Vanek gets some attention
Stephen Bartlett, the agent for Sabres restricted free agents Thomas Vanek and Andrew Peters, just said in a phone call there has been interest in Vanek from outside the Buffalo organization.
"We've had some discussions with clubs, and where that ends up, who knows?" Bartlett said. "But in the
meantime we'll continue to probably talk to Buffalo or get some talks going with Buffalo to see where we're at."
Bartlett, who talked with Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier today (mostly about Peters), was intrigued by Larry Quinn's comment about Vanek on Monday. Quinn said the Sabres "have his rights, and we're not going to let them go."
"It'll be interesting to see what happens," said Bartlett, who chuckled before adding, "They actually don't have his rights. They have the right to match."
---John Vogl
Darcy & Larry are going to look sooo STUPID when they have to match a 6 or 7 milllion dollar contract & not pay Drury 6.5 mil STUPID is as STUPID does nobody will want to come to Buffalo with that low ball mentality a disappointed season ticketholder
Posted by: steve b | July 04, 2007 at 11:50 PM
As long as "The Mighty Quinn" is involved with this joke of a franchise, even locking up Vanek won't matter. Then again, as I stated previously, the teeny bopper Sabre fans (the largest subsection by far) don't really care - as long as we keep the "cute" ones!
Hmmm..,,interesting how most Buffalonianas mocked Brind'amour (ooh he's so ugly!!) and Niedermeyer (ooh,,he's so old..) but they have LORD STANLEY!! But hey, we've got to keep Muffie, Buffy, Chelsea, etc etc happy right? They're the ones buying those Pominville and Roy jerseys 'cause they're soooo cute!!!!
Memo to Regier and The Almighty Quinn: why not try to package this "soft" - but CUTE! bunch as the Backstreet Boys of the NHL!! I bet you all of Clarence (girls between 12 - 22) will easily forgive your managerial blunders...
Posted by: Dave C | July 04, 2007 at 09:12 PM
It is amazing that we continue to hear about $ concerns in the 2 leagues that have caps/cost controls. PLEASE sign your restricted free agents and then with the money that you should have spent on keeping Chris Drury, go get NJ's restricted free agent Zach Parise. He is a great skater, 2 way player, goal scorer and a leader. He is young to boot ! The Devils put themselves in a position where they can't overpay the best young player on their team. They are too busy trying to impress fans that never show up into their new pricey arena. If I can figure this out (I'm really not that smart) then DA's Quinn & Regier should be able to. They are discount management at best and we got what we paid for with both of them.
Posted by: Ray Chic | July 04, 2007 at 03:56 PM
Ok, I think this organization has been fooling around too long. I am the biggest Sabres fan in all of Buffalo. I'm heartbroken right now that we just lost Danny and Chris, but I believe we can still be something if we can keep intact the rest of our team. Vanek was obviously a key component to our team last year and we can definitely not afford to lose him now. He's worth all the money they need to pay to keep him here. At only 23 years old, he hasn't even reached his full potential and I can see him becoming the leauge's next huge star. Heck, he already is. All the Sabres need to do to hold on to what we've had and follow the steps below; sign Vanek, number one, get a couple big forechecking guys, number two, and keep the mindset of being winners, and with Ryan Miller leading our team I think we can do just that. GO SABRES!!! Oh yeah, and with the loss of our two captains, we might just be known as the underdogs again... and to tell you the truth, I like that idea. We thrived as the underdogs.
Posted by: Chelsea | July 04, 2007 at 01:34 PM
Please, please, please tell me I did not just read in today's (7/4/) paper, that now Roy and Paetsch are going to file for arbitration.
Will this organization ever learn?!?
These tactics with players have got to stop.
You've just lost Drury and Briere, and now you're going to play 'no-contact hardball' with Roy, Vanek, and Paetsch?
At this point, I agree with Briere. The Buffalo Sabres management is NOT committed to winning.
Posted by: Paul Redman | July 04, 2007 at 10:03 AM
LOL, another example of the completely inept Sabres front office. They completely blow off the best 2 players on the team, and end up losing them. Then they basically give notice (in public, in front of the press, no less) that they cant afford to lose Vanek too, which ridiculously increases his bargaining power. Great strategy, lose 2 superstar players because youre too stupid/cheap to keep them, then sell the farm to keep a second tier player with questionable abilities. Brilliant.
