Chris Drury

by bflo on Jun 10, 2011 1:25 PM EDT

Its too bad that Chris Drury is, Chris Drury.

Offseason needs:
- 3rd line Center
- Experience
- Veteran voice, now that Neids and Grier will be gone.

Drury would be the perfect fit here in Buffalo in a 3rd line C, PK time, extra attacker role...

Problem is, hes Chris Drury, and that brings baggage.

I think I would take him back at 3 years/ 6mil, but would it cause problems in the locker room?
Would he expect the 'C'? (Because I still want that to be Vanek)
Can he accept the fact hes not a top 6 Centerman anymore?
Is there a Reiger/Ruff rift with Drury? or vice versa?

If this player was named John Doe and he never played for us in the past I would be screaming for us to sign him... but is Chris Drury the whole person, not just the player, a good fit in Buffalo?

Poll

Bring him back?

Yes, in a 3rd line C, PK role.

73 votes

Yes, as a top 6 C.

5 votes

No

57 votes

135 votes | Poll has closed

This is a fanpost written by a member of the community, it doesn't necessarily express the views or opinions of Die by the Blade

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Comments

Agreed.

I have no idea how the players feel, but it seems like they are finally past the Drury/Briere era. Roy has come into his own and Vanek (my choice for captain) has taken on an expanded role, not to mention that this is Miller’s team. Adding Drury might disrupt what those guys seem to have found.

Save Jenrry Mejia!
Keep Reyes, Trade Wilpon.

by Ogre39666 on Jun 10, 2011 3:23 PM EDT reply actions

This.

And lets not forget how he has actually played as of late. Forget all the locker room intangible stuff, last year he only played 24 games, with 5 pts and 1 goal, and only 32 pts in 77 games the year before. Maybe its just me, but that ship has sailed and I would stay away at any cost. Theres gotta be a cheaper/better center available.

Ryan Miller was the true MVP. See my profile for rant.

by Jsz on Jun 11, 2011 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions

After mucho thought...

Stay away. He is not worth the trouble. Especially (Bflo’s suggestion) @ 3yrs/6 million?!? Yikes, that’s way too much to gamble on if a player is washed up or not. He will be getting $1.6 million from the Rangers. Why would you give him 2 more million? I would have given him NO MORE than $850, 000 at this stage of his career. The guy was hurt last year, I know. But he had ONE goal. Thanks, but no thanks.

If it’s a good 3rd line center we need, and we do, then we should bring in Marty Reasoner. You think he wouldn’t want to play close to home? Good faceoff guy, decent size and he has some decent scoring ability.

Give the “C” to Vanek and, by all means, bring in some experienced leaders (on defense, too), but NOT Chris Drury.

Been there, done that. Time to get over it.

by powerslave on Jun 10, 2011 5:58 PM EDT reply actions

3 Years / 6 mil?!?!?!?!?! What are you smoking?

The Rangers are buying out Drury in order to have 3.3 million available to them for cap space. And you want to give him that much for 3 years? What a terrible deal that would be for Sabres. Too much money for too long. He’s already 35. I would offer him a contract similar to Neidermeyer. 1 year 1.5 at most. He can man 3rd line and PK and offer some veterent leadership, but his stint with the blueshirts did not warrant an offer anymore than that.

by Dan K. on Jun 10, 2011 6:58 PM EDT reply actions

I doubt he'd sign a one year deal anywhere.

Id do 2 years / 4 mil. You and me are only .5mil off, so that’s not crazy. Without Grier and Neids, that type of player is needed on this team.

Again, I’m not 100% all for it. But if this wasnt “Chris Drury” then id love it.

Lets Go Buff a lo!!!

by bflo on Jun 10, 2011 9:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I believe he qualifies for an incentive based contract under the CBA because he missed so many games last year. I’d offer up around a Mil per season with incentives and go from there.

I was a huge Drury fan and even though I know he’s on the downside of his career I believe he can make an impact with the Sabres again… I’ve been right before (Stafford)…

I’ve also been wrong before (Morrisonn) lol

"If we needed any more motivation to win a Cup sooner than later, we've got one now," Black said. "I really want to listen to the game that RJ calls when he finally gets to shout out, 'Buffalo wins the Stanley Cup.'"

by FloridaBuffalo on Jun 10, 2011 7:49 PM EDT reply actions

I think it's a moot point anyways.

I’d bring him back here in a heartbeat, if of course, he accepted a low ball one or two year offer at a million and some change. But that’s simply not gonna happen. Some team, some GM, is going to overpay him for the fact that he is “Chris Drury.” Someone is going to look at his injury through rose colored glasses, saying it gave him a good chunk of time off to rest his legs. Lots of teams need centers…he’s going to get overpaid somewhere.

