As of November 12, 2010 the Buffalo Sabres sit with a 5–9–3 record after 17 games, or just over 20 percent of the season schedule. This puts the team ranked 26 out of 30 league wide. It is equally disturbing conference wise as they sit at 12 out of 15. Not the start to their season the organization had envisioned, we are all sure of this.
It is on the aforementioned information that we get a clearer picture of not only the needs this team has, but also the ability of management to fill those needs. Questions to be asked and answered are merely a few, let’s take a look at the options and potential most likely answers, starting with Darcy Regier and his track record.
Identifying Our Needs and Reviewing Our Potential Commodities
There are rumors of Regier speaking with the likes of Calgary, Los Angeles and even Anaheim, but before we dive into what the possibilities are, a quick review of identifying the teams needs combined with what assets will truly be available need to be addressed.
Abundantly clear this far into this fiasco of a season the glaring holes in this roster are there for all too bare witness too. Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek need a true big bodied with scoring touch Right Winger to complete them. Although Roy and Vanek have played well with youngster Tyler Ennis, the lack of size on that line is very evident along the half walls and down low along the boards as they struggle to maintain puck control.
Another position is the scoring line second center position. No one is doubting Tim Connolly isn’t a 65 point a season player (when he shows up), but since we’ve targeted Connolly as one of the assets to move, it too, will need to be addressed.
Luke Adam brought in from Portland (I wouldn’t want to bring Luke up until next season)? Jochen Hecht at Center (where, for the past two games he has played as the regular) or another, yet unknown commodity at that position?
Tim Connolly, Drew Stafford and one of the young defensemen (Chris Butler, Andrej Sekera or Mike Weber) are the obvious choices. I do not believe the following list of youth are to be dealt, in effect, labeling them “untouchables.” Luke Adam (C), Tyler Ennis (LW), Zack Kassian (RW) and Jhonas Enroth (G).
Given the past track record of Darcy Regier and his mantra of “build from within,” a large trade or a trade of high-end caliber players seems unlikely.
Now that we have identified some viable needs, some commodities to utilize to fulfill those needs, we can discuss which way Regier will most likely go. At this point and time in the season, this one question must be answered before the Sabres can move forward.
Trade for the “Win Now” Mode or Trade for the “Build for the Future” Mentality?
I firmly believe given Regier’s track record that this team is in the “build for the future” mentality. I cannot see Regier squandering assets like he has in the past (see Briere and Drury). He has learned that lesson the hard way. We must look at this objectionably with eye toward the next two to three seasons.
Draft picks or prospects will be deals to be made. These deals will most likely come at the trade deadline given the effect it has on maximizing a return value on a trade. The Sabres are sure to be sellers, and as such could greatly benefit from moving Connolly, Stafford, 1 of the young defensemen and perhaps another roster player.
Connolly could fetch a second and third round draft pick at the deadline. Stafford could fetch a second rounder on his own, but packaged together with one of the young defensemen, could very well garner a 25 to 30 spot first rounder.
Teams in the hunt will pay handsomely for what they want. Regier merely has to make it happen. By garnering draft picks Regier solidifies the future of the club in youth. Parallel to this course of action, prospects may be considered as well. Either way, it reduces stress on the salary cap situation and allows for future development and a run at a championship in a mere couple of seasons.
Conversely, Regier could opt to choose for the “Win Now” mode. In which case, a secondary scoring trade will not help this club. He would need to go big or go home. In that case, any number of players may fit the bill, but, no team is going to give up one of their primary assets this early in the season without a hefty price tag attached. Regier has no incentive to “trade the farm” now for an impact player given his job is secure.
Thomas Vanek, Derek Roy, Jason Pomminville, Tyler Myers, Jordan Leopold and Ryan Miller are here for the duration. If changes are going to come, the decision must be for outside help or, the organization can wait and bring in Luke Adam, Zach Kassian, Mark Mancari and Jhonas Enroth to fill some of the holes for next season.
