Free Agency Lacks Fireworks
For all the hoopla that typically comes with the NHL's free-agent signing period, it actually has been fairly quiet for the first few days. It's almost boring compared to other years, when you would see big names changing teams. Blame the NHL economy for the slowdown. So many teams are bumped up against the salary cap, leaving little room to sign star players.
Saku Koivu, Alex Kovalev, Joe Sakic, Alex Tanguay are among the many still looking for work. Koivu appeared to be headed for Minnesota to play with his brother. The Canadiens still haven't decided what they're going to do with Kovalev, who a few weeks ago was expected to be named captain. Now, it's not even clear that he's going to be staying with the Habs.
The Sabres could still use more help along the blue line. There are several good players still available, including (in no particular order) Francois Beauchimin, Dennis Seidenberg, Marek Malik, Andrew Alberts, Mathieu Schneider, Paul Mara, Darryl Sydor, Sergei Zubov (injury risk), Kurtis Foster (major injury risk). It's worth finding out the asking price and seeing if they can land one of them.
For an early peek at the winners and losers through the first few days of free agency, check out my story in Sunday's edition of The News.
--- Bucky Gleason
"I wonder how (Tom Golisano) would feel about (another out-of-the-playoffs finish)?"
He promised to eat a microphone if the 2008-09 season ended like that, then chickensh---ed his way out of that one at the last second. How can anyone in their right mind rely on him, or anyone else in that decrepit office, to take any kind of stand?
But, there are those who will eat this garbage because "it is there," and then say, "Be glad for the garbage you have; if there's no garbage, there's nothing to eat." For those who live by the above worldview: Be ready to accept the end results of living by that perspective as WELL-EARNED-AND-DESERVED.
Posted by: Lloyd Marshall, Jr. | July 07, 2009 at 08:43 AM
Rookie development camps are all well and good. It's good to see we have skill and fire on the horizon. What is discouraging is watching our divisional rivals make signifgant improvements for this year, while darcy has done virtually nothing. He has only signed a #6 blueliner in Montador, has not even re-signed any of our RFAs, not dealt away any of the dead wood or traded for more help this year. I'm sick of being patient. Sabres are primed for a last place finsh. That won't sit well with me. I wonder how the owner would feel about that?
Posted by: Maverick | July 06, 2009 at 09:43 PM
Rename the Buffalo Sabres to the Buffalo Bottom Feeders. Betcha Ryan Miller is really happy he decided to stay last year. Now he must know why Hasek wanted to leave.
Posted by: World Be Free | July 06, 2009 at 06:58 PM
Beauchemin just signed with Toronto (per TSN) for $3.8 million a year for three years. Buffalo was going to give Spacek over 3 million a season, but didn't want to do a multi-year deal because of his age. Why not a three-year deal at approximately the same amount of money for a 29 year old puck-moving defenseman? Way to sit on your hands again and do nothing, Darcy.
Posted by: Dan | July 06, 2009 at 05:34 PM
Darcy Regier has done his usual nothing. Signing Steve Montador and losing Jaroslav Spacek is hardly an improvement. As far as waiting for a bargain free agent player, history shows Regier will do nothing there either. I doubt any significant trades will come about consider Regier's track record. Regier is too in love with the players he has drafted or acquired and can't see the forest for the trees. It's time Sabre fans wake up and realize the team is going nowhere with Regier running the show. FIRE HIM NOW!!!!
Posted by: Scott | July 06, 2009 at 03:57 PM
I'm afraid Vandy Adam is right-- they signed their one and only free agent for this year, but I'm hoping that Darcy will surprise us. I'm also hoping that this team is sick of being out of the playoffs for two years in a row, and will adjust their attitudes accordingly.
Posted by: jan | July 06, 2009 at 03:24 PM
I would have loved Larose, Laperriere, Koivu, or Scuderi on this team.
Posted by: Vandy Adam | July 06, 2009 at 11:34 AM
Scuderi is Montador coming off a Cup run where he was a role player.
$3.4M per year for a guy like that is not "a reasonable contract".
Komisarek is getting $4.5M after a bad year in Montreal.
If you want to talk about the guys that got good deals and might have been a fit with the Sabres, how about Ian Laperriere getting 3 years at $1.17M per from the Flyers?
Or Chald LaRose re-signing with the Canes for 2 years at $1.7M per.
Heck, I'd take the deal Aucoin got in Phoenix (1 yr $2.25M) over the deals that Scuderi and Komisarek got.
Posted by: James | July 06, 2009 at 07:35 AM
Yeah, the Sabres are in a good position to make trades. Did I miss something? Are all of the GMs in the NHL all of a sudden as inept as Darcy?
It takes two to tango there Bucky.
Posted by: Brian | July 05, 2009 at 10:14 PM
Montreal??? winners???
no way.
overpayed for all FA's.
Gainey will be first GM fired this coming season.
Posted by: Skram | July 05, 2009 at 04:14 PM
Good news: They're in position to make trades.
Bucky's in a comdeic mood today
Posted by: CB | July 05, 2009 at 02:00 PM
What I find Laughable is that Bucky thinks we ONLY need help at the blue line.
Seems like the "Hope Season" has arrived.
Posted by: Buffalo Excuses | July 05, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Typical Buffalo offseason-more players leaving than coming.
Take the money and head to FLA.
Posted by: World Be Free | July 05, 2009 at 11:27 AM
There are a lot of players at forward and defense that are available for reasonable contracts. My guess is the Sabres won't go after any of them. The Sabres already made their one annual free agent signing, now we've reached the point in the offseason when as a Sabres fan, you just watch the headlines as all the players that could help the Sabres sign elsewhere on the cheap.
But hey, we were almost the sixteenth best team in the league last year, do we really need to make any changes? Aim high!
Posted by: Vandy Adam | July 05, 2009 at 10:33 AM
The debacle in Chicago might make this one of the more memorable FA periods in a long time.
Posted by: Jeff | July 05, 2009 at 03:20 AM
I'd like to see them get a quality, gritty forward who can play appreciable minutes, in addition to the puck moving blueliner.
Posted by: Maverick | July 04, 2009 at 10:45 PM
Agree with TJ but it doesn't matter because you only need one of them and that guy should be Beauchemin. Maybe they should get Montador to help get him here.
Posted by: Ron | July 04, 2009 at 07:16 PM
Why no mention of Marc-Andre Bergeron?...this guy scored 14 goals last year. 7 on the pp...
Posted by: cannibalking525 | July 04, 2009 at 07:15 PM
Bucky - Other than Beauchemin, none of the other UFA defensemen listed are worth pursuing IMO and wouldn't represent any sort of upgrade over what Buffalo has presently on the roster.
Posted by: TJ | July 04, 2009 at 06:04 PM
What about nick boynton i think he would be a good option too.
Posted by: Brandon | July 04, 2009 at 04:48 PM