In listening to Monday’s press conference with Darcy Regier and Larry Quinn, I have a few thoughts of my own. The negative undertone was obvious, so obvious I thought Larry Quinn and Bucky Gleason might drop the gloves in the press room. I am probably part of the minority but I don’t blame Darcy or Larry Quinn for the departures of Drury and Briere. It was obvious by their comments that they wanted Chris Drury but thought that Briere was going to get too much money and they didn’t want to mortgage the future on him. The simple fact is that Drury chose not to be in Buffalo and deserves some of the blame for his departure.
Kevin a Bflo Blog has an interesting post about an article by Bucky Gleason of the Buffalo News. It is definitely a good read and I highly suggest you read it before believing anything Bucky Gleason has to say. I am going to have to agree with Kevin on this one, I find it hard to believe that it’s true.
The players also had reactions to the departure of the two captains. Tim Graham of the Buffalo News summed it all up in an article today as well. Ryan Miller was probably the most candid of all.
It’s a hard time for a lot of guys, but [Drury and Briere] better hope they didn’t teach us too much because they’re going to have to contend against us. Leadership is changing hands on our team, but the attitude still will be there. I’m going to make sure to the best of my abilities to keep them in our rear-view mirror.”
I have to say that I like the way Miller is thinking. It was my exact words yesterday when I said that it became apparent that Drury and Briere did not believe the players on this team were good enough to win a Stanley Cup, the ultimate slap in the face and I’m guessing they’re a little upset about that.
Finally here is a line from Darcy Regier from the press conference.
“We’re going to be less competitive without Danny Briere and Chris Drury,” said Regier, who paused before continuing in a voice filled with emotion with a face that conveyed anguish. “But the sky’s not falling. This is a good hockey club. We’ll be good. We’ll figure out a way — somehow, some way — to be better. But people shouldn’t give up on these young men. They shouldn’t give up on the coaching staff. They shouldn’t give up on the community. The sky’s not falling.”
This is what I have been preaching since Sunday. I have a feeling that nobody is going to listen to us Darcy until they see it for themselves next season.