Upon review of what can be done to save this season combined with known behavioral patterns of General Manager Darcy Regier It is my opinion this organization is going to maintain the “status quo” and become sellers at the trade deadline in an effort to maximize the future success of this club.
So Buffalo Sabres fans. What are your thoughts on the play Darcy Regier is going to make?
Read more Buffalo Sabres news on BleacherReport.com
There is no doubt that the Buffalo Sabres need a spark to save their season. There have been complaints of lack of leadership and inconsistency. Craig Rivet was recently a healthy scratch in back-to-back games, and it seems that the team just fails to show up some nights.
The longest tenured GM-coach relationship in North American sports, Darcy Regier and Lindy Ruff, is on the hot seat, and something needs to be done in order to save their jobs.
First off, you will never find a more ardent supporter of the two men at the helm of the Buffalo Sabres. To do what they do with such a limited budget and in a small market is genius. Changing that will not help the Sabres.
What needs to change is the faces in the locker room. Tim Connolly is a great hockey player. Drew Stafford is a great hockey player. But they do not fit in this kind of system, and we need a change.
It hurts me to say this about Connolly, because I believe one of the worst days in Sabres history is when Peter Schaefer (then of Ottawa) knocked Connolly out in Game 2 of the 2006 playoff series between the two teams. Connolly was coming into his own and was our best player then and there.
Had he been there the rest of the playoffs, things could have turned out much differently. The point is, that concussion knocked his career off track. He can still play, but he is not the player that Darcy keeps telling himself he is.
Stafford, although off to an OK start, is prime trade bait. He’s sticking around because Darcy likes to see his homegrown prospects develop into everyday NHLers. The only problem is, Stafford needs a change of scenery. He has always been underachieving here, and it’s not a lack of effort. A fresh start could jump-start this kid’s game.
If I was GM for a day, I would try something that may be very rash, but it may be just what the Sabres need. I would offer Connolly (4.5 mil, last year then a UFA), Stafford (2.3 mil, last year then a RFA) and perhaps young D-man Chris Butler (.850, last year then a RFA) to the St. Louis Blues.
Why do the Blues need this package?
The Blues cannot ride the stellar play of playoff hero Jaroslav Halak much longer. Their power play is in a horrid slump, and they are 21st in the league in scoring, only averaging 2.5 goals per game. Connolly and Stafford may be able to spark an offense that lacks any names that jump out as big-time threats (besides maybe Brad Boyes).
The Blues have a bright, young defensive corps in Erik Johnson and Alex Pietrangelo. Butler would make this defense young and exciting, and he is a restricted free agent at the end of this year, which is very appealing to a GM who would want to retain rights. He’s dirt cheap, too, right now, at under a million on the cap. The Blues could use this to build a solid defensive base for the future. And for what it’s worth, Butler is from St. Louis.
Now what should the Sabres get in return? Again, if I were GM for the day, I would be hunting for some type of toughness that can score and lead, someone to set an example. I believe that is what David Backes is.
He was selected for the U.S. Olympic team last year, and in order to set the fire between Canada and the U.S. rivalry, he fought (in the weeks leading up to the Olympics) Canadian Olympic players Corey Perry, Jonathan Toews and Rick Nash. He does what he needs to in order to win.
He’s at $2.5 million, and this is his last year on contract with the Blues, set to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. If the Blues don’t think they can sign him, why not trade him? This would bring some much needed passion to the Sabres’ locker room.
The Sabres defense has been lacking of late. When you lose Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder (Tyler Myers’ mentor) you have to expect a decline. Steve Montador has been strong, though. Shaone Morrisonn was a so-so signing, and Jordan Leopold has been playing great. Tyler Myers is not playing well, Rivet is old and slow and has been slacking on his leadership duties, and Andrej Sekera is average.
The Sabres should take a run at D Barret Jackman (two years left, then UFA, $3.65 mil).
The former Rookie of the Year was recently placed on IR with a knee injury, which would hinder the idea of trading for him right now, but that may be a blessing for the Sabres, in the fact that they would be permitted to wait a bit and see if things work themselves out (Darcy’s favorite thing to do).
