No early contract for Stafford
MONTREAL -- Sabres right wing Drew Stafford is a restricted free agent, but GM Darcy Regier said signing him before the marketplace opens Wednesday is not a priority despite the fact the 23-year-old could attract an offer sheet. The Sabres were victimized by a bid two years ago when Edmonton signed Thomas Vanek to a $50 million offer, which Buffalo matched.
"It’s something that we balanced out and weighed, and we want to do what’s right for both the player and the organization, and so I think you’re going to see it go beyond July 1," Regier said today after the draft concluded. "I think ownership made a very serious statement in Thomas’ case, and I would hope that would send a signal to the rest of the league that as an organization we’re going to protect the assets we have, we’re going to make decisions that are best for the organization. I think ownership has made that statement loud and clear."
---John Vogl
How does a young player grow and mature in Buffalo with NO veteran leadership to guide them? Who is the go-to guy that a young player can look up to?
I don't mean to be negative folks, but I remember when guys like Rick Dudley wore the Sabres uniform with pride. I do not see alotta pride in this team anymore.
Posted by: World be Free | June 30, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Obviously, "we" didn't learn from Vanek. Letting him walk for draft picks is letting yet another first round pick leave. We'll take the picks, pick chumps and let them rot in the minors for a couple years.
What we think is a fair salary as Sabres fans does not always translate to the NHL today. We have been "Sabre-ized" into thinking players have to take a career-long hometown discount to have the priviledge of playing in Buffalo. What it really comes down to is this team won't pony up until somebody puts a gun to their head.
Posted by: World Be Free | June 29, 2009 at 10:25 PM
wow...you people are the most negative, miserable humans i can possibly imagine.
so what if stafford gets offered an offer sheet. he had an inconsistent season(s). you losers are already writing him off. nice outlook on life you lowly slugs....
if he does leave, that opens cap space and maybe the sabres can acquire some sandpaper for the lineup instead of another young, soft, kid with "potential"
Posted by: Dale | June 29, 2009 at 03:26 PM
2 #1's would take a 4-5m offer. I'd be shocked to see anyone offer that.
Posted by: Jeff | June 29, 2009 at 03:18 PM
I beg someone to take Stafford off our hands.
His play personifies the Buffalo Sabres: Young, full of potential, but also maddeningly inconsistent, more interested in music than hockey and doesn't play physical enough given his size (although in his defense he has stuck for teammates and gotten into a few fights, something we can't say for everyone on this team).
Posted by: Beavis | June 29, 2009 at 02:15 PM
Stafford has shown goal scoring ability but disappears frequently and rarely uses his size to battle thru the opposition..my book says he's overrated and if he gets a big offer where the Sabres get back atleast two #1 picks, I say you have to take the picks. Stafford needs to decide what's more important putting in the consistent effort for his teammates and the B'lo organization or playing rock star guitarist with some cheeze-ball metalheads?
Posted by: siket71 | June 29, 2009 at 12:53 PM
I agree with Maverick. Staff is a restricted free agent. I expect that the market will prove to be a reality check for him. And if some team does want to overpay for him, let them do that and take the draft picks. He is not in the calibre of Vanek. And it frees cap space to get someone worth while.
Posted by: CalgarySabre2 | June 29, 2009 at 11:23 AM
"Stafford winds up in arbitration and $3.5 million for 1 year and then UFA. Has a monster year and Darcy looks, I don't know, cheap and short sighted. Shades of Danny Briere anyone???
Apparently, that lesson was NOT learned."
Stafford is not arbitration eligible and is 4 years away from UFA.
I'm sure the reason why he has not signed is because the agent wants to get to July 1st.
Posted by: Kent | June 29, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Sounds about right. The Sabres have nothing to lose here. Is anyone really going to offer 2.9m and pay a 1st + 3rd? It's a pretty steep price. I don't see anyone breaking 3m and throwing in extra picks.
Posted by: Jeff | June 28, 2009 at 07:26 PM
Jeff, I think you probably summarized exactly how the situation has played out thus far and the likely result. I bet Staff and his agent want $3.2-$3.5 mil per, and I bet Darcy is offering between $2.5-$2.8 mil. I think $2.8ish is a fair number. That's what Wolski got in Colorado last summer and the two have similar numbers at the same point in their careers. This is far from extraordinary considering that, to my knowledge, only one RFA has signed so far (Krejci) this summer. Everyone around here makes it a big deal when one of our players wants to go to July 1. I'd submit that any player who signs a contract days before July 1 and gives up their leverage is an idiot, unless they received a Godfather offer.
My guess: 3 yrs, $8.8 mil.
Posted by: Chad | June 28, 2009 at 04:50 PM
I'd bet Darcy offered him something along the lines of 3 years for 2-2.5m and Drew said no. He's a tough contract. His potential might be worth more, but there's a limit to how many players you can sign based on potential. Offer sheets are his leverage, and he's going to use it.
No one is going to offer 4m+ and give up those picks for him, as much as Darcy would love to pocket them. He'll probably get a 2.9m offer sheet, giving a 1st and 3rd, then Darcy will match. Any higher, and he'll take the picks.
Posted by: Jeff | June 28, 2009 at 02:49 PM
Drew is a good player but isn't worth more than 2.5 million a season right now. But if the sabres plan on signing him why wait until someone tries an offer sheet on him and drives up his price. He's a good young player who will only get better. Don't screw this one up like you did with Vanek Darcy!
Posted by: Steve | June 28, 2009 at 10:56 AM
Stafford is another example of this organization's culture ruining someone with decent potential.
Think about it, a 20 something with gumption is hired by a company that represses it.
Sabres ownership & management has destroyed what potential there was for accountability and a drive to win.
They say all the right things but it is all a phony act.
What a sad joke. This draft has been nothing more than them dangling a carrot. As earlier posters said, they need to do something yesterday to toughen up. But that won't happen.
They promise the toughness in drafting these guys, but it is about to be repressed by the lousy culture they have. That is IF they've even picked players with NHL potential. That track record isn't so good either.
Posted by: Chris | June 28, 2009 at 10:16 AM
I said take the picks on Vanek and I was wrong. I do not see the same superior play in Stafford.
Let the Leafs sign him and take their picks. They will stink for the next few years anyhow! Get some high picks for a guy that shows only flashes.
Posted by: World Be Free | June 28, 2009 at 09:21 AM
I wouln't overpay for Stafford , yet. He looks great at times, and then disappears. If he gets an offersheet at 4or more per year, let him walk and take the picks. They have locked up there chosen core for the next couple of years, although I don't think some of them represent money well spent(ie Hecht, and Pommer). If they choose to keep Staff, at higher money, they'll need to deal on of the other bigger tickets.
Posted by: Maverick | June 28, 2009 at 09:11 AM
Interesting stuff.
Stafford is ripped on all year in posts to this site.
He then does not receive a long and lucrative contract offer and the Sabres are blasted.
Posted by: ColumbusJoe | June 28, 2009 at 08:40 AM
"I think ownership made a very serious statement in Thomas’ case, and I would hope that would send a signal to the rest of the league that as an organization we’re going to protect the assets we have, we’re going to make decisions that are best for the organization. I think ownership has made that statement loud and clear."
Darcy, COME ON! Do you think we are that stupid? Someone offers him $4 million and you are going to MATCH???? I don't think so. I think this is the slow walk to the door for Mr. Stafford hoping someone comes and "takes him off your hands".
I sincerely hope someone offers him $2.5 Million. Call his flipping bluff.
My guess:
Stafford winds up in arbitration and $3.5 million for 1 year and then UFA. Has a monster year and Darcy looks, I don't know, cheap and short sighted. Shades of Danny Briere anyone???
Apparently, that lesson was NOT learned.
Posted by: Buffalo Excuses | June 28, 2009 at 07:52 AM
"This town deserves a winner. They have supported us unbelievably, and these are really tough times. One way or another, we have to get them a winner.”
Larry Quinn 3/14/2009
Larry, is this "one way" or the other"?
Thanks SO MUCH for promising a "Top to Bottom" review BEFORE ticket sales and then announce this AFTER. Some may consider it disingenuos or "playing" your fan base.
CREEAAAAK...That's the basement door swinging open to welcome us back home.
CHUMPS.
Posted by: Buffalo Excuses | June 28, 2009 at 07:42 AM
I think Darcy is HOPING someone "overpays" him and is forced to fork over draft picks.
Why?
You cut costs
You have someone to blame your cheapness on
Get picks to replace the next guys that walk away from you in 2-3 years.
The revolving door continues.
We field "basically the same team" only cheaper without Spacek and now apparently Stafford.
Chad,
Where are you now?
Posted by: Buffalo Excuses | June 28, 2009 at 07:28 AM
I think his agent is overinflating his value. The Sabres arent winning anything this year and have a lot of good young skaters up front and on the blue line that could use a year of development. Stafford is a decent forward, but you cant compare this to Vanek.
Posted by: Chris | June 27, 2009 at 10:08 PM
I more likely Stafford's agent wants to wait and see if any one else is going to make an offer.
Posted by: Kent | June 27, 2009 at 08:45 PM
Sounds like the Sabres and Stafford's agent are far apart on the contract otherwise why wait? Whatever happens, I sure hope the Sabres have a plan in place because right now they are looking very passive.
Posted by: GmR | June 27, 2009 at 06:56 PM
if you're going to sign him, though, just sign him. rather than wait and get forced to sign him for twice as much.
Posted by: lounotinafghanistananymore | June 27, 2009 at 06:23 PM
Stafford isn't worth more than $2-2.5 million per year. If someone else wants to sign him for that, he should walk and we take the draft picks. Spacek is 35 and there is young blood coming up with Butler, Weber and Myers.
Posted by: Dude | June 27, 2009 at 04:55 PM
Yeah, the Sabres made a statement with the Vanek episode: we can be backed into a corner and forced to overspend because we allow other teams to dictate the terms of our contracts with our players, rather than being proactive and handling the situation ourselves. Why wouldn't another team come in and make an offer; if it works you have a player you value, if it doesn't you force another team closer to the cap, bringing them out of the running for other RFAs or UFAs. Not that he's Bouwmeester, but I would have liked to have seen Spacek stick around, certainly over guys like Tallinder. But he's going to be another good player out the door because the Sabres let him get to July 1.
Posted by: Dan | June 27, 2009 at 04:28 PM