Former Buffalo Sabres general manager Darcy Regier was pretty much dead on when he was building his team for the "new NHL" prior to the 2004-05 lockout. He came out of that owner-imposed loss of a full season with a team that was poised to become the most exciting group of players in the NHL.
Regier came out of the Dominik Hasek/Michael Peca "hardest working team in hockey" era and began to build more with speed and skill as well as a focus on puck-movers on the blueline. Coming out to the lockout Chris Drury, Daniel Briere, Thomas Vanek, Max Afinogenov, Tim Connolly, Derek Roy were either fast, skilled or a combination of both-up front while the defense had Brian Campbell, Teppo Numminen, Henrik Tallinder and Dmitri Kalinin who were noted for their skating and/or puck-moving and/or offensive abilities.
Having said that, the 2005-06 Buffalo Sabres also had some tenacity baked into the lineup with the likes of Mike Grier, JP Dumont, Jay McKee and Toni Lydman who could hold their place in the lineup while adding a ton of sandpaper to a team that had a lot of skill and finesse. That team was the surprise of the league that season and were it not for a rash of injuries on defense, they very well could have represented the east in the Stanley Cup Finals instead of the Carolina Hurricanes, who beat Buffalo in seven games in the conference finals and went on to win the Cup.
Showing posts with label chris drury. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chris drury. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Ooh, aah, Sabres on the warpath!
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-20-2018
Six games. Six one-goal wins. Two in overtime, two in the shootout.
Just who are these guys?
That's what Saberland is waking up to this morning after another thriller, this one in a 5-4 overtime win in Pittsburgh.
There should be nothing but respect for a Pittsburgh Penguins organization that has won three of the last 10 Stanley Cups and even though they're in a very unusual position at the bottom of the Eastern conference, and played last night's game against the Sabres without superstar Sidney Crosby, they still have firepower and have the heart of champions.
Such was on display last night through the first 25 minutes as Pittsburgh staked their claim to a 4-1 lead over Buffalo with equal parts desperation, ferocity, skating and skill. It was something the Sabres have seen often, especially when playing in Pittsburgh, however, what we haven't seen from Buffalo is the intestinal fortitude to come back from a blitzkrieg like that.
But we're seeing it now.
Three goals down? No problem. Defenseman Zach Bogosian makes it 4-2 mid-way through the second period and with less than two minutes to go in the frame and another defenseman, Casey Nelson, cuts the lead to one goal with his first of the season. Just past the midway point of the third period Casey Mittelstadt wired a wicked wrister top-shelf to tie the score at 4-4. This one's worth another look (via NHL.com):
Then, in overtime, it was time for Captain Jack (via NHL.com):
It was the fifth time during this six-game winning streak that the Sabres overcame a third period deficit to win the game.
For as much as Sabres head coach Phil Housley wants his team to come out of the gate faster, it hasn't happened. Actually, what he's gotten has been just the opposite as Buffalo goalies look like ducks in a shooting gallery through the first two periods. During this six-game stretch Buffalo's opponents have outshot them 85-57 in the first period with four of those teams registering 15 shots or more. Somehow Buffalo has managed to come out even over those six games as both they and their opponents have scored seven goals apiece.
There's a similar shot deficit in the second period (77-54) and their goal differential is worse as they've been outscored 8-4 over that span.
However what is happening, much to the delight of the team and it's fans, is that the Sabres are owning the third period. During this six-game win-streak Buffalo has outshot their opponents by a collective 71-46 margin in the final stanza and have outscored them 7-1. The Sabres haven't given up a third period goal in the last four games and to stretch it a bit further, Buffalo hasn't allowed a goal past the 7:10-mark of the second period in those four games.
Sabres goalie Carter Hutton faced a 40-shot onslaught last night with 31 of them coming in the first two periods. Like he's done throughout this streak, Hutton single-handedly kept Buffalo in the game last night despite giving up four goals. Over his four starts and a third period relief appearance at Montreal, Hutton has faced a total of 140 shots through 17 periods of play and has allowed nine goals for a rather remarkable .936 save-percentage.
Hutton, and to an extent backup Linus Ullmark, have kept the Sabres in games they had no business being in and they've also allowed Buffalo's skaters to make their mistakes while getting into the flow of the game. Both Hutton and Ullmark (who allowed two goals on 29 shots in a win at Minnesota) were rewarded with some remarkable clutch play and goal-scoring by the team in front of them.