The Sabres have been saying they want to run the team like a business and put profits first. LOL. Having inept leadership, and dumping your best assets due to being cheapskates and fools, is not a good way to run your business. Its now very clear why a player like greer bolted last year. And its pretty obvious nobody else will want to play for this joke of an organization, so good luck replacing all the talent you have squandered. And finally, I hope the Sabres management enjoys the empty arena their 'business sense' created. I for one, will not waste my money on an organization that is run in such a pathetic fashion. We had a young, talented team with great heart and leadership that could have competed for a championship for the next 5 years or more. Now the sabres are a team that will struggle to get into the playoffs.
Darcy and Quinn should both be fired for such gross incompetence.
Posted by: Kenny James | July 04, 2007 at 04:08 AM
once again...
LET'S GO BILLS
LET'S GO BILLS
BA-BA-BA-BILLS
Posted by: BIFF | July 03, 2007 at 09:51 PM
YES! And why wouldn't the free agents be breaking down our doors to get in with the B-Lo town action? I mean we're kicking it real smooth with Dave and Busters, we got killer malls and if they're interested in milfs we got the Buffalo Jills they can court. Come on free agents!!! Buffalo is your one way ticket to obscurity, financial uncertainty, and professional failure.
Posted by: Lawrence | July 03, 2007 at 09:06 PM
THESE TWO CLOWNS HAVE NO IDEA ON HOW TO RUN A TEAM, NO TALKS WITH VANEK YET MAYBE THEY SHOULD WAIT UNTIL SOMEBODY OFFERS HIM 6 YEARS 36 MILL AND THEN SAY WE CANT AFFORD HIM?? LARRY QUINN SCREWED THIS TEAM UP LAST TIME HE WAS HERE( ASK CAP. CRUNCH) BOY LIKE AT ALL THE FREE AGENTS LINING UP TO COME HERE
Posted by: dungood | July 03, 2007 at 08:47 PM
Mr. Vanek, do yourself a favor and bolt western New York ASAP. Let's just be real here, you aren't LEADER material in the NHL. You will always be one of those fringe scorers who will put serious contenders over the top and obviously Buffalo is no longer that. Go sign with the Rangers. Everyone else is and they have lots of money!
Posted by: Lawrence | July 03, 2007 at 08:30 PM
GO BILLS - GO SABRES -
Give me a break - I'm a Buffalo native living in Southern California watching the Ducks sign players already for another run.
BUFFALO WILL NEVER WIN A TITLE IN THIS ERA OF FREE AGENCY....WHY WERE THE BILLS SO GOOD IN THE EARLY 1990'S ? BECAUSE FREE AGENCY WAS NOT THAT BIG BACK THEN - SINCE THEN BUFFALO HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO FAIL TO WIN ANY TITLES - IT IS VERY SAD..BUT TRUE !!
Posted by: LT | July 03, 2007 at 06:23 PM
Buffalo is better off without you Boomer.
Posted by: O.J. | July 03, 2007 at 05:35 PM
Tomas, if you're smart, you'll get the hell out of Buffalo before Quinn & Darcy cheat you out of the best years of your career! Here's a hint, lease your pad and buy when you sign that huge deal in LA!!
Posted by: Big Al | July 03, 2007 at 05:31 PM
Tomas, if you're smart, you'll get the hell out of Buffalo before Quinn & Darcy cheat you out of the best years of your career! Here's a hint, lease your pad and buy when you sign that huge deal in LA!!
Posted by: Big Al | July 03, 2007 at 05:29 PM
If he's a restricted free agent, the Sabres don't own his rights, the Sabres can only match an offer. Does the front office really know which end is up.(rolling eyes)
Posted by: Elaine, Mesa AZ | July 03, 2007 at 05:19 PM
My concern is that the Sabres and the Bills for that matter always say they're "getting younger" or "building for the future." They said that 3 years ago, then 3 years before that, and 2 years before that, while other teams build for the championships. I understand money concerns, I think we all do, but to not even have contract negotiations with your top 2 players, I don't care if it is during the season and you have a "no contract negotiations during the season" policy. GET THE DAMN DEAL DONE. If you don't want a player, tell him he's gone (its a business, just like you'll find out when ticket sales drop). Just don't bank on him leaving so you can start negotiations with the other. I'm sick of building for the future. Call places like Detroit crazy. Each year they sign proven veterans, we all say that they're too old to win, well guess what, THEY DO and we watch and build for next year. Ohhh ya, that thing in the plaza that brought 10,000+ Sabre fans from as far away as Albany on a work night, that was called excitement AND THAT'S GONE. See you in 3 years when we've built for the future then dump our excitement to another team.
