I went to the Drury and my favorite Briere was a Miller

A delightful little limerick for Buffalonians of all ages circa 2005-2007. Now, however, only one player remains from this once proud triumvirate. Its not just that the Sabres broke the collective hearts of Buffalo by losing two straight Eastern Conference Finals series, but its that even after last seasons gut punch by the Ottawa Senators (insert Danny Heatley murdered someone reference) there was the promise of so much more. With such a strong nucleus of players and speedsters coming up from the affiliate Rochester Americans there was a feeling that the Sabres would be a perennial powerhouse in, not just the East, but the NHL.

The inscrutable loss of Briere and Drury, and the later loss of Brian Campbell (at least they got something in return) has wiped away any sense that the Sabres will challenge for a Stanley Cup. So now there appears to be one man left:

Miller enters the last year of his contract next season. The Sabres must lock him up for the long term this summer. The Sabres forwards and defensemen must make a strong showing to prove to Miller that it is worth it to sign long term. They have to string together some wins and sneak into the playoffs to prove to Miller that this team can win. Otherwise, his long feared return to Michigan (he played college hockey there) to play for the Red Wings might very well come to fruition.

If the Sabres can't re-sign Miller, they may be forced to trade him in March, like Campbell; or worse, watching him walk away in May and gaining nothing in return. Then the last vestiges of a humorous limerick about drinking will be gone, and with it, the identity of the Sabres team as a whole will be lost.