| Jonathan Volpe. 28th March, 2007 - 2:35 pm
 Because we're now in the salary cap era, Darcy Regier will have some difficult decisions this off-season, the hardest of which will be to decide which star center to keep and which to let go.
The options: the versatile, Chris Drury or the offensive superstar, Daniel Briere.
Drury is making $3.15 million this season and will garner a lot of interest from the open market if he decides to test it. Drury can be a key asset on any NHL squad as he kills penalties, plays the power play and can center that shut down line that is so valuable come playoff time.
On the other hand, Briere is making $5 million and if he’s made available on the open market, teams will be drooling over the opportunity to sign a star forward of Briere’s caliber. Briere is having a breakout year with 89 points and can center a top line on any NHL squad.
This raises the question: Who will Regier decide to choose? His team has been the beneficiary of having two top line centers in his high flying lineup as each are having great seasons on a team that succeeds under Lindy Ruff’s high octane offense.
Maybe if the two get compared a clear-cut winner will be evident. Briere has 31 goals, 58 assists, a +/- 17 and averages 19:35 of ice time. Drury, on the other hand, has 35 goals, 27 assists, and eight game winners while averaging 18:50 of ice time. Well, comparing them does not do much but state the obvious. Briere is more offensively minded but Drury is no slouch himself. What may set them apart is Drury’s versatility, which is so valuable come playoff time.
This versatility may set them apart but Regier will be hard pressed to let Briere leave. The playoffs might set them apart, and for Regier’s sake, he should hope so because either way he chooses to go, he will receive flack for not taking the other.
The only beneficiary of Buffalo’s center debate will be the remaining NHL teams whose auction will begin high for at least one of the Sabres’ star forwards. One team thought to pursue either Drury or Briere are the Washington Capitals, who are in desperate need of a player to play alongside the recently disgruntled Alexander Ovechkin.
Whether it is Briere or Drury, each will receive attention this off-season from teams other than the Buffalo Sabres and both will receive hefty pay raises because of the improved play from both of them. |
