Through rookie pay scales, arbitration, and restricted free agency, sports leagues tend to restrict salaries for incoming players. This is because the collective bargaining agreements, which allow for the regulation of this sort of thing, naturally act in the interest of players who are already in the league. As a result, the available supply of talented players is pushed down. Players generally are near, at, or just beyond their peak years when they are finally eligible to become unrestricted free agents, and can thus begin to demand long contracts with high salaries. Therefore, it is usually not optimal strategy for teams, especially small-market teams, to sign such players.
That said, this is terrible. Drury and Briere, in one day? To East teams? Then Zubrus? Who rubbed salt in the wound by saying it was a hockey decision and he only wanted to win?
My friend JP put it best: only in Buffalo could a team lose two captains in one day. To no other city could that ever, ever happen. Ever.
I still believe the Sabres will be able to lock in Vanek and Roy, that Connolly will be healthy and effective, that Miller will help them win games they shouldn’t, but still, this is just awful. And may God help us if we face Drury and the Rangers in the playoffs.
At least the Bills re-signed their All-Pro. Punter.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment