been devastating to the marketing of the team, in light of the departures of Briere and Drury. In terms of a long-term outlook, the Sabres miscalculated on this one. FOUR first round draft-picks, for Vanek, from an Edmonton team that will languish near the bottom of the league as long as Kevin Lowe has a voice in its mismanagement, and a bumper crop of highly touted 18-year-olds in the draft next year, strikes me as a glorious opportunity lost.

[Gloria]

I'm glad Thomas is back, but I think we paid WAY too much for him...If only we had done that with Drury!!

[SuddenDeath]

Bill your post reminded me of a great line in the movie Sudden Death.

Secret Service agent: You're crazy Me? Ha! I'm not the one paying some neanderthal 40 million dollars a year to skate up and down the ice.

You hit the nail on the head.

[Bill]

I can't believe how upset the Sabres fans are. Blame it on yourselves. You keep buying the tickets that help to pay these guys to PLAY a GAME for Millions of $$$ per year. The players become incredibly greedy and could care LESS about you, the devoted fan. They're just after the bucks. If you keep buying the tickets, the salaries will keep going up and the greed will continue, thanks to you, the fans. It's your fault so quit your whining.

[Gleason]

I want to be Deputy Sports Editor. Bucky G.

WTF is that.

[Adam]

Why is the deputy sports editor scooping the beat writer? You guys really need to learn how to better use your new toy.

[Chad]

I'm embarrassed to be a Sabres fan right now. Everyone nitpicking Vanek's game like the guy didn't just score 43 goals as a 23 year-old. I know you all are still emotional about losing the captains, but let's get serious. Sure, we ended up having to spend more than we should have, that's not debatable. But the Vanek bashing needs to stop. The sky is the limit on that guy offensively. He has his shortcomings, but not moreso than Briere.

Oh, you didn't like how he played in the playoffs? If you want to start calling out guys that didn't play up to par in the playoffs, you're going to be calling out everyone not named "Drury" or "Miller," so good luck. Plus, if it weren't for that atrocious "no goal" call in Game 2 of the Ottawa series, Vanek would have had more goals than any Buffalo player in that series besides Max. Western NY is such an angry place. Relax guys, losing Drury was terrible but this team isn't going to be bad this year.

[Paul]

I can't believe people like this still exist in this "information age."

You've got to love blind loyalty!!!!

Probably a big fan of Bush also. LOL

[mkijanka@bellsouth.net]

Can you fans that are still crying about the Briere/Drury loss..SNAP THE F*** OUT OF IT ALREADY AND GET ON WITH LIFE!! Face the facts: Briere LIED TO THE FANS OF WNY when he told the reporter from Philly that he had been in contact with Marty Biron since he was traded to Philly and that he played a big part in his decision. WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY THE OPPOSITE HE KEPT TELLING EVERYONE IN WNY!! All this crap about home town discount and my kids love it here was nothing but SMOKE. He knew he was leaving and Philly was the place he was heading. HE LIED TO BFLO AND THE FANS...GOOD RIDDENCE!!!
As far as Drury is concerned I believe our GM that an offer WAS put in front of Drury early in the year and HE PASSED ON THE DEAL...NOT the other way around. Regardless what that moron Gleason says, the Sabres tried to make the best play for these two and BOTH of our "beloved captains" had money on their minds and where putting up a front to the fans and the media.

Briere didn't even show up for the Ottawa series because he didn't want to risk injury and be less valuable in the open market. He's a mutt.

The fans need to stick behind the team and realize that we have a solid, young core of VERY talented players that will be around for a long time. It is because of the way the rookies are brought up through the system that every team looks to grab someone from the Sabres. In the last week over $157MM was thrown at 4 players from the Sabres. Darcy made the right moves. Get behind them or move out of the way. If you need a new team to cheer for I hear Nashville is loooking to give breaks on their tickets to former Sabres fans. GO SABRES...KICK PHILLY AND THE RANGERS A** THIS YEAR!!

[Paul]

Hilarious!

These two boobs are so overmatched it's not funny. The rest of the league must be laughing their asses off.

Quinn actually thinks anyone gives two shits about what he thinks the market is/should be?

The Sabres brass even had the balls to be critical of the Arbitration process after they lost Drury and Briere. Maybe Quinn should spend more time understanding the market and less time passing judgment on a process he clearly does not understand.

They could have signed Vanek for much less if they would have tried to do something other than their one trick tough guy "make 'em wait" act.

