Kaspers Korner

     With the season ending today on a overtime goal by Daniel Alfredson.  The Buffalo Sabres now have to make some hard decisions on the future of some of its players.   Three of those players being major parts of the team.

     Daniel Briere and Chris Drury are both now going to be eligible for free agency soon.  The thing is who do you pay and how much. 

     Briere during the regular seaon had the most points on the team.  However, during the playoffs Briere’s scoring disappeared.  Also, his play on the power play dissappeared to.  The one play that made the Sabres successful during 05-06 playoffs was a cross crease pass to a teamate on the other side.  That pass was only utilized once. 

      Briere during the regular season was great, but come playoff time Briere was no where to be seen.  Speed is something that you need in today’s NHL.  However, size is anothere attribute that you still need.  Unless, the NHL intergrates illegal defenses into penalties Danny Briere might be useless as a player to count on in the playoffs.

     Chris Drury, well what can you say, but he is to important to the team.  If there is one thing that I learned is that Drury and Vanek need to play together.  They are complimentry to each other.  Both go to the net, both can make plays, and both can score.  Also, Vanek probably could learn a thing or two about Drury.  The is no thinking about this one. SIGN DRURY.

     Thomas Vanek could be a person that could become impossible to sign.  Many teams could see Vanek as a guy that is well worth the risk of signing to a long term deal and giving up draft choices. Especially, if the team is a Detroit Redwings, or someone else close to the playoffs.   Vanek could possible get well over five million per a season. 

     What the Sabres have to ask is can they and will they match any offer.  They should, and I believe that they will.  Vanek is too important to the future of the team.  With him and Stafford they could easily build a line just as formable as the Spezza, Heatly, Alfredson line.

     If there is one thing that the Sabres must do is create a line equal to that of the line that dominated the western conference finals.  That was the Sabres undoing.  They were consistent, and they were not.