Sabres fans, rate the job that Darcy Regier and Larry Quinn did this season.?

Question

Well, as we all know, we lost Briere and Drury, our two best players, and Briere wasn't even contacted until there were two days before the UFA market opened (but don't worry, Darcy got a patent for his new hockey net -rolls eyes-). Also, Michael Peca wanted to come back to Buffalo, but Darcy basically said that we wasn't interested. We did match Vanek's offer, which I honestly didn't think we would do, and locked up Roy for four years, even though it was a bit pricey. Out of ten, what do you give our management team for what they've done so far during the offseason?

Answer 1

8.5

Darcy Regier and Lindy Ruff have always maintained that the team's best player is Tim Connolly, and there are quite a few NHL types that would agree. A full season with a healthy Connolly will only help.

1. With regards to Briere and Drury, Quinn and Regier knew that signing either of them was going to be difficult. Both players had informed the team via agent that they would be looking elsewhere. Drury claims he informed the team of his decision shortly after the playoffs ended, and he was the ghuy they were looking for.

So, as both players wanted to go elsewhere, you can't lay the blame on management.

2. Matching Vanek's offer sheet. The team really had no choice. Not matching it sends the wrong signals to the fans (especially as the fans knew there was money due to Briere and Drury signing elsewhere).

The fact is the team improved itself at the goaltender position with the addition of Thibault over Conklin.

The team is in the same place it ended the year from a 'D' perspective.

From a forward position...Drury and Briere didn't want to be here anyway. The lost points will have to come from a full season of Connolly and improvements in the totals of Pominville, Vanek, Hecht, Roy, Kotalik, and Afinogenov. Not a far fetched scenario at all.

People forget that from December 1st onwards, Ottawa was the best team in the East, not Buffalo. And things don't look to change much this coming year. Buffalo still has all the tools it needs to compete at a high level. I think they will finish second to Ottawa in the Northeast and 4th/5th in the conference battling the loser of the Rangers/Penguins battle in the Atlantic

Answer 2

I will start at 10 and go down. Losing Briere and Drury cost 4 points. You lose guys who have grit, scoring ability and willing to get in the way of things going to teams within the Eastern Conference. It would have been not a total loss if both of them went to the Western Conference. Vanek's offer cost 2 points due to the fact that you are over paying a player that is more of line 2 scorer, not a line 1 scorer. You could have received draft picks (early ones too) from the pitiful Oilers and you would have not seen Vanek in an out of town jersey either. Roy cost 1 point. Great with the puck but needs playmakers to help him. Will not have that without Briere and Drury. Michael Peca needs to retire. I will give 1 point to Quinn for not biting on that signing. No replacements for players lost-3 points taken away. Rochester does not have the guys that you lost. In fact, the Sabres are the Americans of 2 years ago. Gaustad, Roy, Vanek, and Miller have made it. Who is left? Even the Americans were not that good in 2006-2007. Total the points up and I rank it as a 1. I think that qualifies Larry Quinn and Darcy Reiger as being in the same category as their rivals to the north, John Ferguson, Jr. and the Maple Leafs (who actually improved themselves from the last two seasons).

Answer 3

Well the offseason isn't over year, but if i had to give it a grade it would be a

C+

Almost an F, but why not?

well we lost both Drury and Briere which everyone is upset about, but they both put a firm foot down when edmonton stepped in and offered on Vanek, and then locked up Teppo, Roy, Mair, and a few others. They kept the Young Talent (excluding the 2 captains) but i have a feeling that if it comes down to it, we could see a mid season trade frenzy. You have to remeber, not many teams can spend on good players any more these days due to the Cap.


Best 2 Teams in the NHL Offseason:

1- NY Rangers (Signed: Gomez,Drury)
2- Colorado Avalanche (Signed: Ryan Smyth, Scott Shanahan)

Worst 2 Teams in the NHL Offseason

1. Buffalo Sabres (Lost: Drury, Briere) (Re-signed Vanek,Roy)
2. New Jersey Devils (Lost: Gomez, Rafalski) (Re-signed Parish)

Answer 4

I'll admit I'm disappointed in the lack of moves made. That being said, Darcy knew there was no way to afford Briere, so he didn't waste any time on making a real offer. He wanted Drury back. In his press conference from earlier this summer, he said that his goal was to sign Drury, whatever it took. Only problem was Drury flat out did not want to come back. He was a Rangers fan growing up and wanted to play there. That definitely hurt. I would like to have seen them replace at least one of them, but look at the team we still have. What other team can boast that many skilled players. Darcy has learned from the debacle of not signing Briere and Drury to long term contracts, and he's now doing that with Vanek and Roy. The thing I think they need the most that they didn't get was some grit. Lack of grit is what lost the Eastern finals last year, and without some gritty hard nosed players, it may be the same thing this year. Also, with the way Peca left Buffalo, can you blame them for not wanting him back? I'll give them a 6 out of 10. Thibault is also a much better backup than Conklin.

Answer 5

8

Vanek has more upside then Briere. This is the second team that he has been on, so the first team must not have seen much to trade him (for Chris Gratton no less) in the first place. I really believe he was a product of the system he was in. If Vanke progresses like he has in the first two years his contract will be a bargain. As for Drury, it wasn't about money for him. The Sabre's said that would match any contract. It just sucked that the team he grew up loving wanted him. Keep in mine that every year the cap will rise, so we haven't seen anything yet and when a player is in their last year of a contact its not in their best interest to sign a new deal, without letting the market push their value up. Buffalo's farm team, the Rochester Americans, have plenty of talent.

Answer 6

Honestly, I think they did the best they could with what they have. I don't have intimate knowledge of their cap situation but in order to sign the players that departed and keep the team intact might have meant operating at a loss in the next few years.

But the Sabres are deep in talent and will do well in the coming season.

I'm not sure that Briere is going to put up the same numbers in Philly as he did with Buffalo because of the Flyers stubborn refusal to adapt to the game. Holmgren has the right ideas but Ed "I Love The 70's" Snider always keeps an ear open for his season ticket holders who miss the 70's as well.

I am surprised that either Drury or Briere aren't still with the Sabres, I knew that one of them were going to leave.

But good luck this coming season. (Except for December 21st, December 22nd, February 25th, March 4th, and if we meet in the playoffs.)

Answer 7

I'd give it a 5.
Honestly the fact that we lost BOTH of the captains is unforgivable. And the fact that we had the perfect chance to sign drury during the regular season but let the offer get away is just a mortal sin. They agreed to Vanek's sheet to save their skins to show they had the ability to keep one amazing player around. Well, of course it was also because vanek is one hell of a player. I know derek roy is a good player but im sorry dude, 4 mil a year is out of your league. Yes he is a great player, i just dont think 4 mil is what hes worth. Larry and Darcy, horrible.

Answer 8

7, they sould have tried for drury and briere but they already got key players who will be great players. Vanek, Roy, Miller, Cambell. They are all awesome but they should have tried to get at least Briere. They haven't added anybody, but I think Peca would be a great addition.Hope oilers get him back.

Answer 9

Brutal. They tried to roll the dice and wait to see how the Sabres did in the playoffs to decide which of Briere or Drury to sign. They blew the Briere signing anyway by trading his best buddy Biron so he probably was halfway out the door already.

Even so we don't know either player's mindset. Maybe they'd rather have played elsewhere.

Answer 10

its not that all hope is lost with who we still have, its just infuriating that they lost drury and then zubrus. zubrus turned out to be a total retard, but that's beside the point. briere, eh. i don't think he'll put up the numbers with the flyers that he did here, he'll be a nobody. he dropped the ball like everyone else, so good riddance.