An excerpt from the Buffalo News (Bucky Gleason):
Still, the swap merely confirmed an underlying problem that has existed for years. The Sabres have a serious recruiting problem that makes life in the NHL tougher for the entire organization.
News alert: The Sabres have a poor reputation among players. It has become increasingly evident that the only way to get quality veterans into Buffalo is to force them here through trades. It’s an unpleasant way to survive.
Forget the woe-is-Buffalo excuse. Everybody knows this is a passionate hockey town, but the word has spread about the organization’s business practices. The Sabres are known more for their commitment to the bottom line than their commitment to winning. To players, it might as well be Edmonton.
Habster:
There is a perception within the NHL and in particular, the NHLPA and its members, that the Buffalo Sabres organization have mistreated their players especially when it pertains to negotiation tactics.
Wrongfully or rightfully, Sabres owner Thomas Golisano has maintained a tight fist around Darcy Regier’s budget and with the exception of the Thomas Vanek and Derek Roy contracts (Vanek’s contract forced Golisano’s hand……thanks to RFA renegade GM Kevin Lowe), the Sabres are very stingy about giving players market value/long term contracts.
Only two years ago, Brian Campbell and his agent were trying to negotiate a new contract with the Sabres and were willing to sign a 5 years/$25 million contract. Golisano wasn’t willing to commit to such a contract and let Campbell play out his RFA status as a Sabres until he was traded to San Jose for the recently traded Steve Bernier and a 1st round pick.
Let’s fast forward to the present and take note that Campbell signed a huge 8 year/$56.8 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks………..the 5 yrs/$25 million deal left on the table doesn’t seem all that bad now, does it!!!!
Add into the equation the Daniel Briere, Chris Drury and Mike Grier exodus due to the same fiscal policy, then it makes the likelihood of talented players like Jason Pominville, Ryan Miller, Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder staying in Buffalo highly improbable.
It truly is ashamed to see quality players leave as the Buffalo hockey market is a strong one which has supported the Sabres through the good and bad times. They certainly deserve a better commitment from Sabres ownership to ice a good quality team with a long term plan.