He signed the offer sheet from the Oilers. How is that not his fault?

The contract is not Darcy's fault, but its Darcy's fault that he decided to match it.
- theblueandgold

What was he supposed to do...say "oh no, I dont want that much money"

Darcy had no choice at the time.....

I dont have a big problem with the contract anyway, he is a very good player and fun to watch.

Honestly though, Vanek has come right out and said he wants to stay here, and by that I doubt he means he wants to just finish out his contract and not get traded this season. If he WANTS to stay here during the lowest point for this Sabres team, when we're starting a rebuild at this point in his career, what makes you think he wouldn't take a hometown discount?

If any Sabre took a discount to stay here, I'd bet it would be Vanek. He's always been a loyalty guy, and like Homer said, it's not like it's his fault he makes what he does. Give him the C and 6.5 per and call it a career.
- BuffaJoe

Is Myers contract his fault? Is Millers? Staffords? Leino? Scott Gomez?

not him, I dont want a guy who is older and wont lay a finger on anybody.
- Homer

Fair enough. I dont think we'll make any moves like that until the off-season. i dont think thats a priority at this point anyway, finding veteran leadership is the last of darcy's concerns IMO

Is Myers contract his fault? Is Millers? Staffords? Leino? Scott Gomez?
- theblueandgold

no, its never the players fault....if somebody wants to pay them that much then more power to em

no thanks, better days are well behind him.
- Homer

Both Tallinder and Lydman have been frequent healthy scratches as of late.

I have been to about a dozen Amerks games this year, and Leggio definitely has something. Hard to describe, but he definitely carries himself like a pro. he competes the whole game and it seems to rub off on his teammates. They seem to love playing in front of him. Does that make any sense?

It's funnny, but watching Leggio and how his teammates respond, made me realize that Miller does NOT have that effect on his mates. I wouldn't mind Leggio and Enroth splitting time next year.
- jacquescloutier

Makes sense to me.
I'd really like to see Leggio get a shot up here. This season he has put together I think has earned him at least that much!

Matthew WGR ‏@MatthewWGR 2m
David Leggio's March save % .946. Since lockout .939. Not sayin but just sayin...those are Tim Thomas-like AHL #'s


Love to see Leggio up here for a few.
- BuffaloHardHat

I hate saying this because he is a local boy . Leggio is not an NHL goaltender ! he does not control his rebounds at all . He gives up big fat ones that will be in the back of the net in the NHL . Been to watch him play in Rochester many time , I heard he had gotten better but when I watched the Amerks - Marlies game on TV it sure did not look like it . He has great AHL numbers , but up here he would be a tire fire . But if we are looking to improve draft position , might be the move to make

Is Myers contract his fault? Is Millers? Staffords? Leino? Scott Gomez?
- theblueandgold

If you're familiar with Vanek's contract, then you have to know what I meant by that. There's no way Vanek or his agent thought he was worth that kind of money then, but who the hell wouldn't sign an offer sheet like that?

What do you guys think it would take to get Tallinder back here? I'd like to see him and Myers re-unite and see if Myers can be the calliber player he was when he was a rookie.
- qcstudios

Myers needs to grow up.....period.

What was he supposed to do...say "oh no, I dont want that much money"

Darcy had no choice at the time.....

I dont have a big problem with the contract anyway, he is a very good player and fun to watch.
- Homer

I dont blame anyone for offering him that contract, I dont blame anyone for signing that contract, but I do blame Darcy for matching it.

4 first round picks. From the Oilers. Vanek was not going to launch that team into the playoffs and carry them on his back to success. He didnt do it in Buffalo on a team that had a lot better parts around them for the life of the contract, he wasnt going to do it in Edmonton with what they had.

I laugh at anyone that uses "its not Vanek's fault he has that contract" as a way of justifying that he is paid like a top 10 player but has never been a top 10 player.

I hate saying this because he is a local boy . Leggio is not an NHL goaltender ! he does not control his rebounds at all . He gives up big fat ones that will be in the back of the net in the NHL . Been to watch him play in Rochester many time , I heard he had gotten better but when I watched the Amerks - Marlies game on TV it sure did not look like it . He has great AHL numbers , but up here he would be a tire fire . But if we are looking to improve draft position , might be the move to make
- Maximum Signal

That save % is pretty high.

Myers needs to grow up.....period.
- Irish 14

Agreed

Myers needs to grow up.....period.
- Irish 14

He's 6'8", how much taller is he supposed to get?!

I dont blame anyone for offering him that contract, I dont blame anyone for signing that contract, but I do blame Darcy for matching it.

4 first round picks. From the Oilers. Vanek was not going to launch that team into the playoffs and carry them on his back to success. He didnt do it in Buffalo on a team that had a lot better parts around them for the life of the contract, he wasnt going to do it in Edmonton with what they had.