A healthy Jackman, Leopold, Montador, Myers, Morrisson and Sekera/Rivet is a good enough lineup for me. Ryan Miller would appreciate it as well, seeing as he hasn’t been playing well as of late either, and a stronger defensive corps in front would help.
This trade could help both teams, and seeing that Darcy really has nothing to lose, this may be an option. Money wise, the Sabres gain a bit of cap space, and the Blues would lose about $2.5 million in space, which they can very much afford with a current space of $12 million.
I think you would also have to throw a draft pick in there coming from the Blues, maybe a third-rounder. It may be crazy, but that is why I am not a GM.
Connolly, Stafford, Butler for Backes, Jackman and a draft pick.
Let me know what you think.
Brian Speers contributed to this article.
Read more Buffalo Sabres news on BleacherReport.com
The Buffalo Sabres are working hard to complete a deal that could be announced as early as Tuesday morning.
The Buffalo Sabres have started very slow this year and the media vultures are circling.
Sabre Nation is demanding a call to action. Firings or trades!
Lindy Ruff will be behind the bench for his 1,000th game as the head coach of the Sabres, this week. The long time coach has led the team to a Stanley Cup final and been nominated for multiple Jack Adams awards as NHL Coach of the Year. He took home the hardware in 2005-2006.
Darcy Regier joined the Sabres almost the exact same time as Lindy as the general manager. Well respected around the NHL the long term Sabres executive is still to blame for failures more than successes. Darcy’s roster changes including letting Chris Drury and Daniel Briere test the waters of free agency and getting nothing in return, stand as his legacy.
I believe the Buffalo Sabres will make the decision at some point before July 2011 to fire Lindy and probably clean house ending Regier’s reign in Buffalo. Before that will happen, Darcy will be encouraged to make the necessary changes fix the 2010-2011 campaign. Typically a reserved executive on a modest team, Regier believes in building from within. It’s time for Darcy to show he can bring in a game changer. It’s about results.
This week the Sabres elected to sit their captain, Craig Rivet, as a healthy scratch in hopes to either motivate him or send a message to the team that changes are coming.
The losses keep coming; so will the changes!
The ideal trading partner for the 2009-2010 Northeast Division winning Sabres will be a struggling team from the Western Conference.
Now for the biggest splash in Regier’s tenure in Buffalo; Darcy is focused on Jarome Iginla!
To make this move happen, obviously a few large pieces need to change hands. If Calgary intends on getting good value for their star, the time to move him is now. The Sutter’s and Jarome have had a few issues of late and the writing appears to be on the wall.
For Buffalo to land Iggy, they will likely need to send out a few pieces to the Flames.
Drew Stafford, prospect Zack Kassian and, to balance out the Salary Cap issues, Tim Connolly.
This deal has many potential obstacles to surpass before it can happen
I usually write about the Anaheim Ducks so it should be noted that my Ducks research lead to this HUGE trade rumor. The starting point was from a smaller trade involving Anaheim sending Jason Blake and a fourth round pick to the Sabres in exchange from Craig Rivet. This deal, which is also still possible, was connected to the Sabres naming Paul Gaustad as their next Captain.
As many speculate Calgary is shopping Iginla, I find it interesting that Buffalo is finally more than just a wall flower. Can Regier get this deal done? His job may depend on it!
Read more Buffalo Sabres news on BleacherReport.com
On Halloween night in 2009, the Islanders hosted the Sabres at Nassau Coliseum. Buffalo came into that game with an 8-1-1 record while the Isles were struggling at 3-4-3.
Richard Park put the Islanders on the board with his first goal of the season.
Halfway through the second period, the Islanders took control of the game. New York scored three times within six minutes to build the lead up to four.
Jeff Tambellini scored twice and Josh Bailey added his second of the season. After the third goal, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff pulled Ryan Miller and put in Patrick Lalime.
With less than five minutes to go in the third period, Tambellini recorded a hat trick, putting the Islanders up 5-0. Tabmellini’s father, Steve (Edmonton’s general manager) was in attendance and got to see his son score three times.
