BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan
03-01-2008, 03:32 PM
Randy Smith (WNY Hockey News) was just interviewed on the Fan590 about the Campbell trade.
Not that this is new info...but he said he firmly believed that the deal with Campbell's contract (and now the trade involving San Jose) was strongly influenced by the NHLPA.
He said he had spoken to at least two different individuals who said the PA was pressuring Campbell NOT to sign with Buffalo and to get to free agency.
He believes there's no way Campbell will sign with San Jose before July 1st, barring some astronomical offer that he absolutely can't refuse. Doesn't believe Campbell is worth $6.5 and thought if Brian was following only what he wanted to do he might have signed that 3 year deal.
When Mike (don't recall which one) commented about Campbell having the ultimate say, Randy agreed to a certain extent but also talked about Campbell being a stand-up/honest guy that was in an impossible position of trying to "do what was best" for everyone.
In thinking about Campbell's personality (not that I know him personally) but just from watching him in interviews over the years - I can believe that he would be the type of person that would feel and react to the pressure of "being a good guy" and trying to "please" everyone, particularly if it was presented that it was his responsibility as a player to the league.
Maybe I'm just looking for a palatable explanation, but I could understand if this were the way things went down and that a lot of the anxiety and frustration we saw over the past few weeks was a result of feeling "squeezed".
http://sabresfans.proboards66.com/index.cgi?board=Sabres&action=display&thread=1204128657&page=1
Not that this is new info...but he said he firmly believed that the deal with Campbell's contract (and now the trade involving San Jose) was strongly influenced by the NHLPA.
He said he had spoken to at least two different individuals who said the PA was pressuring Campbell NOT to sign with Buffalo and to get to free agency.
He believes there's no way Campbell will sign with San Jose before July 1st, barring some astronomical offer that he absolutely can't refuse. Doesn't believe Campbell is worth $6.5 and thought if Brian was following only what he wanted to do he might have signed that 3 year deal.
When Mike (don't recall which one) commented about Campbell having the ultimate say, Randy agreed to a certain extent but also talked about Campbell being a stand-up/honest guy that was in an impossible position of trying to "do what was best" for everyone.
In thinking about Campbell's personality (not that I know him personally) but just from watching him in interviews over the years - I can believe that he would be the type of person that would feel and react to the pressure of "being a good guy" and trying to "please" everyone, particularly if it was presented that it was his responsibility as a player to the league.
Maybe I'm just looking for a palatable explanation, but I could understand if this were the way things went down and that a lot of the anxiety and frustration we saw over the past few weeks was a result of feeling "squeezed".
http://sabresfans.proboards66.com/index.cgi?board=Sabres&action=display&thread=1204128657&page=1