les_glorieux Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Dainius Zubrus anticipates becoming a free agent this weekend, a move that would end the veteran forward's brief stint with the Buffalo Sabres. "That's certainly the direction it looks like it's headed," his agent, Jerrold Colton said Wednesday. With the NHL's free agency period starting at noon Sunday, Colton declined to say whether he's had any talks with the Sabres. "Certainly, these things can get done if both sides are motivated," Colton said. "But at this point, we're anticipating that Dainius will hit the market." The Sabres have bigger concerns beyond Zubrus, with the team standing to lose co-captains, Chris Drury and Daniel Briere, to free agency. The Sabres have finally begun negotiations with both players, and did make Briere an offer late Wednesday evening, Buffalo's WGRZ-TV reported. It's not clear what the offer is for a player seeking a minimum four-year deal, and expected to command a US$6 million-a-year salary. Briere finished 10th in the NHL with a career-high 95 points (32 goals, 63 assists). Briere's agent Pat Brisson declined comment, while Sabres general manager Darcy Regier has declined interview requests this week. Drury's agent, Mark Witkin, has also declined to discuss the status of talks involving his client. Drury, who scored a career-high 69 points (37 goals, 32 assists), is projected to double the $3.15 million he made last season. Zubrus made $1.85 million in the final year of his contract last season. Buffalo acquired him in a deal with Washington at the trade deadline in February. A 10-year veteran, he had four goals and eight points in 19 games with the Sabres, and finished with 24 goals and 60 points - both career-highs - in 79 games. Zubrus added eight assists in 15 playoff games, but missed Buffalo's final postseason game - a 3-2 overtime loss to Ottawa in Game 5 the Eastern Conference finals - because of a knee injury. "He loved being with Buffalo and is still open to that possibility," Colton said. "But we're very confident that there will be a lot of interest in him out there." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
House11 Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 maybe if we can get Zubrus and Begin to some how merge into one player then yes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InsaneHABSfan Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 maybe if we can get Zubrus and Begin to some how merge into one player then yes hahaha that would be a very good center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 Well who knows to be honest for Zubrus. All these top UFA guys all want long-term contracts so if he waits it out he might get his 5 year / 15 M$ deal. Might have sounded crazy in Washington but in the open market, anything is possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeLassister Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 do i want Zubrus ? the answer is : no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Iron Lung Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 Been there, done that. Lots of talent but not much else. On a rare night, he looks like Jagr, on most nights you wouldn't even notice him on the ice. If he had some heart, he'd be a special player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The-Habby2919 Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 Id take him for 3 years 7.5 mil. :hlogo: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMMR Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 His wife is from Montreal she likes it here and has said she wants to come back. Zubrus was a force in the playoffs hitting everything that moved when the Sabres beat the Rangers, I would take him back but at no where near 4 mil per season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revin5 Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 My #1 choice for our FA forward pick-up (because we'd be more likely to get him without overpaying), after him is Stefan, than Smolinski, Ortmeyer, and Asham to round out the top 5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTH Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 Zubrus would be okay, I guess. He's proven to work better as a LW than a C though, so maybe not what we need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeLassister Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 His wife is from Montreal she likes it here and has said she wants to come back. Zubrus was a force in the playoffs hitting everything that moved when the Sabres beat the Rangers, I would take him back but at no where near 4 mil per season. I thought it was Zednik's wife who came from Montreal : Jessica Welch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMMR Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 I thought it was Zednik's wife who came from Montreal : Jessica Welch. Guess they both did. Zubrus wife is a model I believe Zedniks is an actor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeLassister Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 Guess they both did. Zubrus wife is a model I believe Zedniks is an actor. oh ok didn't know that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaos Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 (edited) No thanks....been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Briere is going to walk. Just turned down Buffalo's offer of 5 year $25 MIllion, the same contract he wanted Buffalo to give him last year. Chris Drury is almost good as gone. Buffalo may make a push to keep Zubrus.... although I have no idea why? Edited June 29, 2007 by kaos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBigRedC Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 No thanks. I like the guy, and he has a fair amount of talent, but he dosen't show up every night. Imagine if he did... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazy26 Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Zubrus is talented, but he's a bad fit for our Habs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stjrandy Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 I like him and would welcome him back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habitforming Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 (edited) Zubrus would be great for Latendresse. Zubrus went from teir II to the NHL at a young age because his size allowed for it. He could teach Latendresse everything he wishes he knew when he broke in. If you can get him for three million or less go for it....since we can't....enjoy Buffalo Danius! Edited June 29, 2007 by Habitforming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smon Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Yeah, but Zubrus hardly lived up to his potential - Latendresse should develop into a much better player than he is. Nonetheless, Zubrus isn't a bad option as a last resort. He's improved his game a bit since his last stint with Montreal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
House11 Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Guess they both did. Zubrus wife is a model I believe Zedniks is an actor. Must be nice to be a hockey player in Montreal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saskhab Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Injuries aside, I'd take Handzus over him, because he seems to be a better role player if he doesn't work out as one of the top C's. Zubrus is such a gamble for our team. I just don't see the benefit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMMR Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Handzus would be a step back from Bonk - no thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revin5 Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Injuries aside, I'd take Handzus over him, because he seems to be a better role player if he doesn't work out as one of the top C's. Zubrus is such a gamble for our team. I just don't see the benefit.You're probably right. For some reason I had it in my head that he was looking for 5-6 million a year and had been discounting him because I didn't want to see us overpay like that, but for 4 a year, he's just catapulted to the top of my list. Four years at 16 million, for a Super-Bonk? Damn right. So who do you think would play on his LW (RW Kovalev)? Latendresse? How about Zubrus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athlétique.Canadien Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 (edited) I like the Handzus idea. He is awfully slow but he was deadly when he arrived in Chicago before it was game over with the injury. With our speed we can have him float around in the offensive zone. I'm sure we could compensate. The Zeus is hard to get rid of down low. He's not a dinosaur at 30 and he's 6' 5", 217 lbs. Center. Age: 30 2006-07 GP8 3G 5A 8PTS +4 PIM6 SHOTS9 SH%33.3 If we could get Zeus and BriEEEEEERe I'd be delighted. PS. We won't get Zeus for the money we would likely offer. I still like the idea Edited June 29, 2007 by ATHLÉTIQUE.CANADIEN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXx..CK..xXx Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 I like the Handzus idea. He is awfully slow but he was deadly when he arrived in Chicago before it was game over with the injury. With our speed we can have him float around in the offensive zone. I'm sure we could compensate. The Zeus is hard to get rid of down low. He's not a dinosaur at 30 and he's 6' 5", 217 lbs. Center. Age: 30 2006-07 GP8 3G 5A 8PTS +4 PIM6 SHOTS9 SH%33.3 If we could get Zeus and BriEEEEEERe I'd be delighted. Yeah I agree with your last statement. If Handzus were to be the only major pickup on offense this off season I wouldn't be overly enthusiatic by any means. But add someone like Briere to the mix, along with Handzus and that would help our offense tremendously (even though for some reason I get the feeling that regardless of who he plays for, Briere won't put up the same numbers as last year.) As for the original question, I know Montreal is one of Zubrus' favorite places to play, so it's not impossible. Adding him is kind of like obtaining a stronger and quicker Ribeiro... I wouldn't mind picking him up for the right price, but not as a first option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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