Before this season even started the talk around the NHL was how can the Sabres keep both of their captains after this season. This talk has been made by a bunch of sharks (the rest of the league) circling the freshly-thrown chum (

Buffalo

) with multiple rows of teeth flashing all the while trying to hide them behind a thin veneer of sympathy. Obviously, this guy ain't buying it.

Well, in my mind, there is a way to do this. It was reported on the Hotstove tonight that a starting point for discussions with Daniel Briere would be a 5 year, $25 million contract. This is really no big stretch, and frankly, I wonder if the reported in question (Eric D.) actually talked with anyone or is just repeating 'conventional wisdom,' because, honestly, I think the Briere camp knows that there is someone out there willing to throw larger dollar figures than that his way. Ditto for Drury. Those numbers go higher if this team wins it all this June.

But, with the new year staring in around 21 hours (too much coffee during tonight's win over Hotlanta for me) and with it the negotiating period for Cap'n Danny, I thought it would be timely and appropriate to discuss how Darth Regier could pull off his little coup and save his boat from being capsized by the feeding frenzy that would ensue this July 1st. Using the numbers from Irish Blues cap page this is what I have in mind for the Sabres next season:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Player	Position	2007-08   Cap Hit	Transaction
Briere, Daniel	C	$5,000,000	Signed 5   yrs.
Drury, Chris	C	$5,000,000	Signed 5   yrs.
Gaustad, Paul	C/LW	$712,500
Connolly, Tim	C	$2,900,000
Novotny, Jiri	C	$500,000	Signed 2   yrs.
Afinogenov, Maxim	RW	$3,333,333
Kotalik, Ales	RW	$2,333,333
Pominville, Jason	RW	$1,033,333
Stafford, Drew	RW	$984,200
Mair, Adam	RW	$625,000	Signed 1   yr.
Roy, Derek	C/LW	$2,666,667	Signed 3   yrs.
Vanek, Thomas	LW	$3,500,000	Signed 4   yrs.
Paille, Daniel	LW	$650,000	Signed 2   yrs.
MacArthur, Clarke	LW	$686,667
Hecht, Jochen	LW	$2,200,000	Traded
Spacek, Jaroslav	D	$3,333,333
Lydman, Toni	D	$2,875,000
Tallinder, Henrik	D	$2,562,500
Kalinin, Dmitri	D	$2,000,000
Campbell, Brian	D	$1,500,000
Sekera, Andrej	D	$675,000
Paetsch, Nathan	D	$495,000	Signed 1   yr.
Miller, Ryan	G	$2,666,667
Backup Goalie	G	$600,000
	SubTotal   =	$48,832,533
	Total   after Trades =	$46,632,533

 

Notes: Those listed in grey are

UFA

’s after this season, while those listed in Blue are RFA’s. Everyone else is signed.

 

With the salary cap reportedly rising again to between $46 and $47 million, this plan positions the Sabres right at that level. Given that situation, if the team has the opportunity to get both Drury and Briere to agree to identical contracts listed above, then it makes sense to part ways with someone as valuable as Jochen Hecht. Under contract for a reasonable amount of money, Hecht should fetch the highest return at the draft table. If one of the two captains wants any more than the money listed above then I don’t think those guys are worth running a 21 man roster (like this season) or losing a promising young player like Paille or McArthur. 

 

The subtractions from this year’s squad are Marty Biron, Teppo Numminen, Andrew Peters and Jochen Hecht. They are replaced by Drew Stafford, Andrej Sekera, Daniel Paille, Clarke McArthur and a capable backup for Ryan Miller. 

 

Along with signing Briere and Drury, the other, and possibly more difficult, problems will be figuring out just how much of a raise Vanek and Roy deserve. 

Roy

has arbitration rights and is probably looking at Mike York/J.P. Dumont money ($2.8 - $3.0 million). If Regier can entice him a little lower over 3 years that would be great. Vanek, though, is more difficult and there are already people thinking that he’s worth more than $4 million next year. I don’t think so, not with Max only making $3.33 million (if there’s a better bargain than either Afinogenov or Pominville… I want to know). I’m inclined to offer more years to keep the cap figure lower. $14 million over 4 years for a player like him without arbitration rights would send the right message to everyone. It would also protect them against someone trying to poach him on an offer sheet, unless they wanted to hand Regier two 1^st rounders, a 2^nd and a 3^rd. Is Vanek worth that much to a team like Philly or even

Toronto

, both of whom could use a big, strong franchise like winger.

 

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