Miller finished the night with 13 of 16 saves. Lalime didn’t perform much better, stopping 12 of 14 shots. At the other end, Martin Biron was perfect as he stopped all 38 Buffalo shots, earning his first shutout as an Islander. The victory was Biron’s 200th in his career.
“I don’t think we changed too much…we hit five posts,” said Miller, who made 13 saves before being lifted. “We were sharp in some areas, but Marty made some great saves and played solid. Then again, we did ring some posts and missed some opportunities and passed up some shots. It comes down to us being tighter on that side. For me, I could have been sharper, too. Coming back-to-back, I could have been a little more energetic.”
Despite Biron’s excellent night, the shutout was kept in tact mostly because of Radek Martinek, who blocked Thomas Vanek’s shot while Biron was out of position. Biron also stopped Clarke MacArthur on a breakaway.
“It felt great,” Biron said of his play and that of his team. “With the way the month started for us, to say that we’d finish this month playing .500 hockey…[it’s] three big wins against three big teams, teams that are at the top of our conference right now. To have played that way and responded the way we have, it just demonstrates how the guys want it.”
Read more Buffalo Sabres news on BleacherReport.com
When Tyler Myers burst onto the NHL scene last season, many fans were envisioning him as the next Chris Pronger and possibly the best defenseman the Buffalo Sabres franchise has ever had.
There is no denying he had one of the best seasons of a rookie defenseman in recent memory with 11 goals and 48 points in all 82 games last season. He very deservedly earned the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year.
Myers also displayed the type of mindset and persona ahead of his years. Many people did not expect him to have a sophomore slump; he was just too level-headed and talented to go through what many second-year players do.
This year, it is looking more like a season to forget for Myers. He is dead last in the NHL in plus-minus (minus-10) and has looked very shaky and indecisive in the defensive zone. Against the Dallas Stars, Myers gave away the puck to forward Jamie Benn, which led directly to a shorthanded goal for the Stars. He was late covering Steve Ott, who eventually scored that goal.
That play defines Myers’ season. He was tentative with the puck as he held on to the puck too long while assessing his options, rather than acting on instinct and getting rid of the puck quickly. To make a bad play worse, he was late covering the eventual goal-scorer.
The Sabres are in real trouble in this young season. Coach Lindy Ruff has already benched current captain Craig Rivet. However, that has failed to light a fire under this Sabres team. The Sabres are 14th in the Eastern Conference, leading only the New Jersey Devils, who have been playing with a short bench for most of the year due to their salary-cap troubles caused by the signing of Ilya Kovalchuk.
As coach, Ruff can only do so much, but he should tell Myers to take a seat in the press box. If the players fail to respond to these messages, this season will be lost, and many players who are currently on the roster will find themselves in different uniforms, and the jobs of Ruff and general manager Darcy Regier will be in jeopardy.
Read more Buffalo Sabres news on BleacherReport.com
It is no secret that the Buffalo Sabres are off to one of the worst starts in some time. One of the reasons for this slump has been the play of the defense. On Friday night against the Atlanta Thrashers, Captain Craig Rivet was a healthy scratch as he watched his team lose to the Thrashers 4-3 in overtime.
Lindy Ruff, when asked about his decision to scratch Rivet, said that “the guys that are playing the best are going to have to play.” Rivet has been the most inconsistent defenseman this season and has looked very slow ever since he came to Buffalo in 2008. One could say it is his age, but over his career Rivet has been a very effective defensive defenseman. So far this season he has one assist in nine games, along with a plus-1.
In 2008, Rivet was elected captain by his teammates. But his leadership has clearly taken a hit after being benched for most of a 6-3 loss against the Philadelphia Flyers, and now he is sitting in the press box.
This clearly sends a message not only to Rivet, but to the rest of the players. They are going to have to play hard in order to stay in the lineup. This slow start is now officially a slump for the Sabres who are digging themselves a big hole in the Eastern Conference race.