They have no idea how to negotiate and their public stance on Vanek after they lost Brier AND Drury put them in a terrible position.

They had to sign Vanek and stated as such.

These guys get a big fat F for understanding negotiations and prevailing market conditions!

They clearly overpaid for Vanek and admit as much by being angry at Edmonton!

What a train wreck!

[Lawrence]

I go with the concensus: this move will come back to bite the Sabres and it's for no other reason than. . . ta da!!! incompotence!!! If the USA stands for anything, having lots of money is strictly that. No other assumptions must be made concerning intelligence and talent.

[LQ sucks]

Kiss Miller goodbye!! The sabres blew it. In two years Miller will take a hometown discount, to play in Detroit, at the time Hasek retires. Not only did they show disrespect with the drury/briere/peca/mckee/grier handlings, they give Vanek a market value contract and openly say he is not worth the value. Miller is not that great to begin with, he was last season b/c of the defense in front of him, this year he was 20th in GAA and 15th in save %. He will only be effective in a system that generates alot of offense or stingy defense, otherwise he is average. But this week might have him shopping for a new home in 2 years!

[Kate]

At least they kept him.

It's too much, but he'd better earn the money.

[Bob DH]

Alexander!

Come on now. Have money to sign "marquee free agents"? It takes two to tango and no marquee free agents are going to dance in Buffalo. That is assuming that Sabres management even asks any marquee free agents to dance. Ain't gonna happen.

[Drew]

You woulda thought the Sabres management learned their lesson already, now we have to give Vanek WAY more than he's worth, and he still hasn't shown anything in the playoffs... Maybe next we'll sign some undersized fat skaters who can score 35 goals during the regular season, but won't chase a puck into the corner come playof time. Or perhaps we can find another 40 year old defensemen who won't get down on the ice to block a shot for fear that he won't be able to get up ... cause he's too damn old!!

All I have to say is our injury prone team, specifically Roy, Connely and Max better step it up this year, otherwise we are in trouble once again come playoff time! Also .... VANEK - EARN IT!!!

[Alexander]

I am shocked. We should have signed Drury earlier. Now we are definitely overpaying for Vanek. He's good, but not 50 mill good. Watch, now they'll use the money is all tied up excuse the next few years so they don't have to sign marquee free agents.

[Kevin]

If we take the players at their word, we could have had briere for $5 mil per for five, drury for $5.5 for four, Zubrus for $3.5 for 3 and Vanek $4 mil for four if the sabres would have negoitated early. That comes out to $18 million total. That would be 31% of salary cap for our top four scores. Regier and Quinn are just jerks. The Sabres have become the Moneyball of hockey. Great at drafting and trading for under the radar or unhappy talent, but having the tightest purse strings in the league. They said to today that like 1% of players don't take the max money. Yet Iginlia resigned for less, so did Thorton. Crosby has already said he doesn't need to be the highest paid and will give the Pens the hometown discount. Quinn and Regier need to be fired.

[LuvBuff]

Not rebuilding! 1st to 3rd or 4th seed. Bandwagoners: please stop posting!!

[LuvBuff]

Like I said, keep the Golden Gopher at all costs! Now GO GET SOURAY DAMN IT!!!

[Mary Beth]

Yes, fire Quinn. I never liked him the first time around. And Regier can go with him. When the Sabres brought out Lindy and Darcy to say they had signed their contracts, I yawned. I wanted to hear about Briere and Drury. Maybe Lindy and Darcy will decide to take the ice.

[Paul]

Between Chris Drury, Daniel Briere, Dainius Zubrus, and Thomas Vanek, the Sabres have had over $157 million thrown at their players in the last six days. If they signed them all, ticket prices would be through the roof and that would be the hot topic in these blogs.

[Paul]

Deputy Sports Editor? Cool.

[Jeff]

Can things get any better! First the front office sits a watches Briere & Drury walk. I'm glad to see we trade for players and let them leave just when they are at there best, makes sense doesn't it.

Briere was a project that payed great dividends, but instead of realizing and investing in that last year (GM's job) we sit on our butt and let someone else reap the rewards.

Drury, that was as sorry a management job as I have ever heard. The biggest star the team has had in some years and we just handle it like amateurs.

Now, Vanek is going to sign for what amounts as more than what was probably necessary (7+ mil/year).

So now that we have to cash to spend to improve our team in size and grit. We will be a better hockey team. I guess its a good thing the season is sold out before all of this.

The Sabres do owe its fans an apology for this. Its just so stupid!

[steveh]

Vanek is a great player and goal scorer. He's not the caliber of Drury though. Typical Buffalo - poor decisions with Drury - can't stand the heat from the fans - then make a rash decision on Vanek. And unfortunately, they'll never change. Vanek will be a great player for Buffalo, but could have been had for a lot less.

[Northeastchampsrepeat]

Unbelieveable. After the first day of free agency with teams making ridiculous offers to 30 year old centers you don't think Vanek knew he would receive offers from a desperate team with lots of room (LA, Edm, Montreal)? He would not have signed immediately with the Sabres for 4 million. Also the money would be better given to Drury? You'd like to have a 7 million dollar cap hit when Drury is 38? Teams like the Rangers and Flyers are spending irresponsibly and will pay for it, especially when someone comes knocking at their door for Lundqvist and they CAN'T match the offer. The Sabres are 11 million under the cap, have 9 good forwards, 6 solid defenseman that everyone loved all year until the Ottawa series and oh yea that Vezina caliber goalie that we can still re-sign. I cannot wait until next year when they're able to offer contracts to players like Spezza and Heatley who actually deserve huge long term deals (they're in their mid 20's) and everyone is praising management again. Typical Buffalo fans.

[Dave Cannon]

This has been utterly the worst management of a professional team I have seen since the Boston Celtics crapped out in the early 1990's. Here is Quinn's and Regier's hubris: They trully believed that Briere, Drury, and Vanek would take a significant pay cut in order to stick it out and try for another Cup run. I really do believe that is what they were thinking. Barring straight sabatoge, that is the only explanation. Now, we can go into just how naive that thought process is. These guys play in a professional sports league with big contracts and big money. Of course they will want some of that, who doesn't like more money? Also, they want to be part of a winner. Yes the Sabres have been winners the last two years, with brilliant coaching and game planning by Lindy and his team of coaches. But the way the management has treated such hard work has been less than spectacular.

I am not surprised Briere and Drury left. I knew Quinn and Regier would fall on their own sword when it came time to deal. Here is what I would have done...Briere would have been let go, I would not have offered him a crappy deal, but something in the ballpark of his market value. But if another team beat it, I would have not pursued it further. I would have thrown the farm at Drury, you just can't match his hockey IQ and his leadership abilities. When your coach tells the team to "go out and run 'em" after you got hit on a slightly late check (albeit an elbow to the face) you are someone special, worthy of such subtle praise. Would they have rallied like that around Briere? Yes, but not to the point they did that night. And then game 5 against the Rangers. Instead of hanging back after threading a beautiful pass to Connelly he finds a spot he thinks, no he knows, the rebound will come to because Lundqvist was moving left to right to follow the one timer pass, pushing a rebound to the right, scores the game tying goal. So I would have bet the farm on Drury, and I would have signed him January 1st, when it was legal to do so. Hell, if he signed long term, Briere might have fell in line for a lot less too.

Now, because they screwed the pooch with Drury and Briere, they are stuck paying way more than Vanek is worth. Yes, he scored 40+ goals last year. Yes he had a ridiculous +/- rating. He will get nowhere near it this year. You know why? Teams overlooked him until the end, because the focus was all on Briere and Drury, now that they are gone, Vanek will be the target all teams will be gunning for. And I don't think anyone else will step up and be a big scorer. So we better hope for one thing this off-season. Let's hope that Miller grows a Patrick Roy like force-field around himself, he'll need it....

[Craig LA Chapter of the Buffalo Sabres Society]

If you sign Drury he attracts other players and they see the Team is serious and rewards good players! I don't see Vanek drawing anyone in to the team. Could have got Drury for less than that............

[diastematic]

The Sabres have been played like a fiddle this offseason. First, we get the carpet taken out from underneath us and watch our two captains split. Then we respond to this Vanek signing, which is an overreaction.

Is there ANY GAME PLAN at all...anything proactive going on in the front office besides signing our backup goalie? I'm not saying we won't be okay, but it would have been nice to know that there was an intentional plan rather than a string of reactions.

There's sharks and there's shark bait. I guess we're fine being shark bait.