I laugh at anyone that uses "its not Vanek's fault he has that contract" as a way of justifying that he is paid like a top 10 player but has never been a top 10 player.
- theblueandgold

If you knew the Oilers were going to pick first in the next handful of drafts, why didn't you tell anyone? Was Darcy supposed to let Drury AND Briere AND Vanek walk? Come on, you should know the Sabres better than that.

He's 6'8", how much taller is he supposed to get?!


- theblueandgold

Didn't know that stacked poop that high!

Kukla's Korner ‏@nhl 1m
- SABRES OBSERVER: Report: Flyers Have Inquired About Vanek: A piece today from The Fourth Period featured the

Can't wait for that press conference at the end of the year: (either Black or Pegula)

" we just want to thank Darcy for all his hard work over the years and he is a great guy, we wish him luck"

NEXT
- Irish 14

God, I hope/wish.

I am already dreading Darcy's post-deadline presser where he says "the market just wasn't there" in trying to explain why his only moves were Leo and RR for 2nd round picks.

Hope I am wrong, but with Darcy were always saying it's the next trading period when he'l make the big move. Cripes, we are already talking about how we should wait to move Miller in the summer. In the summer we'll say, he should wait for the next deadline. Just do it Darcy (make the big move).

Again, hope I am wrong.

I dont blame anyone for offering him that contract, I dont blame anyone for signing that contract, but I do blame Darcy for matching it.

4 first round picks. From the Oilers. Vanek was not going to launch that team into the playoffs and carry them on his back to success. He didnt do it in Buffalo on a team that had a lot better parts around them for the life of the contract, he wasnt going to do it in Edmonton with what they had.

I laugh at anyone that uses "its not Vanek's fault he has that contract" as a way of justifying that he is paid like a top 10 player but has never been a top 10 player.
- theblueandgold

at the time Briere and Drury had just walked out the door for nothing....no way was Vanek going too.

I'm sure it wasnt just darcy, I sure ownership said you match.

They had no choice at the time. You think they did but hindsight is 20/20.

The oilers gave us a cheap shot, thats the only thing I have an issue with.

God, I hope/wish.

I am already dreading Darcy's post-deadline presser where he says "the market just wasn't there" in trying to explain why his only moves were Leo and RR for 2nd round picks.

Hope I am wrong, but with Darcy were always saying it's the next trading period when he'l make the big move. Cripes, we are already talking about how we should wait to move Miller in the summer. In the summer we'll say, he should wait for the next deadline. Just do it Darcy (make the big move).

Again, hope I am wrong.
- jacquescloutier

I'm not going to delve too deep into 'defending Darcy' territory, but he hasn't done that in a few years. And definitely not since Pegula.

Kukla's Korner ‏@nhl 1m
- SABRES OBSERVER: Report: Flyers Have Inquired About Vanek: A piece today from The Fourth Period featured the
- BuffaloHardHat

Fourth Period is a lot more reputable than say SFO or HI...

I am sure teams have made calls...

I would take Hartnell and Read for Vanek.

If you knew the Oilers were going to pick first in the next handful of drafts, why didn't you tell anyone? Was Darcy supposed to let Drury AND Briere AND Vanek walk? Come on, you should know the Sabres better than that.
- BuffaJoe

Um, even if they werent picking first overall, they werent going to be a playoff contender. They lost pretty much the entire team that had helped them reach the finals in 05-06. They went from Stanley Cup finals to no playoffs in 06-07.

Without Vanek, maybe we were a first overall team. And for 4 years we wouldve had two non-playoff first round picks.

Theres very few players in the NHL that are really worth 4 first round picks. Thomas Vanek wasnt at the time and never will be worth 4 first round picks. Losing your 2 best players, yeah, he shouldve passed on matching the contract.

That save % is pretty high.
- BuffaloHardHat

Never said he does not have great AHL numbers . Does not make him an NHL goalie . Nothing I would like to see better than a local boy do good , He needs how to figure out how to reduce his rebounds.

Fourth Period is a lot more reputable than say SFO or HI...

I am sure teams have made calls...

I would take Hartnell and Read for Vanek.
- JVince11

My laughter is the thought of Vanek on the Flyers.

Never said he does not have great AHL numbers . Does not make him an NHL goalie . Nothing I would like to see better than a local boy do good , He needs how to figure out how to reduce his rebounds.
- Maximum Signal

Agreed.
I feel he has earned a shot though.

Fourth Period is a lot more reputable than say SFO or HI...

I am sure teams have made calls...

I would take Hartnell and Read for Vanek.
- JVince11

It's believed the Sabres would want a young NHL-proven forward, a top prospect and a first-round draft pick in exchange for Vanek, a price the Flyers might be willing to pay.
Edit -TFP