Whose Side Are You On?

There has been a ton of talk the past few days about who fault it was that the Sabres lost both of their captains in only about 6 hours on Sunday. At first it looked like the Sabres management dropped the ball by not talking to either free agent sooner.

Drury has been making headlines even after he left the team. Even though Drury said that he wanted to stay in the area, the Rangers offered a better deal. 5 years $32.25 million. But at the Sabres press conference other things were said.

Quinn said multiple times that it was Drury's decision to return home and accept the Rangers' terms. "So we're perfectly clear [about] Chris Drury, we were perfectly prepared to pay that money that he received. That was not the issue. He chose to go to New York. He did not want to come back with Buffalo."

"They never once countered," Quinn added. "They did not want to give us a number, and ultimately said they did not want to come back and wanted to go to New York."
-WGR550

Listen to the Press Conference HERE

Then there was those rumors of how Buffalo never gave Drury an offer earlier than the day before the free agency. Drury said if they only gave me a deal earlier. Darcy and Quinn said they did.

Sabres Side

“I thought showing a little more urgency certainly would have helped the situation, if in fact they did want me back,” Drury said by phone Monday from New York. “I just think as every day and things got closer to free agency, it’s another day to think about things and to think about what potentially could be out there.”
-Buffalo News

Drury Side

The source does confirm that a couple of weeks after a meeting between Sabres management and Witkin had taken place in Boston, the Sabres' efforts to consummate the deal with Drury were rebuffed by the player's camp, with Drury's agent telling the Sabres that Drury at that point - about six weeks into the season - would rather "concentrate on hockey" and let contract negotiations wait until after the season.
-WGR550

Well these are the facts and in the end. Someone screwed up. Oh and by the way, Wes Walz was resigned by the Wild for 1 year. One less option. On the other hand the Sabres are eying Souray. Seems like they are trying to bulk up defensively.

Let end with a quote by Quinn.

"We have money to spend," Quinn said. "It's a question now of how to use our money."