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This is pretty much exactly what I said as well. Management is partially to blame for a obviously bad situation but they are realistically not the people who accepted contracts elsewhere nor even offered a chance to match. Did Drury come running back with contract in hand and ask for a match?? Vanek just cried when he got his offer and never though twice about leaving Buffalo. Briere had his house up for sale long before it came to this so he was planning on leaving no matter what. Management deserves more credit for everything they have done as well as Tom G., 4 years ago we we're lost, BK with an empty stadium. Now we are mentioned as SC contender's, playoff bound, stadium sold out and create a better downtown environment. Appreciate everything you have now, while you have it.
The Sabres management has deservedly received plenty of criticism for their mishandling of the situations both with Chris Drury and Daniel Briere. But let's be realistic, neither player is a saint in all this. We should realize they are not much different than most athletes of this generation, and their departing spin needs to be put in perspective.
I know sports is not the real world, but give me a break. In everyone else's world, management does not run to you with a contract. When you take the emotion out of it, the truth is that Drury did not want to play in Buffalo. If he wanted to stay and truly loved Buffalo, he would be like any other employee in America, and dealt with his difficult management. By all accounts they were willing to match what the Rangers offered.
Let's put Drury in his proper place in Buffalo Sports history. He was a great leader, and part of turning a dysfunctional franchise into a Stanley Cup contender. But, he's just like most athletes these days. He is a mercenary who spent his time here to build his wealth, so one day he can retire to his mansion in California. I doubt he'll be back to do work at Children's hospital like Pat LaFontaine. He certainly won't live here in the off-season and do community work like Rob Ray. Let's thank him for his time and move on. Chris Drury wanted to be a New York Ranger, playing for the team he rooted for as a kid, and that's the bottom line. Drury called out his teammates for not paying the price in the playoffs, now he gets to play with Mr. Softy Jaromir Jagr.
As for Daniel Briere, his situation is much easier to explain. One of the reason the Sabres could not sign him for five years and 25 million last summer is that they were trying to squeeze all their salaries under the salary cap, including his best friend J.P. Dumont. Let's not forget ; his unwillingness last summer to take less than his market value, made it impossible for the Sabres to keep his best friend. After Briere's 5 million dollar award in arbitration, they had to turn down Dumont's arbitration award. Many of Briere's teammates avoided arbitration, by working out deals for far less than their market value. Had the Captain not gone to arbitration last season, like most of his teammates, they would have had enough room to keep his buddy, and been an even better team.
The Sabres management has deservedly received plenty of criticism for their mishandling of the situations both with Chris Drury and Daniel Briere. But let's be realistic, neither player is a saint in all this. We should realize they are not much different than most athletes of this generation, and their departing spin needs to be put in perspective.
I know sports is not the real world, but give me a break. In everyone else's world, management does not run to you with a contract. When you take the emotion out of it, the truth is that Drury did not want to play in Buffalo. If he wanted to stay and truly loved Buffalo, he would be like any other employee in America, and dealt with his difficult management. By all accounts they were willing to match what the Rangers offered.
Let's put Drury in his proper place in Buffalo Sports history. He was a great leader, and part of turning a dysfunctional franchise into a Stanley Cup contender. But, he's just like most athletes these days. He is a mercenary who spent his time here to build his wealth, so one day he can retire to his mansion in California. I doubt he'll be back to do work at Children's hospital like Pat LaFontaine. He certainly won't live here in the off-season and do community work like Rob Ray. Let's thank him for his time and move on. Chris Drury wanted to be a New York Ranger, playing for the team he rooted for as a kid, and that's the bottom line. Drury called out his teammates for not paying the price in the playoffs, now he gets to play with Mr. Softy Jaromir Jagr.
As for Daniel Briere, his situation is much easier to explain. One of the reason the Sabres could not sign him for five years and 25 million last summer is that they were trying to squeeze all their salaries under the salary cap, including his best friend J.P. Dumont. Let's not forget ; his unwillingness last summer to take less than his market value, made it impossible for the Sabres to keep his best friend. After Briere's 5 million dollar award in arbitration, they had to turn down Dumont's arbitration award. Many of Briere's teammates avoided arbitration, by working out deals for far less than their market value. Had the Captain not gone to arbitration last season, like most of his teammates, they would have had enough room to keep his buddy, and been an even better team.
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