What You Need to Know August 31

This will be the second installment of " What You Need to Know" this week. For those that know this is my summer series where I run down a whole bunch of news/stories/rumours that have taken place in the NHL or will impact the NHL over the last week. Here we go:

• Players un-happy with NHL's second offer

It (the NHL proposal) was a pig with lipstick on, instead of a pig.'' ~Red Wings Dan Cleary

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman had stated after that "Substantial differences" had been implemented in the leagues second proposal to the players. The second proposal would see the players percent of the pie rise to 46 but add that a percentage of players salaries would go towards escrow. The tone from the players after looking over the proposal was pretty negative, some even went on to say "Bettman is adamant on his third lockout".

The two sides met again today and the NHLPA was expected to present their changes to the league second proposal.

• Oilers lock up another young stall in Eberle

Shortly after his best friend both on and off the ice Taylor Hall signed his deal with the Oilers, Jordan Eberle signed on the dotted line. The Oilers and Eberle agreed to a 6 year deal worth $36 million.

"Obviously I'm pretty excited, with Taylor getting his done last week, I was pretty anxious. I'm happy to be an Oiler ... and I think with the direction the team's going it's pretty obvious that there's a lot of excitement level around Edmonton and throughout our locker room."

Heck for $36 million, I'd be happy to be an Oiler too! This is a great signing both for Eberle and the Oilers as they help lock up another key member of their core going forward. Eberle has 52 goals and 67 assists in 147 games with the Oilers.

• Bogosian on the shelf 4-6 months

The Winnipeg Jets will be without the services of defenceman Zach Bogosian for the next 4-6 months after he underwent a successful surgery on his right wrist. The surgery was to repair a torn ligament in his wrist.

• Top prospect for Wild goes wild and breaks his leg

Mario Lucia one of the top prospects for the Minnesota Wild broke his right fibula and tore ligaments in his ankle when a teammate fell on him at practice. The injury will likely result in Lucia missing the first three months of his freshman year at Notre Dame. The Wild took Lucia in the second round in the 2011 draft and is thought of to be in the top 10 of up and coming Wild prospects.

"Hopefully I'll get back quicker than three months, but I'm in a cast for seven weeks, so there's not much I can do about that."

• Roy recovering well from shoulder surgery

Sticking with the injury news, Derek Roy is eyeing a return to the Dallas Stars in November. After being traded from the Buffalo Sabres to the Dallas Stars this offseason Roy underwent shoulder surgery to fix an ailing injury. Roy will soon be getting back on the ice and is looking forward to joining his new teammates;

"I haven’t skated in a while, I am going to start skating in three weeks or a month, and get that back up to speed, keep rehabbing the shoulder and move forward."

Roy managed 44 points in 80 games which resulted in a disappointing season with the Sabres. The Stars are hoping that he will be able to up that production now that he fixed his shoulder.

• More  star players heading overseas

While nothing yet is official (and wont be until after September 15th) players are starting to look for other places to play next season. In Monday's edition I mentioned the Ovechkin has been in contact with the KHL and this past week his lawyer flew over to talk about a possible contract. Even worse news for fans if the lockout goes past December fans can expect to see the golden boy Sidney Crosby head overseas. Crosby's agent said if the NHL remains on strike into late December Crosby will indeed look for other options overseas. Crosby's teammate Evgeni Malkin will also be heading overseas if a lockout is imminent. On top of that the KHL president has said he is "Prepared to welcome all locked out NHLers, the gate is wide open". Speaking as a NHL fan *gulp*

• Turris resigns after a fresh start in Ottawa

After being labelled as a player who didn't try hard and would quit on a team when he wanted out, Kyle Turris was traded to the Ottawa Senators and found a new home at the end of last season. Now it appears he'll be making Ottawa his home for the foreseeable future. The Senators and Turris agreed to a 5 year contract extension that will see him stay in the nation's capital through the 2017-2018 season.

"I'm really excited, I love it here in Ottawa. I love being part of the organization and the people in it and the hockey team we have here. I'm really looking forward to being here the next six years, and hopefully past that. I knew at the end of the year that this was the place I wanted to be, and I wanted to be for a long time. I love the city. I love everything about it."

 

• Rene Bourque to miss 8-12 weeks

More injury news to report, the Montreal Canadiens Rene Bourque will be out for the next 8-12 weeks after surgery to repair a wall in his abdomin that collapsed during training.

That will do it for the stories from the past week.

What You Need to Know July 13th

Welcome to the second edition of my summer series "What You Need to Know" where I catch you up on what has happened during the past week. 

Free Agency

The free agency frenzy has quickly turned into a free agency fizzle. News about free agent signings is trickling in ever so slowly. Of all the players who signed this week, only 5 of them got a contracts worth a million dollars.

Teemu Selanne signs 1 year deal with Anaheim

The future Hall of Famer has decided he is healthy enough and wants to play one more season before hanging up the skates. The 42 year old announced on Thursday that he and the Ducks had agreed on a one year deal, which will bring Selanne back for his 20th NHL season. The ageless wonder is coming back. After a season that saw his team start the year 10-21-6  and turn it around in December to finish 24-15-6. Selanne showed he still had game finishing the year leading his team in scoring with 66 points and tied for third with 26 goals. 

In 19 seasons Selanne has racked up 663 goals and 1,406 points in 1,341 games. He also the Ducks all time leader in goals (466), assists (501), points (937) and games played (856). 

There is no question that when it does come time for Selanne to hang up the skates he will one day be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He is a NHL legend and it's a fantastic thing for both the Ducks and the NHL to have him back for another year. 

Marc-Andre Gragnani signs 1 year deal with Carolina

The former Sabres is on the move again. After being deal to the Canucks at the trade deadline Gragnani has moved on to another team. The Hurricanes signed the young defenceman to a one year deal worth $800 thousand. 

Peter Mueller signs 1 year deal with Florida

The Panthers and Mueller agreed to a one year deal worth $1.725 million. 

Jamie Langenbrunner signs 1 year deal with St. Louis

While he scored just 6 goals for the Blues last season, GM Doug Armstrong says he's veteran leadership in the dressing room is worth keeping around. The two sides agreed to a one year deal worth $1.25 million. 

Parise and Suter both receive "A's" in Minnesota

After the long drawn out process that resulted in the two biggest fish during free agency signing with the same team. The two players got their official "Wild" welcome on Monday. Suter will wear his familiar number 20 while Parise will switch to his fathers old number 11. Both players donned new Jerseys that had an A sowed on them, making them both alternate captains. Parise was the New Jersey Devils captain and has great leadership capabilities. Parise will likely become the face of the franchise for the next decade. 

Brett MacLean improving

After a scare last week for Coyotes forward MacLean during a recreational scrimmage in which he went into Cardiac emergency. He is currently recovering in hospital and has began walking up and down the hospital halls. The doctors are still running tests to figure out what caused the Cardiac emergency and MacLean will stay in hospital until they know exactly what happened. After collapsing his heart was shocked three times and eventually they were able to restart his heart. 

Pierre Gauthier is back in action

After being scene at a Blackhawks training session rumours began to swirl about Gauthier now working for the Blackhawks. For once the rumours were right. Gauthier will become the director of player personnel for the Blackhawks. He also works in the front offices for the Anaheim Ducks and Ottawa Senators. Could Gauthier be the future Blackhawks GM?

Winter Classic Alumni take 2

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings are such historic teams that they are need two alumni games at the Winter Classic. For fans that's double the fun and twice the all-stars they get to see. Tickets which will begin selling August 1 (season ticket holders) will feature the opportunity to attend both games. 

Some key names attending one of the Alumni games for the Leafs include: Wendel Clark, Darryl Sittler, Darcy Tucker, Felix Potvin, Dave Andreychuck, Doug Gilmour and Johnny Bower.

Notable Red Wings include: Mickey Redmond, Luc Robitaille, Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby, Mark Howe and Chris Chelios.

Two notable Red Wings missing from the list of confirmed attendees include recently retire Nicklas Lidstrom who has yet to decide if he will participate and Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman who has declined his invitation to play but may make an appearance at the festivities. 

James Van Riemsdyk at centre?

One of the biggest needs the Leafs needed this offseason was a number one centre. To date Brian Burke has failed to bring his team a number centre. Head coach Randy Carlyle is taking maters into his own hands and is going to try newly acquired forward Van Riemsdyk at centre during training camp. With the Flyers there was little to no opportunity for him to play centre, but he did play centre at the University of New Hampshire so he does have some experience. 

In 43 games with the Flyers last season Van Riemsdyk scored 11 goals and added 13 assists. 