I agree with bflo here – if he wasn’t “Chris Drury,” some folks might be loving him as a 3rd line center providing exemplary leadership (he put up a picture of the Stanley Cup in the locker room during the Golisano years – he’d be eating up that “Don’t step on the rug emblem” stuff in this regime.)

by krytime on Jun 10, 2011 11:13 PM EDT reply actions

Take a chance

Unless we can get Fleischmann or Laich on the cheap, I think taking a chance on him might be worth it. He’s never been better than he was when he played here. He’s old and coming off an injury, but he’s got talent, heart, and experience. We shouldn’t offer him much, but a one or two year deal, probably incentive based? Why not? What else will we do, bring back Connolly again? Unless Ruff is ready to commit to Adam or another rookie, we need somebody else, and Drury should come cheap and should be willing to play here.

by Hopefulcynic on Jun 11, 2011 3:39 AM EDT reply actions

How quickly we forget

Didn’t Mr.Pegula say our one and only reason for existance is to win the cup. I don’t think Chris Drury is the player to put us over the top. I would rather they bring up Luke Adam for the entire year. I also like the Marty Reasoner idea. There are too many other options out there that make better sense. This is the kind of sentimental move that keeps teams from winning a cup. Have any of you seen him play recently. We don’t need another Craig Rivet situation.

by danabob on Jun 11, 2011 9:19 AM EDT reply actions

I never said Drury would put us over the top...

I said a role player. Nothing more than a 3rd line C and PK player.

Regardless of who we sign, we need a #1 and a #3 center.

Goose is set at #4. Roy I would say is our #2, but I would package him in a deal for Spezza if we could so then we’d need a #2 and #3 center.

Lets Go Buff a lo!!!

by bflo on Jun 11, 2011 9:41 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Goose as number 4?

I said this last year and will say it again. That’s a lot of money for a fourth line center. While his face-off prowess is well known, and he does have the intangibles of being a leader in the dressing room. I still think he is overpaid for what he does. To me Goose is probably someone that could get you some good trade value to pick up that #1 center. (who hopefully makes up for face-off production and leadership).

For me, with that being said maybe Drury could be brought in under those circumstances. But not at 2mil. 1.75 would be my max and that would have to be as others stated above, through incentive based contracts.

And I do actually like Connolly more than Drury on a even pay basis. (which i think most would agree they deserve about the same offer) Connolly has a bit more upside with youth and talent IMO. If his play this year could be equal to last year, I’d love him as a 3rd line center at value money.

by Dan K. on Jun 13, 2011 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

On paper, that is a TON of money for a fourth line center. But when factored in as the “bigger picture”, I would love it if the Sabres had that kind of depth again, allowing us to slot him in on the 4th line.

That would theoretically mean that our top 3 lines are all very good, and hopefully in some cases, great.

We have got to get that #1 guy though. Unfortunately, though, we may have to settle for another good #2 like we have in Roy. There are so many teams looking for a true #1 guy, and we all know about the laws of supply and demand. Someone is going to overpay for that guy.

While I am hoping that Darcy is able to obtain a PROVEN, legit top line center, another part of me hopes he identifies a talented kid ready to explode. Someone who shows the skills, but hasn’t really been given the chance yet to prove himself as a top line centerman.

Guys that come to mind, in absolutely no particular order: Dave Bolland, Jiri Hudler, Patrick Berglund, Artem Anisimov.

by powerslave on Jun 13, 2011 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Top Line centers

Sadly, Drury is the second-closest thing to a proven top line center you can find in FA. Unless Pittsburgh parts with Malkin (a guy, who, while he is very good, in 8 more games than Roy had only 2 more points and 5 more goals, and isn’t “the guy” on his team), after Richards you have some second line players and some guys whose best days are in the past.

As for the talented kids, anyone you’re likely to be able to get your hands on is likely to be no better than Roy. Now, there are two ways to look at this. Either we have a good (though not great) first line center, in that there is no realistic way to improve on him, or it means we’re hopeless and doomed. Given how good Boston centers aren’t, I’m tempted to say that if our D comes together, we are in an okay place. We’d be in a better place if we had a RIchards or Drury magically restored to his 30 year old self, but you can’t have everything.

by Hopefulcynic on Jun 14, 2011 2:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Goose is no more than an overpaid 4th line center.

Lets Go Buff a lo!!!

by bflo on Jun 13, 2011 4:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

6 mil?

Remember we have to resign Ennis, Girbe, Gragnani, Butler, Sekera and then Myers contract comes up next year!!!!….and if we do take on a hefty contract be it UFA or trade theres not a ton of money left with the cap. (Depends on who is traded idealy though)

Got some work to do before being a playoff team let alone a contender again!

by thenewhockeytown on Jun 16, 2011 11:45 AM EDT reply actions

Also

Why do you think we have a need for a 3rd line Center? It seems like we have 3 or 4 options for our 3rd line C already (Goose, Hecht, Nieds etc). I really dont see the need for Drury at all.

by JSCoope on Jun 16, 2011 7:33 PM EDT reply actions

Niedermyer is a FA and may retire

and Hecht is best used as a wing.

Save Jenrry Mejia!
Keep Reyes, Trade Wilpon.

by Ogre39666 on Jun 16, 2011 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions

OK then.

Goose, Hecht (he still gets used at Center a lot, even if he doesn’t have the best success) Adam (If he’s up), Nieds, Connolly (if they’re back).
The point is I don’t see a 3rd line center as a gaping hole in our team that needs to be filled asap. And even if it were I DEFINITELY don’t think Drury is the solution.

by JSCoope on Jun 16, 2011 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions