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Front office blundered in its contract negotiations
COMMENTARY
Bucky Gleason
The sad part is thinking about them in the past tense, sad that the Buffalo Sabres ever reached this point with Chris Drury and Daniel Briere. It’s not because Darcy Regier, Tom Golisano and Larry Quinn weren’t aware of the circumstances. Heck, your neighbors’ dog knew the end of an era was possible if the Sabres jerked around their co-captains.
Well, it appears your worst fears will be realized. Barring a drastic change between late Saturday night and noon today, both are headed for better streets in Philadelphia or San Jose or Colorado or somewhere. Their departures would mean Drury, Briere, Jay McKee, J.P. Dumont and Mike Grier — a large part of the core that made the Sabres so lovable two years ago — are gone.
Apparently, the Sabres didn’t agree that Briere’s 32 goals and 95 points last season made him worthy of a raise. It’s why they offered him a five-year deal worth $25 million, hardly chump change for most of us but not even close to what they should have presented with a clear and honest assessment of the market.
Just so you know, Briere would have jumped on the $25 million offer had it been sent across the table on Jan. 1, the day the Sabres could officially negotiate with him, rather than 72 hours before today’s deadline. Reports had Drury being offered some $30 million over five years, yet another lowball effort that would have looked better months ago.
Even now, Drury could stomach making less than full market value if it meant keeping Briere because keeping Briere meant making the Sabres better. It’s all Drury wanted since he cleaned out his locker, a better team. And now, it appears, he’ll get his wish somewhere else while the Sabres head back to sixth or seventh place in the conference. .....
COMMENTARY
Bucky Gleason
The sad part is thinking about them in the past tense, sad that the Buffalo Sabres ever reached this point with Chris Drury and Daniel Briere. It’s not because Darcy Regier, Tom Golisano and Larry Quinn weren’t aware of the circumstances. Heck, your neighbors’ dog knew the end of an era was possible if the Sabres jerked around their co-captains.
Well, it appears your worst fears will be realized. Barring a drastic change between late Saturday night and noon today, both are headed for better streets in Philadelphia or San Jose or Colorado or somewhere. Their departures would mean Drury, Briere, Jay McKee, J.P. Dumont and Mike Grier — a large part of the core that made the Sabres so lovable two years ago — are gone.
Apparently, the Sabres didn’t agree that Briere’s 32 goals and 95 points last season made him worthy of a raise. It’s why they offered him a five-year deal worth $25 million, hardly chump change for most of us but not even close to what they should have presented with a clear and honest assessment of the market.
Just so you know, Briere would have jumped on the $25 million offer had it been sent across the table on Jan. 1, the day the Sabres could officially negotiate with him, rather than 72 hours before today’s deadline. Reports had Drury being offered some $30 million over five years, yet another lowball effort that would have looked better months ago.
Even now, Drury could stomach making less than full market value if it meant keeping Briere because keeping Briere meant making the Sabres better. It’s all Drury wanted since he cleaned out his locker, a better team. And now, it appears, he’ll get his wish somewhere else while the Sabres head back to sixth or seventh place in the conference. .....
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