Posted by: Jeff | July 03, 2007 at 04:07 PM
I love the Sabres and Bills. A Lot. But the city is cursed!!So, if you want a Super Bowl and a Stanley Cup, (you can throw in an Arena bowl too)along with low taxes, good employement outlooks and nice weather move to Tampa. Best move of my and my friends lives.
Sorry Buffalo.
Boomer
Posted by: Tom Shupe | July 03, 2007 at 04:07 PM
This is a clear demonstrarion Golisano's inexperience and naivete when it comes to hockey operations. There's a reason Larry Quinn got canned the last time, and this is it. Briere, Drury, Zubrus, and now Vanek is fielding offers because Buffalo is slow to negotiate. I'm sorry, but Tim "egg shell skull" Connelly is not going to be a first line center. Now we've lost the three best centers we had, and missed on the best available free agents. They way this is going, I bet the only signing they make is Ed Belfour. Please Sabres, do something smart for a change.
Posted by: JB | July 03, 2007 at 03:42 PM
they better hurry and do this deal.
Zubrus just signed 6-year deal with NJ.
Posted by: tsize | July 03, 2007 at 03:30 PM
I dont know about you but Im tired of watching ex-sabres lift the cup. Ex-sabres who were let go because Buffalo wouldnt open the old pocket book abit. Watch out for the Rangers this year. It looks like they arent afraid to pay for their next cup. Thanks Sabres
Posted by: sick of it | July 03, 2007 at 03:16 PM
The real story is how the media and fans of Buffalo got duped by Danny boy; much like his slick and sneaky ways on the ice.
Did he really want to stay in Buffalo. What was the “home-town” discount? I heard Buffalo offered him a deal, did he counter?
Briere held a press conference to talk about how much he wanted to stay here. In hindsight it was his way of making sure that the Sabres management looked bad no matter what. If he really wanted to stay his agent would have made a counter offer to the Sabres. Let them know what he client really wanted. Let the fans know what he really thought he was worth. Let media know what sort of “discount” he was prepared to take. Instead the broke off talk with the Sabres.
I think the Sabres’ offer said a lot. They did not want to over-spend on a player that is a tremendous offensive talent but does not show up all the time on the other side of the ice.
Briere could have kept his mouth shut like Drury did. Instead he decided to play the media and fans in order to line his pockets with more money on the open market.
Slick Danny, real slick.
Posted by: Tom | July 03, 2007 at 02:50 PM
Let Vanek walk, PLEASE!! He's been a bum in the playoff's the last two years, in fact his rookie year he barely played. He's not a blood and guts performer. Get a slew of picks for him. He conjures up (bad) memories of Pierre Turgeon..........
Posted by: Larry | July 03, 2007 at 02:43 PM
If u ask me i don't know whats takeing the sabres so long to sign vanek after knowing the 2 capt's are gone . also knowing thay have alot of money left under the cap. and the sabres also have not signed anyother free agents, this could be because other free agents might not want to come hear after knowing what happen to drury and danny .
Posted by: al | July 03, 2007 at 01:47 PM
Someone tell me what happens with this scenario.
No teams offers Vanek for whatever reason. HE accepts arbitration and whatever award hes given.
He plays out this season at whatever the arbitrator gives him, and then what?
When can he become a UFA if he chooses?
Posted by: Pat | July 03, 2007 at 01:47 PM
DID ANYONE READ THE ARTICLE IN WHICH ALES KOTALIK SAID HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING ON A LARGER ROLE? HE HAS TO BE KIDDING ME!!! I HOPE DARCY HAS A BETTER PLAN THAN TO HAVE ALES KOTALIK BE YOUR LEADER IN THE LOCKER ROOM... THIS IS THE SAME GUY THAT GOT CALLED OUT IN THE PLAYOFFS FOR LOLLY-GAGGING UP AND DOWN THE ICE... "DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MAKES YOU?... A LOLLY-GAGGER"
Posted by: CASEY | July 03, 2007 at 01:33 PM