[June M Buffalo]

I hope that there is a method to Quinn's & Regier's madness because the last couple of MONTHS make no sense!! Sabres should have made offers to Drury and Vanek together earlier in the season, that way we wouldn't be paying such a ridiculous amount to keep someone whom I do not think is worth 50 million dollars!!!! Granted, he's young and he has time to improve, but Sabres Management would have never had to pay top dollar for mediocre playing. Drury and the 4 tops would've been better planned. And, we may have even saved a few dollars....However, Drury, in my book was worth that kind of money, NOT Thomas Vanek ever! Sabres need to CHANGE their management crew, or management needs to get their heads out of their &^%*$!

[DC United]

Gotta love this - isn't Regier the same boob who told everyone that negotiating during a season is "bad for the room". How will training camp be with one guy making at least about double what the next highest paid player receives.

[Michael]

Now that's a long-term signing that makes sense. Yeah, it is expensive, but Vanek is still young and will still be in his prime when the contract expires. Briere will be around 38 and already well past prime at the end of his contract.

[Ed G]

Sabres match Vanek Pact...

Don't believe it until you see the signed docs....

[Bill in Tampa]

Chip in DC, Vanek can't play defense. +47 with 43 goals almost all even strength. Yes as I said he is an offensive talent there is no denying that. But as was proved in the playoffs, you need to play some defense as well. Where were his numbers then? The same place Quinn and Regiers heads are... in the toilet. Wouldn't have rather kept Dury and gotten the 4 picks? I would've.

[kathy]

Well, it looks like alot of money now (and it is), but over 7 yrs Vanek's salary won't come close to the studs of the future. Having said all of that, the Sabres management continues to show just how inept they are. Why did they wait? Why get stuck again? Why didn't they lock him up BEFORE a huge offer came in. It makes no sense. These guys blew it again. I am still sick over the loss of Drury and will continue to be ticked off for a long time. Vanek is now getting big time money. He could have been signed for less along with the signing of Drury. What the h#*% is wrong with the management? What are they doing? I blame Quinn more for the debacles of the past week, or more accurately, the last year. Regier can do alot, but he can only do so much.

You just have to wonder what is REALLY going on.

[Lucas]

Why is everybody going crazy about this offseason. This is just the typical reaction of the Buffalo fan. Locking Vanek up for 7 years is a good thing and after this year the salry goes down. If the Sabre's would have spent the $$ on Drury and Briere, they would not have been able to keep Vanek. When all is said and done, people have to remember that Drury and Briere had two shots at a chapionship with Buffalo and came up short both times. It was time for them to move on.

[Little Steven's Wig]

What a confrontational press conference.

They had no choice, but I agree, 4 first round picks is tempting. But if they weren't 18 year old unknowns, I'd say it would be worth it in the long run. But who wants to wait 4-6 years for all of those 1st rounders?

They were forced, and sorry to see that Kevin Lowe has to be out lead negotiator.

Now we just need to do something about Center. Derek Roy blows. He is not a #1 center.

[Bob DH]

Bravo Larry Quinn! Bravo! Please take an extra bow please. You have made it! Topping Gary Bettman as the most hated man in Hockey is quite an accomplishment!

First, you shock the entire league completely misunderstanding the concept of unrestricted free-agency and make your team a laughingstock. If that was not enough of a challenge, THEN you really outdo yourself by completely destroying the existing unofficial structure of restricted free-agency by allowing (asking?)another team to attempt to steal Vanek.

Let's ponder the future consequences of your mind-blowing stupidity (management's perspective): Pandora's box of actually trying to sign other team's RFA's has now been opened, so the price of any worthwhile future RFA's just went up dramatically. Arbitration awards just went up also. Ridiculous offer sheets offered purely to make rival teams RFA's more expensive is now within the realm of possibility. Welcome to (un?)restricted salary-cap warfare!

So congratulations again, Mr. Quinn. You single-handly just blew the existing player price structure out-of-the water and screwed the entire NHL and it's fans at the same time. Very impressive.

I am sure player agents will be sending you flowers any time now since you just made them much wealthier. I hope they smell good, because it really stinks outside HSBC arena.

Finally, the snickering you hear in the backround is no longer you fellow NHL team presidents, but the players about to start laughing all the way to the bank (player's perspective)!

[mike]

We should have signed Brian Rafalski,and Paul Kariya.. We could of had some good veteran leadership in those 2 4 at least 8 years. And we could of got them both cheaper than what were about 2 sign Vanek..

