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Why I Believe The Sabres MUST Sign Lee Stempniak. |
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There is no city with more passion for its own than Buffalo, NY.
I know people from Buffalo who live near me. You probably do as well. It's interesting. Have you noticed how people once from Buffalo are always from Buffalo? In this day and age where the economy forces people to change locales like the weather, people often uproot and integrate into new cities. Not Buffalonians. You can move them physically, but NEVER mentally.
This even goes for players who play for the Sabres. Players with enough money to live anywhere, find their way back to Buffalo when they retire...They often call the city "The Only Canadian City in America."
The only other American city that comes close to this kind of homing instinct is 3 hours away in Pittsburgh. People from Pittsburgh are also ALWAYS from Pittsburgh. Far more than the other big city in PA, Philadelphia.
This past week the Sabres bought out a local kid, Tim Kennedy. Kennedy is a third/fourth liner who in most cities people would have felt bad about, but...they would have moved on....they may have mentioned it on the local news, maybe.
My sources tell me the Sabres walked away over $25,000. 25k! Not the 250,000 being reported...25K.... That is unheard of.
In Buffalo, Bills camp was open this week, but all the talk on the radio was about the Sabres hanging a local kid out to dry. How the Sabres have simply lost people this off-season. Kennedy will be fine. He grew up playing with Patrick Kane. He will be fine and find another home and flourish.
But the pain is still there. You just don't do this in a town like this. You certainly don't get away with it.
I truly feel for Sabres fans. They are so passionate. They make up huge numbers for me. They come to hockeybuzz in droves. Our writer Garth knows them and has an incredible connection with them.
Yet Sabres fans have seen their mighty post-lockout team dismantled before their eyes...one by one. I used to call them the Beatles. Briere, Drury, Campbell, and Miller. Only Miller remains from a team that were it not for losing every defenseman on their roster in the playoffs would have beaten the Hurricanes in game 7 and, in my opinion, the Oilers in the Final. But it didn't happen. Close, so close. Not entirely new for the sports fans in this town.
The Sabres built a post-lockout team on a wicked transition game. Campbell was Joe Montana. Briere was Jerry Rice. Lydman and Tallinder were also solid new NHL guys who could find the burners and counter attack anyone...they are gone too..
The only way I see the Sabres justifying letting Kennedy go over so little is if the money is there to sign another kid. An top 6 forward from Athol Springs, a 13 minute ride from Buffalo on the 5.
Lee Stempniak.
It is only due to the incredible cap crunch that Stempniak that the 28 goal scorer is available right now. He shouldn't be. I honestly can't remember a time when a 28 goal scorer was available in August 6th. The amazing thing about Stempniak is 14 of those 28 goals came in the final 18 games after he was moved to Phoenix and given top line status. And remember Stempniak scored 27 goals in '06 with the Blues. He is for real.
My fear is the Sabres see him as a star, but not a superstar...but even then...3 per isn't the 5 per they once tried to keep their stars around with...
Will it happen? I have no idea. I have given up trying to understand this franchise. Darcy and Lindy have my respect yet their latest moves have confused me.
I am hearing the Sabres, Coyotes, Kings, and Oilers have interest...but the Sabres are the team to make this happen.
Lee Stempniak is from there. and as I said, Buffalo guys stay Buffalo guys forever. I would love to see how he would perform for his hometown team. The fact the Sabres could get 30 goals right now for $3 million per is a no-brainer.
more to come
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