It's something we haven't seen in Buffalo since Chris Drury and Daniel Briere co-captained the "Ferrari Sabres" back 2006-07 when they fearlessly pushed the puck up ice while goalie Ryan Miller held the fort stopping odd-man rushes on a nightly basis. That season just happens to be the last time the Sabres had a winning streak over six games. The eventual President's Trophy winning Sabres started out that season with 10-game winning streak which matched a franchise high and also tied an NHL record for most wins in a row to start the season.
Buffalo takes on the Philadelphia Flyers tomorrow night at KeyBank Center but until then enjoy some of the sights and sounds from that 2006-07 season mikeak21 on YouTube:
Six games. Six one-goal wins. Two in overtime, two in the shootout.
Just who are these guys?
That's what Saberland is waking up to this morning after another thriller, this one in a 5-4 overtime win in Pittsburgh.
There should be nothing but respect for a Pittsburgh Penguins organization that has won three of the last 10 Stanley Cups and even though they're in a very unusual position at the bottom of the Eastern conference, and played last night's game against the Sabres without superstar Sidney Crosby, they still have firepower and have the heart of champions.
Such was on display last night through the first 25 minutes as Pittsburgh staked their claim to a 4-1 lead over Buffalo with equal parts desperation, ferocity, skating and skill. It was something the Sabres have seen often, especially when playing in Pittsburgh, however, what we haven't seen from Buffalo is the intestinal fortitude to come back from a blitzkrieg like that.
But we're seeing it now.
Three goals down? No problem. Defenseman Zach Bogosian makes it 4-2 mid-way through the second period and with less than two minutes to go in the frame and another defenseman, Casey Nelson, cuts the lead to one goal with his first of the season. Just past the midway point of the third period Casey Mittelstadt wired a wicked wrister top-shelf to tie the score at 4-4. This one's worth another look (via NHL.com):
Then, in overtime, it was time for Captain Jack (via NHL.com):
It was the fifth time during this six-game winning streak that the Sabres overcame a third period deficit to win the game.
For as much as Sabres head coach Phil Housley wants his team to come out of the gate faster, it hasn't happened. Actually, what he's gotten has been just the opposite as Buffalo goalies look like ducks in a shooting gallery through the first two periods. During this six-game stretch Buffalo's opponents have outshot them 85-57 in the first period with four of those teams registering 15 shots or more. Somehow Buffalo has managed to come out even over those six games as both they and their opponents have scored seven goals apiece.
There's a similar shot deficit in the second period (77-54) and their goal differential is worse as they've been outscored 8-4 over that span.
However what is happening, much to the delight of the team and it's fans, is that the Sabres are owning the third period. During this six-game win-streak Buffalo has outshot their opponents by a collective 71-46 margin in the final stanza and have outscored them 7-1. The Sabres haven't given up a third period goal in the last four games and to stretch it a bit further, Buffalo hasn't allowed a goal past the 7:10-mark of the second period in those four games.
Sabres goalie Carter Hutton faced a 40-shot onslaught last night with 31 of them coming in the first two periods. Like he's done throughout this streak, Hutton single-handedly kept Buffalo in the game last night despite giving up four goals. Over his four starts and a third period relief appearance at Montreal, Hutton has faced a total of 140 shots through 17 periods of play and has allowed nine goals for a rather remarkable .936 save-percentage.
Hutton, and to an extent backup Linus Ullmark, have kept the Sabres in games they had no business being in and they've also allowed Buffalo's skaters to make their mistakes while getting into the flow of the game. Both Hutton and Ullmark (who allowed two goals on 29 shots in a win at Minnesota) were rewarded with some remarkable clutch play and goal-scoring by the team in front of them.
It's something we haven't seen in Buffalo since Chris Drury and Daniel Briere co-captained the "Ferrari Sabres" back 2006-07 when they fearlessly pushed the puck up ice while goalie Ryan Miller held the fort stopping odd-man rushes on a nightly basis. That season just happens to be the last time the Sabres had a winning streak over six games. The eventual President's Trophy winning Sabres started out that season with 10-game winning streak which matched a franchise high and also tied an NHL record for most wins in a row to start the season.
Buffalo takes on the Philadelphia Flyers tomorrow night at KeyBank Center but until then enjoy some of the sights and sounds from that 2006-07 season mikeak21 on YouTube:
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Deja vu all over again?
