Drury dealt by Flames

[Shell]

Drury dealt by Flames
TSN.ca Staff
7/3/2003

The Calgary Flames traded forwards Chris Drury and Steve Begin to the Buffalo Sabres Thursday for Rhett Warrener and Steve Reinprecht, after the Sabres had acquired Reinprecht from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for prospect Keith Ballard.

"In adding Rhett and Steve to our hockey club, we believe we have taken another step toward creating the identity we seek for the Calgary Flames," said Flames' coach and general manager Duane Sutter.

"Both players have Western Canadian roots and are in the 26-29 year old age group which I consider to be the most important on your club.

"Rhett is a big strong defenceman who is a key fit to strengthening our current group while Steve solidifies our centre position with offensive ability combined with a solid responsibility to the defensive game."

Keith Ballard, the Sabres first round pick, 11th overall in 2002, goes from Buffalo to Colorado. Ballard, a defenceman, has played for the last two years for the NCAA champion Minnesota Golden Gophers.

[Tatfever]

This is getting to confusing for me :spin: . With Calgary trading Begin(who is a minor leaguer), I have no idea who will be in Lowell next year except for Kurka and maybe Lysak.
Trying to follow two teams on the transaction wire can be downright tiresome and crazy :crazy: .

[Shell]

Sabres sign Drury to four-year deal
Associated Press
8/25/2003

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Chris Drury no longer has any apprehensions about how much he's valued by his new team, the Buffalo Sabres.

The offensive-minded forward, tired of uprooting his life after joining his third team in three seasons, got the long-term commitment he valued in signing a four-year contract with the Sabres on Monday.

``The term of it shows a lot of commitment right there - it's a long time,'' said Drury. ``Certainly in our business anything can happen, but I think the commitment shown by (the Sabres) that they want me here - and it's a two-way street, I want to be here - that's why I signed a four-year deal.''

Monetary terms of the contract were not disclosed, but Drury is expected to get a significant raise over the $2.5 million US he made in the final year of his contract with Calgary last season.

He was a restricted free agent when the Sabres acquired his rights from Calgary in a three-team, five-player deal last July. As part of the trade, the Sabres acquired forward Steve Begin in a deal that also involved Colorado.

It marked the second time in less than a year Drury had been traded, after he spent his first four seasons with Colorado.

Now it appears he has a home in Buffalo.

"From my point of view, I hope he's here longer than four years,'' Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. ``I believe we have a player now that can make a difference.''

A five-time 20-goal scorer, Drury is considered to have both the leadership and offensive qualities the Sabres want in trying to turn around a team.

New owner B. Thomas Golisano, who saved the franchise from bankruptcy last spring, was among those in attendance at Drury's press conference and referred to the player as ``an important plus.''

Drury is coming off a solid season in which he had 23 goals, 30 assists and 53 points. That would have made him Buffalo's third-leading scorer.

At Colorado, Drury was the NHL's rookie of the year in 1999 and established a reputation of being a clutch performer, having scored 26 goals - 11 of them game-winners - in 80 playoff games.

During the 2001 playoffs, he had 11 goals and five assists in helping Colorado win the Stanley Cup.

Drury also shone in college, winning the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's most valuable player during his senior year at Boston University.

``We're looking for players that are going to make a difference here. We believe Chris is that,'' Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said. ``And when you get the type of player Chris is, you want to make a commitment, you want them to make a commitment, and you believe you can create a strong winning environment.''

Drury's arrival leaves the Sabres with two unsigned restricted free agents - leading scorer Miroslav Satan and stalwart defenceman Jay McKee - two weeks before the start of training camp.

Prospect Jaroslav Kristek elected not to re-sign with the Sabres, deciding to spend at least next year playing in his native Czech Republic. Kristek recently signed a contract to play with Sparta of the Czech Elite League.

The Sabres retain Kristek's rights should he decide to return to play in the NHL. A second-round pick in the 1998 draft, Kristek made his NHL debut last season, recording no points in six games with Buffalo.

He had 15 goals and 17 assists in 47 games with the AHL Rochester Americans last season, his third with the team.

[mr. chubby]

Who in their right mind would WANT to be in Buffalo?? He would have looked good in a Canes uniform.