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Ed Kilgore
Upon further review, as the dust settles on the Sabres season and the focus on what's ahead becomes more clear, we may need to change one misperception.
For several reasons, I am convinced there is the very real possibility the Sabres might actually be able to re-sign BOTH Daniel Briere and Chris Drury, without disrupting their salary cap.
No, I'm not smoking anything funny, and I know I've been among the vast majority assuming Briere would be gone and possibly Drury as well.
The reality, I'm happy to say for Sabres fans, is different, and one big reason for that is that both Briere and Drury are sincere in their public statements about wanting to stay in Buffalo, believing this group, with a tweak or two, can still win the Stanley Cup.
While coach Lindy Ruff and gm Darcy Regier, who will be officially signing new contracts in the near future, assess the Sabres' season and personnel, owner Tom Golisano and the top brass are looking at ways to retain Briere and Drury without having to part with any of their talented younger players.
I believe there is a way to do it, and I also believe they plan to make very serious runs at both Briere and Drury in the near future.
Does this mean they'll be successful? Not at all.
Briere and Drury will both command new deals in the neighborhood of $6 million per season, and that is something I believe the Sabres think they can live with.
Could one or both make even more by leaving? Without question.
My gut feeling, again based on several factors, is that the Sabres still have more than a fighting chance to keep them despite that probability.
Will the ENTIRE team be back? In a word, no.
It's quite likely two or more big contracts will be moved in one way or another, with Ales Kotalik still marketable elsewhere, and replaceable here, as one example.
Upon further review, as the dust settles on the Sabres season and the focus on what's ahead becomes more clear, we may need to change one misperception.
For several reasons, I am convinced there is the very real possibility the Sabres might actually be able to re-sign BOTH Daniel Briere and Chris Drury, without disrupting their salary cap.
No, I'm not smoking anything funny, and I know I've been among the vast majority assuming Briere would be gone and possibly Drury as well.
The reality, I'm happy to say for Sabres fans, is different, and one big reason for that is that both Briere and Drury are sincere in their public statements about wanting to stay in Buffalo, believing this group, with a tweak or two, can still win the Stanley Cup.
While coach Lindy Ruff and gm Darcy Regier, who will be officially signing new contracts in the near future, assess the Sabres' season and personnel, owner Tom Golisano and the top brass are looking at ways to retain Briere and Drury without having to part with any of their talented younger players.
I believe there is a way to do it, and I also believe they plan to make very serious runs at both Briere and Drury in the near future.
Does this mean they'll be successful? Not at all.
Briere and Drury will both command new deals in the neighborhood of $6 million per season, and that is something I believe the Sabres think they can live with.
Could one or both make even more by leaving? Without question.
My gut feeling, again based on several factors, is that the Sabres still have more than a fighting chance to keep them despite that probability.
Will the ENTIRE team be back? In a word, no.
It's quite likely two or more big contracts will be moved in one way or another, with Ales Kotalik still marketable elsewhere, and replaceable here, as one example.
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