Derek Roy to undergo shoulder surgery

Sabres fans can take a sigh of relief. The injury prone Derek Roy is no longer their problem. Roy was traded to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Steve Ott and Adam Pardy. The surgery was an optional choice but the Stars have said they "want the best Roy they can get". Roy had the surgery on Wednesday and will be out till at least November. Some bad luck and a tough break for Roy who played through the shoulder injury last season with the Sabres. 

 Honouring the French Connection

If you're a Sabres fan you have likely heard of the great French Connection line. One of the most famous lines in Sabres (and NHL) history will be honoured in the Sabres new Alumni plaza outside of First Niagara Centre. The statue will be unveiled October 12th to honour the 40th anniversary of the trio. Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin and Rene Robert all three players were french Canadian and were dubbed "the French Connection Line" after a movie in 1971. In Buffalo's third season in the NHL the trio were put together and led the Sabres to their first ever playoff birth. All three players are members of the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame and have had their numbers retired by the organization. The new Alumni plaza will be a walk down memory lane for older fans and history lesson for younger ones as each member of the Sabres will be honoured in some way. As a Sabres fan I can't wait to see it!

That's all she wrote this weak around the NHL. At the end of each week I am ticking down the days till October when the greatest game is back. If you ever want to talk hockey feel free to tweet me @Hockeylife30.

6 Reasons Buffalo turned it's game around

Sabres fans today we sit tied for 8th with the Washington Capitals with 6 games remaining, a feat that seemed near impossible about a month ago. Whether we actually make the playoffs remains unknown, but the way we're playing right now, I wouldn't want to bet against our chances. The Sabres are on an amazing run but it seems all too familiar.

Once again we have scratched and clawed our way out of the basement of the East and the league to compete for a playoff spot. (Heck on Saturday for a brief moment we were in 7th!) Everyone remembers last season's turnaround after Terry "Big Pockets" Pegula came in and bought the team, there was a remarkable turnaround and we even made the playoffs. This season, as late as February 17th the Sabres found themselves in 15th in the East and looking for answers, but since Feb 17th the Sabres have gone 13-2-3 and find themselves back in the playoff hunt.

The Situation this season is similar but very different from last season's turnaround. Last season we could  credit the turnaround to Terry Pegula, this year's turnaround can be credited to a number of different factors.

1. Ryan Miller
Ryan Miller has been phenomenal post all star game (late Feb) and is a major part in the Sabres turnaround. Great teams start from the goaltender and build out. "Show me a good goalie and I'll show you a winning hockey team," that can't be more true for the Sabres right now. There is no question without Miller between the pipes the Sabres would not be in the playoff battle they are right now. Two years ago Miller carried the US Olympic hockey team to within a goal of the gold medal, and today almost in an anniversary of sorts he is carrying the Buffalo Sabres on a late season playoff push! In the last 9 games Miller is 7-0-2 making sure the Sabres get at least a point in every game and has allowed just 18 goals. There is a reason Ryan Miller is my favorite goalie; it's because he is a clutch goalie he wins games when he has too, when everything is on the line is when Ryan Miller is at his best. The world's biggest stages when all odds are stacked against is when you're going to see Ryan Miller at his best between the pipes! Now I wouldn't have minded if he played this way all season and save us a bit of heartache, but as long as he's getting us 2 points now who cares! Even during games when our defense has been atrocious Miller has been on his game making big time game saving saves. The best part of having a Ryan Miller esq goalie is the chance to win any game you play. Ryan is back on his game, meaning the Sabres have a chance every game.
Despite his struggles this season, Miller has managed to write his name in the Sabres record books, pass all time great Dominic Hasek and record his career high 7th shutout of the season. In fact Miller needs just 1 more win to join Henrik Lundqvist to become the only 2 goalies to record at least 30 wins in a season 7 straight times!
Miller has proven all critics wrong and showed just how pivotal he is to this Sabres team, our last 6 games and a chance at the playoffs all relay on how well Miller plays. If he plays well we win we control our own destiny and we make the playoffs. One thing's for sure "It's Miller Time in Buffalo again!"