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 2-6-2017
One full season removed from the 2004-05 lockout, the Buffalo Sabres were the toast of the National Hockey League boasting an extremely fast and highly skilled hockey team that eventually went on to win the President's Trophy for most points in the league. They were known as the "Ferrari Sabres" or "the team built for the 'New NHL.'"
All of us fans remember fondly watching Buffalo light the lamp on a nightly basis and with the way that team could skate and score, no lead was safe. It was a "New NHL" where skaters were allowed to skate and pylons who once survived by clutching, gabbing and intimidating their way to a long career were relegated to the scrap heap.
But a funny thing happened on the way to a deep run in the playoffs for Buffalo.
Mid-season then coach Lindy Ruff started complaining that clutching and grabbing had been creeping back into the game. It was like putting a governor on his team. Speed kills and it happened to be on the Sabres side. For two rounds in the playoffs they overcame a much tighter game but they eventually fell to a much bigger and stronger Ottawa Senators team that was able to manhandle them.
I remember Chris Drury after the final game of their 4-1 series loss with blood on his face from blocking a shot in the crease. He was ticked at his team mates response to a tighter, tougher series as they couldn't do much in the face of a different style of play that they'd grown accustomed to. Ottawa advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals and were in-turn manhandled by the Anaheim Ducks who used old-school intimidation, mainly from Chris Pronger who got away with a lot in the Finals.
Point being, the league changed in mid-stream that season and Buffalo had no chance with a team built the way it was.
I bring this up because of last night's game against the New Jersey Devils. Fact is the Sabres lost the game because they couldn't muster up an attack and the Devils scored two powerplay goals against the league's second-worst penalty kill. Buffalo may have survived had the second goal been rightly disallowed. A New Jersey stick nicked goalie Robin Lehner's glove as he was about to snare a shot and regardless of what the goalie said afterwards, any contact will throw mess up the timing in a glove-save like that and should be considered interference. The goal, which was a result of Lehner not being able to cleanly glove that shot, should have been disallowed.
But even that's not the point as the Sabres have not had the benefit of calls going their way lately.
Last night the New Jersey throttled Buffalo's speed heading into the Devils zone and effectively eliminated the Sabres' forecheck. For a better explanation, here's what WGR550's Paul Hamilton wrote:
"One of the reasons Monday’s game against the Devils was so boring is when a defenseman would go back for the puck, the Sabres forechecker would get picked by his partner. That is clear interference." However, it was not called by the officials.
Hamilton went on to say that he did not like head coach Dan Bylsma's response in the matter. "I don’t like what I heard today from Dan Bylsma on how to make the game even tighter."
He quotes Bylsma as saying, "I’m more of an advocate of allowing some interference on the forecheck, to detour the speed. I think the rules that we have are good ones when it comes to that.
“If you dump a puck in, the guy that’s within distance of you can hold you up or stay in his space and impede you. If I dump it in, then no one can hold up me, so personally I’m actually a guy that thinks we should hold up a little more.”
First off, it's a really puzzling response by Bylsma as his team does have speed and likes to get in on the forecheck. But secondly, it smacks of what occurred back in 2007 when clutching and grabbing slowly made it's way back into the league.
It makes me wonder how much longer the leagues new-found speed-game will last.
One full season removed from the 2004-05 lockout, the Buffalo Sabres were the toast of the National Hockey League boasting an extremely fast and highly skilled hockey team that eventually went on to win the President's Trophy for most points in the league. They were known as the "Ferrari Sabres" or "the team built for the 'New NHL.'"
All of us fans remember fondly watching Buffalo light the lamp on a nightly basis and with the way that team could skate and score, no lead was safe. It was a "New NHL" where skaters were allowed to skate and pylons who once survived by clutching, gabbing and intimidating their way to a long career were relegated to the scrap heap.
But a funny thing happened on the way to a deep run in the playoffs for Buffalo.
Mid-season then coach Lindy Ruff started complaining that clutching and grabbing had been creeping back into the game. It was like putting a governor on his team. Speed kills and it happened to be on the Sabres side. For two rounds in the playoffs they overcame a much tighter game but they eventually fell to a much bigger and stronger Ottawa Senators team that was able to manhandle them.
I remember Chris Drury after the final game of their 4-1 series loss with blood on his face from blocking a shot in the crease. He was ticked at his team mates response to a tighter, tougher series as they couldn't do much in the face of a different style of play that they'd grown accustomed to. Ottawa advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals and were in-turn manhandled by the Anaheim Ducks who used old-school intimidation, mainly from Chris Pronger who got away with a lot in the Finals.