Rivet’s benching may signal a captaincy change, but it is too early to tell if Ruff will play him again to re-discover his game or sit him for an extended period of time. With Rivet’s absence, young blueliners Chris Butler and Andrej Sekera will get extended playing time, and if they play well, Rivet could very well go from team captain to the eighth defenseman on the Sabres’ roster.
Read more Buffalo Sabres news on BleacherReport.com
The expectations were high for the reigning Northeast division champion Buffalo Sabres entering this season. The playoffs seemed like a no brainer, with many analysts and fans picking them to also repeat as division champs. Lindy Ruff, Darcy Regier and the players all talked about how they believed the Sabres were legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.
Flash forward to now, and you find a Sabres team mired in a 3-6-2 start and looking more like a team that will get the first pick in next summer’s draft than one that will be playing well into June.
Many things have contributed to the Sabres’ slow start. They have several new players on the squad, have struggled to score goals at key times of the game, Tyler Myers is stuck in a massive sophomore slum, and goaltender Ryan Miller has been average at best.
All of those things are very troubling, but there are two problems that rise above everything else. This year’s edition of the Buffalo Sabres has shown an extreme lack of focus, and a knack of crumbling in the face of adversity.
They look like world beaters for one period and then a confused midget squad the next. When the Sabres hit the post, get a bad call or a bounce goes the other team’s way, they start taking stupid, untimely penalties and fall completely apart. Both of these things are terrible signs for a team that was supposedly maturing and coming into their own.
In an attempt to shake up his squad, head coach Lindy Ruff has implemented and carried out a policy where only the best players will play. It has seen different players get benched for periods at a time or scratched from games all together.
Ruff’s axe has now found captain Craig Rivet, who was benched for an 11-minute stretch in the third period of Tuesday’s game against Philadelphia after taking a penalty that put the Sabres down two men. Then the captain was a healthy scratch last night against the Atlanta Thrashers.
Craig Rivet has had a respectable career. The defenseman has suited up for the Montreal Canadiens, San Jose Sharks and the Buffalo Sabres during his 17 years in the NHL. Rivet is known for his rugged style of play and fighting. Rivet has taken on many team’s heavyweights and has never backed down from an altercation no matter who he was facing.
General Manager Darcy Regier brought in Craig Rivet to add toughness to the Sabres and to mentor young players such as Thomas Vanek, Derek Roy, Chris Butler, Andrej Sekera and Drew Stafford. However, age and injuries have affected the way Rivet plays. He has lost a step and hardly ever drops the gloves anymore. Also, Mike Grier has had a larger effect on the Sabres’ young core then Rivet has, so it becomes clear that he is not doing his job as captain of this team.
When Ruff was asked about scratching Rivet he said, “He just hasn’t played well enough, hasn’t played well enough. That’s just the bottom line. He missed training camp, and it just seems like he’s a step behind right now.”
So now the Buffalo Sabres have another problem to deal with. Should Craig Rivet still be the captain of this team? No. This team’s lack of focus and maturity falls on Lindy Ruff and Craig Rivet’s shoulders. Many people have called for Ruff’s head, and while that may eventually happen it is not going to anytime soon.
Lindy Ruff has been the coach of the Buffalo Sabres for 13 years, is being inducted into the Buffalo sports Hall of Fame soon and is closing in on 500 wins. So that leaves changing the captain as the only option to get this team back on track, and I believe this will happen in the next few days.
I’m not sure what Craig Rivet will do. Rivet most likely is very angry about being a healthy scratch and Lindy Ruff said, “No player understands, he won’t understand.”
Ruff had the same thing happen to him while he was captain of the Buffalo Sabres. Ruff would go on to relinquish his captaincy and was then traded to the New York Islanders. My guess is that Rivet will do the same. I do not believe that he will be traded, but that he will retire. Rivet talked about retiring before the season began, and I would not be surprised if he hung up the skates. It is sad that it may end this way, but something has to be done to shake this team up.
My choice for the next captain of the Blue and Gold would be either Derek Roy or Thomas Vanek. Who do you think it should be?