2. Tyler Ennis
When thinking of the success of the Sabres as of late, you can't help look at the play of Ennis. The 20 year old has really elevated his game to the next level and proved he can and will be a special player in the future. He's playing the way people thought he would when he was pegged to be the rookie of the year prior to last season. But it was an up and down year, and a rough start for the sophomore Ennis who missed 35 games due to injury (including all of November and the majority of January). Since the Sabres dismantled the Bruins back on Feb 8th Ennis as 8 goals and 11 assists in 21 games, and on the west coast road trip which was undoubtedly the turning point of the season, he recorded a point in all 4 games. But Ennis' play didn't stay out West, upon returning to Buffalo and playing center between Marcus Foligno and Drew Stafford, Ennis has been enjoying scoring, assisting and winning hockey games. This season it looks like Ennis is a better fit at center and watching him play you can see why he was so highly rated in the 2008 draft.
His skill at faceoffs is lessening the loss of Gaustad at that position, going into the game against Montreal Ennis had won 51.6% of his faceoff's since March 10th which is right up there with some of the best centers in the league. Rich Peverely who leads the league has won 61.7%. Not bad numbers for Ennis considering he's been a winger most of the year!
Ennis has been power driving the Sabres offence and is nearly on a point per game pace, he's a major contribute to the turn around. If Miller stops all the pucks someone still has to score for the Sabres and that someone has been Tyler Ennis. He's made his line mates unstoppable.
Ennis has give line mate Drew Stafford his confidence back and made Marcus Foligno so comfortable out there in the first few games. Ennis is the type of player that just makes everyone better!
The way Ennis has turned on the "jets" so to speak is incredible, his play just shows how much he and all the young players want to make it to the playoffs. After all the playoffs is a whole new ball game!

3. Chemistry
Everyone laughs and jokes at how cute the "bromance" is between Ryan Miller and Tyler Ennis (funny they are the major reasons for the turnaround) but there is more to it that it just being cute, it's legitimate. The Buffalo Sabres are finally coming together and playing for their teammates and the logo on the front not the name on the back of the jerseys. It takes time for teammates to get chemistry, and it isn't easy when there are so many injuries and new faces, but all the good, no great teams have chemistry. Take the defending champs the Bruins, you mess with one of their players and Lucic, Chara or even Marchand is beating the crap out of you, Thomas makes a big save he gives a big smile to Chara or the D man. The Sabres are banding together and becoming brothers!
It's really great to see from a fan perspective, when someone on the Ennis line scores the huddle or celebrations between the three of them is amazing, it's intense, it's happy, it's awesome! When Foligno did his famous "Foligno leap" after scoring his first goal in Buffalo everyone gave him the famous face wash; these guys are finally starting to relax and have some fun out there. If hockey isn't fun when you're playing, then stop playing. The Sabres are having fun winning hockey games, scoring goals, and turning heads around the league.

Another part of the chemistry is that everyone is starting to understand their roles. Earlier on in the season they were killing each other for the puck everyone wanted it, there were turnovers, soft passes and it was just plain ugly. Now we're making great passes, not fighting over who should have the puck and letting Miller stop the puck and control it, confusion for a hockey team is bad news, the Sabres are on the same page right now!
One more thing is the golden helmet, just something fun that keeps the mood light, but yet gets everyone out there competing hard to win it. It's a sense of pride, knowing you were the best player out there so you get to wear the goofy helmet. It keeps them having fun and lose, also as I think the players choose who gets it, it builds trust and recognition that your teammates are noticing what you are contributing.
A fun hockey team is a winning hockey team.

4. Derek Roy and Drew Stafford (and other veterans who got off to slow starts)
Well considering a month ago everyone including me was calling for their heads, it's time to pay some respect to them. These two have been arguably the biggest disappointments all season. Unlike the majority of their teammates they have remained fairly healthy but failed to step up when the team needed them most. However, since Feb 1 the two have woken up; they have 19 and 16 points respectively.
A major part for Stafford's turnaround has been being on the Ennis line. He recently came off a 4 game point streak in which he recorded 9 points to give him 42 on the season just 10 shy of his career high set last season. Since being placed with Ennis and Foligno he's been more productive and ultimately more confident. He's more willing to shoot and make solid tape to tape passes.
Roy has been a hot and cold player all year long for the Sabres, but since being paired with Pominville and Leino he's been more consistent and is showing flashes of his passion for the game which he used last season to be a point per game player prior to his injury. I'm not 100% sold on Roy but he's starting to pick up his game and becoming less of a liability out on the ice. Heck it even seems like his teammates are more tolerant of his antics.
There is no question these two can score, it's just finding them the right line mates and getting them motivated.