Point being, the league changed in mid-stream that season and Buffalo had no chance with a team built the way it was.
I bring this up because of last night's game against the New Jersey Devils. Fact is the Sabres lost the game because they couldn't muster up an attack and the Devils scored two powerplay goals against the league's second-worst penalty kill. Buffalo may have survived had the second goal been rightly disallowed. A New Jersey stick nicked goalie Robin Lehner's glove as he was about to snare a shot and regardless of what the goalie said afterwards, any contact will throw mess up the timing in a glove-save like that and should be considered interference. The goal, which was a result of Lehner not being able to cleanly glove that shot, should have been disallowed.
But even that's not the point as the Sabres have not had the benefit of calls going their way lately.
Last night the New Jersey throttled Buffalo's speed heading into the Devils zone and effectively eliminated the Sabres' forecheck. For a better explanation, here's what WGR550's Paul Hamilton wrote:
"One of the reasons Monday’s game against the Devils was so boring is when a defenseman would go back for the puck, the Sabres forechecker would get picked by his partner. That is clear interference." However, it was not called by the officials.
Hamilton went on to say that he did not like head coach Dan Bylsma's response in the matter. "I don’t like what I heard today from Dan Bylsma on how to make the game even tighter."
He quotes Bylsma as saying, "I’m more of an advocate of allowing some interference on the forecheck, to detour the speed. I think the rules that we have are good ones when it comes to that.
“If you dump a puck in, the guy that’s within distance of you can hold you up or stay in his space and impede you. If I dump it in, then no one can hold up me, so personally I’m actually a guy that thinks we should hold up a little more.”
First off, it's a really puzzling response by Bylsma as his team does have speed and likes to get in on the forecheck. But secondly, it smacks of what occurred back in 2007 when clutching and grabbing slowly made it's way back into the league.
It makes me wonder how much longer the leagues new-found speed-game will last.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Final Thoughts On Chris Drury
Former Sabre Chris Drury was a pro during his 12-year NHL career.
And a winner.
From Trumbull, Connecticut and his Little League World Series triumph to the Stanley Cup in Colorado to Calgary to Buffalo to Broadway, Drury quietly plied his trade becoming the antithesis of the modern sports star. As Lynn Zisner aptly wrote in a piece from Sunday's NY Times, Drury was a "Reluctant Sports Star."
In Buffalo, the retirement of "Captain Clutch" received ample coverage, albeit from a detached, journalistic standpoint. Neither Buffalo News columnist Bucky Gleason nor Senior Sports Columnist, Jerry Sullivan, inked a inked anything on the former Sabres captain. Which is somewhat curious considering how much Drury meant to the team's success, especially the two post-lockout years.
With plenty of air-time to fill during the summer, WGR had the opportunity to talk extensively about Drury and his years in Buffalo. And they did.
The afternoon crew tempered their spurned-lover bitterness remaining emotionally detached while focusing upon his clutch-scoring, rather than re-opening old wounds.
I had listened to the afternoon show for a good couple of hours, with guest Paul Hamilton chiming in, and was listening for someone to mention his desperation vs. Ottawa in the 2007 Eastern Conference Championship. Not once did they mention a series of events that, for me, not only defined Drury as a leader, but also provided a backdrop to his departure.
On May 19, 2007, the Sabres faced the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference Finals down three games to one. It was a bleak situation, but not insurmountable.
Midway through the third period, Drury took a Tim Connolly shot to the face that required stitches and a stint in the trainer's room which kept him there until overtime. With his stitches fresh and the season on the line he still had the intestinal fortitude to throw his body in front of a shot to save a goal as the Sabres scrambled to save their playoff lives.
Unfortunately, their season ended that night 9:32 into overtime and, as we all know, the debacle that was the 2007 off-season officially began.
That off-season, he was out the door headed to Broadway.
The reasons for his departure will never be known. All we know is that he received a huge contract from the team he loved growing up, the New York Rangers.
Something that seems to be forgotten concerning that contract, though, is that Sabres President Larry Quinn offered a last-minute contract offer that matched what the Rangers had offered.
And a winner.
From Trumbull, Connecticut and his Little League World Series triumph to the Stanley Cup in Colorado to Calgary to Buffalo to Broadway, Drury quietly plied his trade becoming the antithesis of the modern sports star. As Lynn Zisner aptly wrote in a piece from Sunday's NY Times, Drury was a "Reluctant Sports Star."