Read more Buffalo Sabres news on BleacherReport.com
The defenseman is the most underrated fantasy stud an owner could have. This weekend the league takes Sunday off to pass out some candy. Let’s break down some of the weekend warriors who could be fantasy studs to watch out for.
Teams with two games this weekend: Ducks, Thrashers, Sabres, Hurricanes, Blackhawks, Canadiens, Devils, Islanders, Rangers, Flyers and Penguins.
Defensemen To Watch
Steve Montador, Sabres. The 30-year-old d-man is on an offensive tear with five points in his last five games. The eight-year veteran tied his career high last season with 23 points and is already on pace to smash that with eight points in his first 10 games this season.
Even more importantly, he ranks near the top of the league with +8 and has chipped in with 12 penalty minutes. With the Sabres being one of the few teams that have two games this weekend, be ready for this rising defenseman to be owned in more than 32 percent of leagues.
Michal Rozsival, Rangers. The Rangers are still missing their top offensive weapon in Marian Gaborik but Rozsival is picking up some of the scoring slack with four points in his last four games.
With the Rangers making the movement to a more young defense with the likes of Staal, Del Zotto and Girardi, many owners forget about Rozie. The 32-year-old defender leads the young kids in time on ice with 24:32 minutes per game and is still located on the top power play line, with three of his six points coming on the power play.
The Blue Shirts have games against the Hurricanes and Maple Leafs and grab him, as when Gaborik comes back the power play will continue to blossom.
Matt Taormina, Devils. As the Devils continue their slide let’s not forget their fantasy value and Lou has done it again by finding a diamond in the rough and this time in his old stomping ground.
The undrafted free agent from Providence has been on the top line of the power play playing almost 3:30 a game on the man advantage. It has not produced points yet as the Devils have struggled to score goals, but as they start to produce so will this defender. With two games out west this weekend while you are sleeping, Taormina could be producing.
Read more Buffalo Sabres news on BleacherReport.com
For the next three games, fans of the Buffalo Sabres and the NHL will see the potential future core of the Buffalo Sabres.
Sabres’ prospect, forward Luke Adam, will see his first NHL regular season game action tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers. He will also go on the road trip to Atlanta and Dallas as forward Rob Niedermayer is on paternity leave, as his wife is giving birth.
Adam, before being called up today, has garnered 10 points in eight games with the Portland Pirates of the AHL. The Sabres signed Adam to an entry-level deal at the end of last season after an impressive career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with St. John’s, Montreal, and Cape Breton. Adam scored 113 goals and 220 points in 236 games in four years of junior hockey.
Adam is a goal-scorer and also had an excellent showing for Team Canada in the 2010 World Junior Championships with four goals and eight points in six games.
The Sabres drafted Adam in the 2nd round (44th Overall) in the 2008 Draft, the draft that the Sabres selected Tyler Myers and Tyler Ennis. Adam has good size (6’2”, 215) and great hands around the net.
Adam was one of the last cuts of training camp this year as he produced two goals and three points in four preseason games.
At least to start, Adam will take Niedermayer’s position between Mike Grier and Ennis.
If Adam plays very well in this three game stint, there could be a very interesting battle at forward, and it possibly could influence the defense corps if Lindy Ruff decides to keep Adam on the roster afterward. In order to do that, Ruff will have to send either Andrej Sekera, Chris Butler, or Mike Weber through waivers. One forward who should be wary is Nathan Gerbe. If Adam outperforms him in these games, Gerbe’s roster spot could be in jeopardy.
Read more Buffalo Sabres news on BleacherReport.com
The NHL Northeast division has won more championships than any other, mostly because of the Montreal Canadiens’ 23. The rival Toronto Maple Leafs are second in league history with 13. Among other teams, only the Detroit Red Wings (11) have more than five.
But this division has not won Lord Stanley’s Cup in almost 20 years (thank you, referees, for being too cowardly to call Brett Hull for being in the crease!). They have had only two finalists in that time.
So how will they do this season? To see how they will fare in the playoffs, check out the following link to the Eastern Conference playoff preview; here, the division’s regular season standings are previewed.
