*OFFICIAL* Buffalo Sabres 2007 Off-Season Thread

we would’ve got 4-1st round picks next year if we let them take Vanek. Maybe it would’ve been worth it to suck this year?

who is Dylan Hunter? He’s on our roster as left wing.

WOW what fucking assholes…

The attempt by Edmonton marks the second time in as many years that a NHL team has gone after another club’s restricted free agent. The Philadelphia Flyers offered Ryan Kesler a $1.9 million deal last summer that was matched by the Vancouver Canucks.

^ why are they assholes? thats the nature of the biz…

plus when the sabres front office openly admitted they would match ANY offers for vanek, that was just stupid…

Edmonton would’ve done that anyways…

It is common knowledge that Buffalo was going to do whatever they could to keep their player.

Everyone knew Vanek was getting a big offer. I think Edmonton did shoot themselves in the foot moreso than they got Buffalo, because not only did they not get a player out of the deal, but they just raised the salary bar.

Spending is out of control in the NHL at this point though.

[quote=“badazzss,post:364,topic:30906"”]

^ why are they assholes? thats the nature of the biz…

[/quote]

its kind of always been an unwritten rule that you stay away from young rfa’s.

and I agree. this is raising the bar for salaries

[quote=“Coldaccord,post:366,topic:30906"”]

its kind of always been an unwritten rule that you stay away from young rfa’s.

and I agree. this is raising the bar for salaries

[/quote]

But, when you have a team owner like Tommy, saying, “I don’t want to spend big money”, can you really blame Edmonton for taking a shot? They probably figured we wouldn’t match the offer.

5 other teams submitted offer sheets for Vanek besides edmonton. Its well within the rules of the game. If buffalo thought the salary was too high, they shouldnt have matched the offer and let Vanek walk away.

Not arguing the fact that it is driving up salaries, but you cant just fault edmonton.

Now Darcy and the Sabres owner just need to wash the sand out of their vaginas. My honest opinion, I will be surprised if Vanek puts up the numbers he put up this year. Two reasons…one, the big contract curse & two, he isnt playing with Briere.

[quote=“JSTANEON,post:368,topic:30906"”]

I will be surprised if Vanek puts up the numbers he put up this year. Two reasons…one, the big contract curse & two, he isnt playing with Briere.

[/quote]

Yea cause vanek played on briere’s line all year :smash2:

[quote=“JSTANEON,post:368,topic:30906"”]

5 other teams submitted offer sheets for Vanek besides edmonton. Its well within the rules of the game. If buffalo thought the salary was too high, they shouldnt have matched the offer and let Vanek walk away.

[/quote]

Edminton was quoted saying they were doing it basically to fuck with us. gollisano said he would match any offer, so they knew they could f us over.

signing vanek had to be done though, for 2 reasons, considering we lost briere and drury. 1, to appease the fans (they were pissed we let briere and drury go) and 2 for the remaining players. they need job security, confidence, and to feel like they’re wanted.

-lol. vanek was on finny & roys, which will not change (as long as we hold on to roy, which I imagine we will). however I would imagine we’ll change our first line

i give it a week or less before edmonton submits a similar offer sheet to parise in NJ just to fuck with them too…

[quote=“fiend540,post:369,topic:30906"”]

Yea cause vanek played on briere’s line all year :smash2:

[/quote]

still doesnt explain #1 smartass :hay:

[quote=“Coldaccord,post:370,topic:30906"”]

Edminton was quoted saying they were doing it basically to fuck with us. gollisano said he would match any offer, so they knew they could f us over.

[/quote]

care to show me this quote? Ive read almost every article and seen nothing like that.

Think…what does Edmonton have to gain by trying to fuck over a team in the opposite conference? They wanted Vanek…thats it.

[quote=“RedDawg,post:362,topic:30906"”]

who is Dylan Hunter? He’s on our roster as left wing.

[/quote]

I think he played with Rochester last year. He’s Dale Hunter’s son.

if i come across it i’ll let you know, im not too adament about it but if you want to see it you can check the goaliestore bulletinboard, the link was prob posted on there somewhere

I don’t understand why they’d do it either

[quote=“RedDawg,post:361,topic:30906"”]

we would’ve got 4-1st round picks next year if we let them take Vanek. Maybe it would’ve been worth it to suck this year?

[/quote]

4 1st rounders in the NHL draft is just about good as taking every 1st round pick in the MLB draft…

Needless to say, Vanek got the contract we knew he was gonna get, yes the Drury situation sucked (I wanted Briere gone so bye bye) but I’m with Rob, playoff play is still my major gripe.

[quote=“JSTANEON,post:372,topic:30906"”]

still doesnt explain #1 smartass :hay:

[/quote]

Really your opinion doesn’t hold to much water when you think briere was the key to vanek’s success this year.

[quote=“ryanmcell,post:376,topic:30906"”]

4 1st rounders in the NHL draft is just about good as taking every 1st round pick in the MLB draft…

Needless to say, Vanek got the contract we knew he was gonna get, yes the Drury situation sucked (I wanted Briere gone so bye bye) but I’m with Rob, playoff play is still my major gripe.

[/quote]

we wouldnt have gotten all 4 picks for next year…it would be one 1st round pick for the the next 4 years(1 per year)

:shoot:

[quote=“fiend540,post:377,topic:30906"”]

Really your opinion doesn’t hold to much water when you think briere was the key to vanek’s success this year.

[/quote]

[quote=“Afrank45,post:340,topic:30906"”]

sadly i have to agree…2 years ago management looked miles ahead of the curve, and now they look like the retarded kid in the back of the classroom WTF

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But what you have to understand, is that this is going to happen to every team eventually, and Buffalo just happened to be the first in line.

Edmonton actually helped the team out by getting Vanek to sign a 7 year contract.

Vanek is going to be overpaid for 2 seasons, maybe 3 at the most. After that, he will be well worth the 7 million/season. He scored 42 or 43 goals in his first year in the AHL, 25 in his first year in the NHL and 40 something in his sophmore year…at the age of 23. Keep in mind that he was on Buffalo’s 3rd line averaging around 16 minutes per game. Give him top line minutes and he will have over 100 points.