In Buffalo, the retirement of "Captain Clutch" received ample coverage, albeit from a detached, journalistic standpoint. Neither Buffalo News columnist Bucky Gleason nor Senior Sports Columnist, Jerry Sullivan, inked a inked anything on the former Sabres captain. Which is somewhat curious considering how much Drury meant to the team's success, especially the two post-lockout years.
With plenty of air-time to fill during the summer, WGR had the opportunity to talk extensively about Drury and his years in Buffalo. And they did.
The afternoon crew tempered their spurned-lover bitterness remaining emotionally detached while focusing upon his clutch-scoring, rather than re-opening old wounds.
I had listened to the afternoon show for a good couple of hours, with guest Paul Hamilton chiming in, and was listening for someone to mention his desperation vs. Ottawa in the 2007 Eastern Conference Championship. Not once did they mention a series of events that, for me, not only defined Drury as a leader, but also provided a backdrop to his departure.
The 2007 Ottawa Series and Off-Season
On May 19, 2007, the Sabres faced the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference Finals down three games to one. It was a bleak situation, but not insurmountable.
Midway through the third period, Drury took a Tim Connolly shot to the face that required stitches and a stint in the trainer's room which kept him there until overtime. With his stitches fresh and the season on the line he still had the intestinal fortitude to throw his body in front of a shot to save a goal as the Sabres scrambled to save their playoff lives.
Unfortunately, their season ended that night 9:32 into overtime and, as we all know, the debacle that was the 2007 off-season officially began.
That off-season, he was out the door headed to Broadway.
The reasons for his departure will never be known. All we know is that he received a huge contract from the team he loved growing up, the New York Rangers.
Something that seems to be forgotten concerning that contract, though, is that Sabres President Larry Quinn offered a last-minute contract offer that matched what the Rangers had offered.
Gutting the 2005/06 Sabres
The thing about Drury, especially with the backdrop of the NHL during his tenure which went from "trap hockey" to the "new NHL," is that he was a true pro. His game was not based upon any one skill in particular. He just had the hockey smarts to know where to go, the intestinal fortitude to get there and the skill to finish. Traits that are era-transcending.
The Sabres team that came out of the lockout were just like that. Sure, they had the skill of the young guns, but they also had a group of veterans which exemplified the grit and determination needed to win. It was a very successful, well-balanced team.
But, after losing to Carolina in the 2006 Eastern Conference Championship, the team went through some serious changes with the balance now leaning heavily towards the skill side of the equation.
Gritty defenseman Jay McKee left for St. Louis. Veteran stalwart, and personal Drury friend, Mike Grier, headed west to San Jose'. And in a decision that clearly defined the direction in which the team was headed, rock-solid veteran JP Dumont was allowed to walk in favor of a soft-but-skilled, Ales Kotalik, as the team tried to become cap compliant.
The sucking sound we heard that year was the sound of professionalism, veteran leadership and tons of grit leaving the Sabres.
The NHL Changed, and So Did the Sabres Fate
The Sabres entered the 2006/07 season a markedly different team heavy on skill. And it wasn't a bad thing as they rolled through the regular season skating, scoring and winning at a ferocious clip all the way to the Presidents Trophy.
They were able to play the game at high speed because the NHL rules had allowed for it. But as the season entered the final months, the game was changing, ever so slightly, back to an obtrusive style that was like a restrictor plate on the team that Jaromir Jagr once labeled "a Ferrari."
Even with the changes, the Sabres could still light the lamp. But, the playoffs are a different beast.
The 2007 playoffs saw the run-n-gun Sabres take care of the NY Islanders in five games. They then struggled against the NY Rangers in a hard-fought six games.
In the Eastern Conference Championship that year, the Ottawa Senators, a bigger, grittier team with more skill and veteran leadership than the Sabres, proceeded to dismissed them in five games. Interesting to note that the Sabres had beaten the Senators the year earlier in five games.
Drury Was Slated To Be the Only One Of His Kind Left
As Drury entered the 2007 off-season, he'd witnessed first-hand what the loss of McKee, Grier and Dumont had done to the team--a total turn-around for the worse--and yet another veteran loss was on the horizon.
With the Sabres needing to sign Thomas Vanek, who was coming off a stellar season, it was apparent that either Drury or Briere would need to go for the team to become cap-compliant.
