It’s time Sabres netted a big fish
Forty minutes before the bell rang and the pool of unrestricted free agency opened Tuesday, Darcy Regier walked back to his office to work the phones. Earlier, he sounded prepared to dip his toes into dangerous waters with the idea they wouldn’t get bitten off by the sharks below.
Regier always has been a patient fisherman, one more comfortable trolling along at his own pace rather than sticking his bait into the NHL feeding frenzy reserved for July 1. This has never been an easy week for the Sabres’ general manager. Last year, if you recall, he spent the first few days of free agency explaining how the big fish swam away.
This year, he didn’t need a big splash so much as a good catch. Their main goal Tuesday should have been reeling in a solid defenseman, definitely one with an edge, preferably one with experience, if possible a certain homeboy who could help sell tickets and create excitement, ideally one with the given name “Brooks” and the surname “Orpik.”
Yes, that’s Orpik — not Orca.
Orpik would have fit. At 27, he’s in the prime of his career. He came of age during Pittsburgh’s run to the Stanley Cup finals. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder is like many players who shaped their game in this town. He’s not the best or the biggest, but he’s talented and tough. He works hard, plays with heart.
That he comes from East Amherst, and that he practically begged to play for the Sabres before they overlooked him in the 2000 draft for Artem Kryukov, and that his brother Andrew is among their prospects, were all plusses. But the best bait for attracting players is a long-term deal for the right money.
As is often the case, the contract was the stumbling block. Obviously, the Sabres didn’t offer enough for long enough. We’ll know Orpik’s value in the open market soon enough. Mike Commodore will make $3.75 million a year with Columbus. Mark Streit signed with the Islanders for about $4 million per season. So paying Orpik about $4.5 million per year seemed well within reason.
Orpik was looking for a longer term. A six-or seven-year contract properly arranged wasn’t overly risky, not when Orpik would be 34 at the end of the deal, not when the Sabres are still flirting with Teppo Numminen, who turns 40 Thursday, less than a year removed from heart surgery, not with their nucleus of good young players on the rise.
Regier acknowledged that the Sabres had limits on how much they would spend on a single player. No argument here. You don’t want them spending $10 million on someone unless that someone is named Sidney Crosby. Heck, they were forced into that last summer with someone named Thomas Vanek.
But the Sabres didn’t need to break the bank. Years ago, they needed to break their habit of waiting too long to make a move before players get too pricey. Another reminder came Tuesday when Brian Campbell signed an eight-year deal worth $56.8 million with the Blackhawks. He would have stayed here if the Sabres didn’t decline his five-year proposal worth $25 million last summer.
Backup goalie Patrick Lalime was hardly an upgrade, especially at $2 million over two years. It looked like a move made under pressure after seven goalies signed in about 90 minutes Tuesday afternoon. If Lalime doesn’t play well early, Ryan Miller will be looking at another 70-plus game season.
Tampa Bay became a destination of choice because the Lightning took a proactive, aggressive approach into the offseason. They had more needs than the Sabres did, but they also wasted little time in addressing them. The Bolts made themselves attractive.
The Sabres’ major need was defense. One day into free agency, it looks like they missed the boat. You make the call.
