At the trade deadline last year they had Danny Briere and Chris Drury headed to free agency. The Sabes did not think twice about trading two of their best players. They thought a run to the Cup might be enough to convince both guys to take a bit of the ol' hometown discount.
Sadly, the Senators, featuring a murderer (Heatley), and Daniel Alfredson (no man can call him "Alfie" unless they openly want to get in his pants) knocked the Sabres out of the playoffs and into a topsy turvey tailspin. The rest of the story. Drury signs with the hated Rangers, Briere to the despised Flyers. The Sabres struggle without their leaders, and are now in a dog fight to even make the playoffs.
This brings us back to Campbell. If the Sabres trade him it will likely drop them out of the playoff race entirely incensing an already battered fan base who despite the frugality of management have shown up for every game (the Sabres have the second best attendance average in the NHL---I know helped by the Winter Classic). If they do not trade him then he could eschew a long-term contract and leave Buffalo this summer for nothing.
Ryan Miller is also an important player in this whole mess. Miller's contract is up after the 2008-2009 season. If the Sabres don't sign Campbell that might send him the message that the Sabres are not dedicated to winning a championship. However, if they do sign Campbell then the team might not have enough in the coffers to make Miller an offer that pays him market value.
It looks like either way the Sabres will lose.
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