Back in October of 2006, a verbal deal was said to have been reached between Quinn and Drury. The Sabres had made their choice early that season, knowing what lied ahead financially. Briere would be the odd man out. Of the core veterans who took this team to an improbable run in 2005/06, only Drury would remain.
Having seen the results of a decision to go heavy on youth and skill, and with his counterpart--Briere--headed out the door, Drury took the $35m NY Ranger offer and travelled cross-state to play for his favorite team growing up.
Hindsight
The crux of the issue between Drury and the Sabres seemed to be the team-building philosophy of that era. In that 2007 Ottawa series, he'd seen first-hand the character of the players surrounding him. They were his antithesis and there were just too many of those types and not enough of the McKee's, Grier's, Dumont's and Briere's.
To say I was disappointed when he left would be an understatement, but even during the summer of 2007, I never took it personally, never wished ill will on him, or any other former Sabre who left of his own accord.
Best wishes in your retirement, "Captain Clutch."
Thanx for the memories.
Some links that helped with this blog:
Scott Burnside on Chris Drury:
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
What About This For the Sabres Centers?
Brad Richards
Derek Roy
Chris Drury
Paul Gaustad
The cool thing about Terry Pegula being owner and taking the chains off GM Darcy Regier is that Sabres can take a "dream scenario" and make it a reality.
Such was the case of recent acquisition, Robyn Regehr.
The 11-year veteran d-man, at first, nixed the trade to Buffalo through his no-movement clause. Then accepted. The disclaimer here is that it was almost a last resort. All things being equal, he'd probably have taken San Jose' over Buffalo more for logistical reasons than anything else.
The last resort for the big blueliner still could have been nixing the entire deal ala Danny Heatley to Edmonton.
But, the deal happened. And, according to Darren Dreger who was on WGR this morning, the National Hockey League has a different view of the Buffalo Sabres. There's a different feel to the organization.
From a free agent's perspective, Buffalo has gone from a "snowballs chance in hell" to serious consideration as evidenced by Richards' agent, Pat Morris, saying this on WGR's Howard Simon Show this morning, "If they call, we'll certainly receive them with open arms and listen."
The team has an upper-echelon goalie in Ryan Miller, a very strong back-end anchored by Tyler Myers and Regehr and a diverse, highly-skilled group of wingers, something echoed by Morris, "[The Sabres have] Excellent goaltending, an emerging defense and lots of forward that are skilled and lots of forwards that provide some grit and tenacity
Usually big-ticket free agents of Richards' ilk--highly skilled, veteran and approaching the down-side of their careers--will be looking for the whole shebang. They want the money they deserve, the term to keep them secure and a shot at the Stanely Cup.
In terms of Buffalo, the first two will be no object for an aggressive owner like Pegula. From Richard's perspective, the big hurdle would be how close the Sabres are to Cup-contenders.
With Dallas' ownership in flux, Richards has mentioned that a stable ownership would be a strong consideration, which the Sabres, obviously, have. The hockey market is also important and Morris had this to say when summing things up for his client, "He would like to first and foremost, when you've won a Stanley Cup, you want to win another one. He'd like to win again and have an opportunity to be with a team that has younger players coming in to fill and in a market where hockey matters every game, game in and game out with full buildings. A hockey market with an opportunity to win are the top 2 criteria."
Convincing Richards to come to Buffalo would be a major coup for the Buffalo Sabres, and although they're not considered favorites in the race, unlike previous years they're in it.
In 2009 Mine That Bird won the Kentucky Derby. He was the second longest-odds in Kentucky Derby history and his margin of victory was the longest in over 60 years.
In the Sabres eyes, Mine That Brad, can win the roses in Buffalo, but a word to the wise from Morris, "Tell Darcy to be aggressive."
The Prodigal Son
Prodigal son, Chris Drury?
Yeah, we all know what went down. And now Drury's dream comes to an end in NY with the Rangers. A buy out.
The Rangers will be making a strong pitch for Richards' services come July 1. They have some major restricted free agents to sign and there won't be enough cap-space to keep Drury and sign everyone they want.
Drury had his best statistical years in Buffalo and was a very strong leader on the team before he went for his childhood (and very lucrative) dream.
Drury's departure was anything but amicable and with the way Pegula has been mending the wounds of the previous regime, it wouldn't be too far-fetched to see him mend this one.
I think Drury is a Pegula-type of player who fits his edict of "not only statistically good players, but winners, gritty players." Those are the types of players that he wants to have on the team.
