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Buffalo better not lose that guy.

but it'd be pretty sweet for us if they did!

LETS GO FLYERS

thomas isnt going anywhere he's a young guy that wants to win and he cant do that in philly

no body wants to play for the crappy flyers

here is the deal with this, they flyers are only doing it to skrew the sabers. As of right now the sabers could sign a nice FA, but if they flyers put out an offer sheet to buffalo for vanek, buffalo has to match that number and there is no way they are going to lose this kid, so basically the flyers are just skrewing the sabers out of more cap money.

So what.... its business....

llieno? vanek wont win with the flyers? and how many cups have the sabres won? flyers had a bad season yes, but they will rebound, sabres will never get over the hump

That would be smart for the Flyers. Even if Buffalo signs Vanek it would force them to decide between Drury and Briere. The Flyers could then try to sign one of the two players they really want. Also, I think the jury is still out on Vanek. He was great last year but can he do it consistently. We will see.

Great strategy by a crappy team like Philly...they are forcing our hands...its business....GO SABRES

It's hysterical how Sabres fans love putting down the Flyers, their fans, and the city. Talk about a complex! Bottom line is they know Flyers are on their way back up with the help of our Director of Players Personel, Don Luce, who knows the Sabres inside and out, and it drives them crazy. Granted, the Sabres had a couple of good seasons, but got no where in the playoffs (ha-ha), and couldn't even get to the finals one time. Maybe someday you will make the finals, but until you win back to back Stanley Cups, keep quiet.
GO FLYERS!!!

It would be a wise move by the Flyers to sign him. It's a win-win situation and one that will be repeated with the cap in place.

As others have mentioned, they overpay him 4-5 million a year and Buffalo would be hard pressed to match it with their other needs. If they do, the Flyers lose nothing but makes it that much harder for the Sabres to sign Drury AND Briere. So it puts all the pressure on the Sabs. Was Vanek a one year wonder? Is he worth it? If it worth matching it and losing one of their other potential free agents? Would it be better to take the picks?

I think we will see this trend continue in the new NHL. I don't doubt for a second that if Crosby is in his RFA year that a team will offer him an obscene amount of money and it screws the Pens either way.

Who would the Sabres keep if they have to decide between Drury and Briere. Personally, I like Drury he gets it done when it counts. Briere is a hell of a player though. Should be interesting. The more I look at Vanek the more I want to see how he plays after the big contract.

Flyers just got Timmonen and Hartnell. What a great way to start free agency.

Livin in the past are we BobD? Were you even alive when your Flyers won their last cup? Get with the times. You're a little dazed and confused over the a__ beatings the Sabres have put on your lowly Flyers over the past many years. Living in Tampa now, I get to enjoy watching the Lightning destroy your Flyers as well. Now your fine hometown newspaper is halucinating about Vinny. Who will it be next? Crosby? Keep dreamin!!

Hey DaveF, I don't recall the Sabres ever winning anything. But come to Philly sometimes and we'll show you our two.

As I said BobD, livin in the past. Keep those old pictures close to you. You won't be seeing anymore anytime soon.

Sign Vanek. Trade Pitkanen to Edmonton for either their #6 or #12 pick in the draft. Make the nightmare season of yore a thing of the past and get the future started right now. Vanek is young. Hartnell is young. Upshall is young. This team is headed in the right direction. Holmgren has his s*it in great for this season. He wants to bring this team back to respectability. We will make the playoffs and we will make some noise this offseason. I think the fans will be pleasantly surprised at the way Holmgren works this offseason.

DaveF,
I can see the frustration in your post, and that's not good for your health. As Bill Clinton once said, "I feel your pain". Being a fan of a team like Buffalo, which is an "ofer" (zero cups in their entire exsistence), has got to hurt. Being close twice, but never experiencing winning the Cup, would be a bummer for any fan, I would imagine. I feel fortunate to have been there to see my team win it twice, whether it was 35 years ago, or 75 years ago, you never forget the thrill of winning the Stanley Cup. But hey, you have a Presidents Trophy to show off. Like I said, stop by Philly sometime and I'll even buy you a cheesesteak.