[Tom]

Lot of money for Vanek But the Sabres had no choice. sign him or lose the FANS. My only problem is who is going to set him up. We still need to find a few centers with leadership. Alos why not lock up Miller to a new contract now Or are we going to take the wait and see attitude. I sure hope not'

[CT]

Hello McFly,

What team doesn't talk to their players during the season in regards to new contracts? Hmmm...

Vanek is a good player, but not worth that cost. Four first round picks is tempting!!!

Sabres have their foot in their mouths. Way to make a great team so so now.

[Mike K]

I would have preffered see this money go to Chris Drury

[LuvBuff]

C'mon fans, they had NO choice but to match that offer. This also is by no means a rebuilding year. We went from 1st to probably 3rd or 4th. F the Rangers. They certainly improved ONE LINE (Gomez is like Mogilny sans Patty)! Gomez NEEDS Drury. Flyers will not be THAT much tougher either. Danny HAD his career year. Vanek now is overpaid, but hell, stick it to 'em TV like they did your teammates.

[Tim]

At first I was taking on a woe is us attitude about this whole thing. Saying to h#ll with Drury and Briere, and their eyes full of green. But now I am taking on a damn the torpedos we're buffalo and we're gonna come back the old school way, and we don't care who or what gets in our way. We are gonna put Pat Kaleta out there against Philly next year and he is gonna make Danny's life hell when he, oh wait he won't go into the corners.

It is time to say, we got a raw deal but we're gonna do it anyways. That is my new stance.

However I do agree with an earlier comment how we should fire regier, make lindy GM, and bring cunneyworth up from rochester.

That would be shake up enough.

Hugs and Kisses Buffalo from the heart of Buckeye Country!!!

[LuvBuff]

Free agency is such a cancer. Gotta love it!!

[Aaron from SF]

Personally, I would have taken the picks. Our team has already been gutted and it is going to be a rebuilding year anyways. We didn't even bother to look at the free agents that were available (?????). To make Vanek our franchise player is rediculous.

I do believe that the Oilers just pulled the dirtiest move in the history of the NHL. To make Vanek the highest paid player in the NHL is absolutely obscene. I have to believe that the front office had to be trying to get him signed after they lost D + B, but his agent obvioulsy wanted to hold out to see what they could get. Now Vanek & his agent are laughing all the way to the bank.

Once again, this could have all been avoided IF WE WOULD CHANGE THE STUPID POLICY OF NOT NEGOTIATING DURING THE SEASON! We are the laughing stock of the entire league because of it.

Get your head out of your asses Quinn & Golisano.

[Fred Saradin]

Darcy & Bonehead Quinn: Nice job !!! You signed Vanek for more than what you could have paid for Briere & Drury
combined.

Please hand in your resignations ASAP.

[Aaron from SF]

Personally, I would have taken the picks. Our team has already been gutted and it is going to be a rebuilding year anyways. We didn't even bother to look at the free agents that were available (?????). To make Vanek our franchise player is rediculous.

I do believe that the Oilers just pulled the dirtiest move in the history of the NHL. To make Vanek the highest paid player in the NHL is absolutely obscene. I have to believe that the front office had to be trying to get him signed after they lost D + B, but his agent obvioulsy wanted to hold out to see what they could get. Now Vanek & his agent are laughing all the way to the bank.

Once again, this could have all been avoided IF WE WOULD CHANGE THE STUPID POLICY OF NOT NEGOTIATING DURING THE SEASON! We are the laughing stock of the entire league because of it.

Get your head out of your asses Quinn & Golisano.

[G Dubaya]

Now that's how you run a franchise............

[Chad]

Once again, Buffalo's inability to lock up their players while owning the player's exclusive bargaining rights has cost them. Vanek would would have probably signed a five or six year deal worth between $4.5 and $5.5 million. Instead, we now have to pay the guy an average of over $7m/year. I like Vanek a lot, he's an incredible talent, but the business decisions coming out of Buffalo are just horrible. The way the front office has handled-err, mangled- free agency should be unacceptable to every Sabres fan out there. Do these guys understand business at all? You don't need an MBA to figure out that when other teams can bid on your players, the price goes nowhere but up. How many times do these guys need to learn the hard way? I think this is once again an example of Buffalo's management not understanding how much other teams covet their players. They are utterly unprepared and its been unacceptable.

[scott in Houston]

You are absolutely right Chip in DC...but is Vanek worth that much money?