By Tim Schmitt
BUFFALO — A muffled howl was all Brian Campbell got the first time he touched the puck in Friday night’s return to HSBC Arena. Nothing to wince at, especially considering the star blueliner’s request two years ago for a mild greeting when he revisited as the enemy. The few boos Campbell did hear lost significant stamina through the first period.
But somewhere, tucked from view, Darcy Regier and Larry Quinn were clapping so hard their hands had to hurt. Maybe not externally, but certainly somewhere on the inside.
In the face of a legitimate meltdown two years ago, when fan skepticism was at an all-time high after the Drury/Briere Debacle, the Sabres muted a potential fan revolt by getting a reasonable return in dealing Campbell to San Jose. They later turned that move into one for current captain Craig Rivet.
Campbell, of course, signed a huge contract with Chicago and has been a piece of a hockey renaissance in the Windy City.
Just two seasons removed, though, the discontent surrounding Campbell’s giant salary and his marginal defensive skills has started to grow. And while the Hawks are enjoying a great year, the team will need to purge a number of its young players to get under the cap next season. Chicago has $61 million committed to 15 players next year. The cap is currently just over $56 million.
Hence Regier and Quinn’s internal ovation.
The Sabres, who’ve kept most of their signings comfortable, are well-positioned for the future. Buffalo can win now, and again in the future with the right bit of tweaking.
If the Sabres had gone all in on Campbell — a good offensive defenseman, but not even the best on his own team — they’d have needed more than what Chicago’s getting. Campbell has 16 points in 29 games, but Duncan Keith has more points, and is more commanding when he’s got the puck. And in the second period of Friday’s Buffalo win, Campbell pulled the kind of boo-boo Sabres fans became accustomed to when he lost the puck in his own zone, giving Jason Pominville a point-blank chance.
Remember, Campbell was hardly an instant smash with the Sabres. To say the redheaded blueliner needed cultivation is like saying progress in Baghdad has been swift. That signature spin-o-rama worked during the season the team won the Presidents’ Trophy, but Campbell popped up and down to Rochester three times before sticking with the big club.
Even then, he had two seasons mired at the bottom of the lineup, scraping for minutes with the likes of Brad Brown, Rory Fitzpatrick and Andy Delmore.
And now, after the Hawks make what they hope is a deep playoff run, Campbell could be privy to yet another summer exodus, much like the trainwreck he witnessed his last summer here.
No general manager is reckless enough to assume Campbell’s deal, unless there’s serious finagling at work. For example, if Chicago dealt him to a team with plenty of cap room, that team would insist on other top prospects or high draft choices as well.
And some have suggested Campbell will either spend some time in the minors (where his contract doesn’t count against the cap), or be bought out.
It’s hard to root against a guy whose carefree spirit and whirling moves helped the Sabres to a special accomplishment, the 2007 Presidents’ Trophy.
But while he’s special, he’s not more than $7 million a year special.
Looking back, the team’s move in dealing him might have been their finest in years.
Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.