And I think that Drury is a perfect example of that type of player.
All-in-all, the Sabres are in the mix for unrestricted free-agents this season and Terry Pegula is not fooling around. He wants it and he wants it now.
He has no problem with aggressiveness.
Hopefully GM Darcy Regier continues this off-season with "out-of-character" moves and bolsters the center position with an upset victory.
Derek Roy
Chris Drury
Paul Gaustad
The cool thing about Terry Pegula being owner and taking the chains off GM Darcy Regier is that Sabres can take a "dream scenario" and make it a reality.
Such was the case of recent acquisition, Robyn Regehr.
The 11-year veteran d-man, at first, nixed the trade to Buffalo through his no-movement clause. Then accepted. The disclaimer here is that it was almost a last resort. All things being equal, he'd probably have taken San Jose' over Buffalo more for logistical reasons than anything else.
The last resort for the big blueliner still could have been nixing the entire deal ala Danny Heatley to Edmonton.
But, the deal happened. And, according to Darren Dreger who was on WGR this morning, the National Hockey League has a different view of the Buffalo Sabres. There's a different feel to the organization.
Mine That Brad
Which brings us to the big fish in the unrestricted free agent market, Brad Richards.
 |
| Brad Richards has the world at his feet as the unrestricted free agent approaches July 1. |
First, it would've been unheard of for the Sabres to even be in the mix on their end as recent as last season. We know the drill under Tom Golisano. And, conversely, we know how badly new owner Pegula wants to win the Cup.
From a free agent's perspective, Buffalo has gone from a "snowballs chance in hell" to serious consideration as evidenced by Richards' agent, Pat Morris, saying this on WGR's Howard Simon Show this morning, "If they call, we'll certainly receive them with open arms and listen."
The team has an upper-echelon goalie in Ryan Miller, a very strong back-end anchored by Tyler Myers and Regehr and a diverse, highly-skilled group of wingers, something echoed by Morris, "[The Sabres have] Excellent goaltending, an emerging defense and lots of forward that are skilled and lots of forwards that provide some grit and tenacity
Usually big-ticket free agents of Richards' ilk--highly skilled, veteran and approaching the down-side of their careers--will be looking for the whole shebang. They want the money they deserve, the term to keep them secure and a shot at the Stanely Cup.
In terms of Buffalo, the first two will be no object for an aggressive owner like Pegula. From Richard's perspective, the big hurdle would be how close the Sabres are to Cup-contenders.
With Dallas' ownership in flux, Richards has mentioned that a stable ownership would be a strong consideration, which the Sabres, obviously, have. The hockey market is also important and Morris had this to say when summing things up for his client, "He would like to first and foremost, when you've won a Stanley Cup, you want to win another one. He'd like to win again and have an opportunity to be with a team that has younger players coming in to fill and in a market where hockey matters every game, game in and game out with full buildings. A hockey market with an opportunity to win are the top 2 criteria."
Convincing Richards to come to Buffalo would be a major coup for the Buffalo Sabres, and although they're not considered favorites in the race, unlike previous years they're in it.
In 2009 Mine That Bird won the Kentucky Derby. He was the second longest-odds in Kentucky Derby history and his margin of victory was the longest in over 60 years.
In the Sabres eyes, Mine That Brad, can win the roses in Buffalo, but a word to the wise from Morris, "Tell Darcy to be aggressive."
The Prodigal Son
Yeah, we all know what went down. And now Drury's dream comes to an end in NY with the Rangers. A buy out.
The Rangers will be making a strong pitch for Richards' services come July 1. They have some major restricted free agents to sign and there won't be enough cap-space to keep Drury and sign everyone they want.
Drury had his best statistical years in Buffalo and was a very strong leader on the team before he went for his childhood (and very lucrative) dream.
 |
| Former Sabres Chris Drury was loved in Buffalo...until July 1, 2007. Would the Sabres welcome him back? |
I think Drury is a Pegula-type of player who fits his edict of "not only statistically good players, but winners, gritty players." Those are the types of players that he wants to have on the team.
And I think that Drury is a perfect example of that type of player.
All-in-all, the Sabres are in the mix for unrestricted free-agents this season and Terry Pegula is not fooling around. He wants it and he wants it now.
He has no problem with aggressiveness.
Hopefully GM Darcy Regier continues this off-season with "out-of-character" moves and bolsters the center position with an upset victory.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)