European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 2, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Stars and stripes Page 39 sabres Brace for potential big hits in free Agency by John Wawrow the associated press executive Larry Quinn had one last piece of advice to offer As the teams Chris Drury and Daniel gathered in los Angeles to prepare for the Start of nil free Landing the most lucrative con tract does not necessarily Guaran tee anyone playing for a the sabres managing partner said Briere i think you have to ask do you want to win free agents who went for All the Money last year didst with one exception Scott Nieder Quinn referring to the ducks Captain who won a Stanley cup in his second season with theres a lot of situations where it didst help the player in a competitive because it affects the teams ability to have players around its a philosophy the sabres Are sticking unwilling to upset their payroll Structure with to heavy and its a key reason the team that won a league leading and fran Chis record 53 games last season finds itself bracing to lose its two top leaders when free Agency opened who travelled to this week to be with his has already announced hell test the who makes his off season Home in Southern califor is prepared to he and the sabres have declined to Dis cuss the status of Briere and Drury head a Small design a birthday gird in Honor of United states of americas birthday july 4 and write a greeting to a deployed service a winners name Wilt be randomly prawn from those entered in the Happy birthday America Register your card online at under the Happy birthday America shopping spree link and print out a registration form to affix to the Back of your shopping spree at for 0 i used for items purchased May not be turned for Cash group of to tier players eligible for free Agency this and both centers Are projected to com Mand better than Mil lion year contract the top group of unsigned play ers is rounded out by Center Scott Gomez and defens Eman Brian Rafalski of new Jersey and new York islanders forwards Ryan Smyth and Jason Only Rafalski is considered Likely to resign with his current red wings general manager Ken Holland said Hes gotten the sense that there will be a flurry of activity i think its going to be he said saturday Briers decision to test free Agency is not a with the Nils salary Cap rising from million last season to Mil and there Are numerous teams including los Colo Toronto and the new York rangers with room to make big offers and eager to improve their who scored a Ca ree High 95 is the Only player available who finished among the Nils top 10 scorers last Blake and Anaheim Teemu who is contemplating Are the Only players eligible for free Agency who scored 37 or More next in line is a group that could include Montreal defense Man Sheldon rangers Center Michael Nylander and Nashville forwards Paul Kariya and Peter the flyers already raised both eyebrows and the Market Price for free agents when they acquired defens Eman Kimmo Monen and Forward Scott Hart Nell in a Trade with Nashville two weeks Philadelphia then signed both to six year deals Timonen Worth million and Hart Nells the sabres have the most to lose in free Forward Dain Iii Zubrus also will test free Agen and Buffalo must contend with resigning Thomas who scored a Tea leading 43 goals last Vanek is a restricted free agent whose rights were retained by Buffalo two weeks can receive offers from other teams that the sabres would have the right to although it has been rare for teams to make offers to group 2 free agents such As Vanek and Ottawa goalie Ray the environment might be the new collective bargaining agree ment lessened the number of draft picks teams would have to give and the salary Cap could handcuff teams at or near the limit to match vanes Stephen bar said Hes received numerous Calls from teams potentially inter ested in his i certainly have More anticipation that this could be the sum Bartlett considering and signing the offer Are two Dif Ferent but its something that being bantered about More than at any other time that i can a sports writer Larry Lage in grand contributed to this