5. Depth
Let's disect the lines here for a minute shall we;
first line; Ville Leino - Derek Roy- Jason Pominville
second; Corey Tropp - Cody Hodgson - Thomas Vanek
third;    Marcus Foligno - Tyler Ennis - Drew Stafford
fourth;  Cody McCormick - Brad Boyes - Travis Turnbull

As an opposing coach I see these lines I start to sweat a little; you got the leading scorer and a scoring threat in Pominville and Leino on the first line. The second leading scorer, calder trophy contender in Vanek and Hodgson on the second. The third line that has been absolutely on fire as of late, in which all 3 can score and are having fun playing. The Fourth line full of tough guys who can still score the odd goal and run you down in your own end! When will the pressure end! It is crucial the Sabres have scoring depth on all 4 lines! This will wear down the opposing players as the offensive threats are never ending. Not to mention Miller in net, if the opposition fails to score on their chances they're screwed as Miller is giving up less and less goals right now and the forwards, especially the Ennis line are scoring more and more goals. After all in order to win a hockey game you need to outscore your opponent. As long as Ruff doesn't try to fiddle I see no reason why the Sabres don't make the postseason and perhaps even win a round or two! For opposing coaches, you can't just pick one line to stop, you have to pick your poison, so to speak. What may be even better about the lines is their defensive depth as well. None of the lines is slacking in the D zone right now and it's showing.

6. Health
This is crucial I know I ranked it 6th, but the fact that the Sabres are almost fully healthy again is a huge boost to this team. (Gerbe is coming back). I believe at one point there were 9 starters out of the lineup including Miller who took forever to rebound from his concussion. You're just not going to win hockey games when missing 9 regulars, might as well call up the Amerks and ask them to play for you!
But now everyone including Miller and Myers is healthy and producing when the Sabres need them too!
The reason this is last on the list is, I hate when people blame injuries for poor play, maybe injuries really are taking a toll but good teams and players still give it their all and don't blame injuries. However, seeing the Wild over the weekend should have reminded us what we've been through this season. For the Sabres though, it's looking more and more likely injuries were the major reason for the mid-season struggles, I mean we were practically in 15th, now we're tied for 8th 2 points back of 7th with the majority healthy.
Now with the majority of players are healthy we're looking like the team that began the season over in Europe, came home on a roll and got everyone excited. If everyone can remain healthy for the remaining 6 games than we should be able to finish off the season in a playoff spot, either 7th or 8th!

So the turning point in the season was the West coast trip, I'm not going to lie I had my doubts about those games, I was pretty nervous about how the Sabres would play. Then we flippen went out there and won all of them (minus the overtime loss) and Miller gets 2 shutouts!  Like what the flip happened? Whatever happened I'm glad it did, because the Sabres are the Sabres everyone expected them to be at the start of the year.
I know deserving things in hockey means as little as what the player ate for a pregame meal, but the Sabres deserve to make the postseason, so hopefully the hockey gods will do a little something for the Sabres!

The Derek Roy Effect

Despite the title this blog is not entirely about the pathetic play of our first line centre, it's mainly about how after having Roy centering Vanek and Pominville, has suddenly turned those two cold! This blog isn't an over reaction blog after the Sabres laid an egg last night against the Jets, Vanek and Pominville have been quite this whole road trip! The turning point for me personally was the Vancouver game, the first place team, a game where we needed our first line to step up and lead us to victory. The first line of Vanek-Roy-Pominville had just 3 shots! We need more from our top line.

Derek Roy
Before the trade deadline Roy was reportedly put on the first line to be showcased for a trade out of town. He started jelling with his line mates, scoring goals and getting everyone excited that Roy's got his game back. On deadline day, Darcy Regier was unable or unwilling to deal Roy. (truth be told I don't think he tried very hard) Now that all the trade rumours are gone and the team is settling back in, Roy has returned to his crappy play from earlier in the season. But on Saturday in Vancouver, after focusing on Roy, I could tell that he was confused and ultimately looked lost out there. He'd receive the puck and immediately and blindly give it away like he was scared to have it. He was caught out of position, it just looked sad! I have two reasoning's behind his slumping play: maybe he really did want out of Buffalo, he was playing amazing with the possibility of him being traded or maybe he's tired of being the Sabres scapegoat, he'll be 29 by the end of the season and would likely want a chance to win and compete for a Stanley cup. In interviews Roy talks about the 2005 and 2006 Stanley Cup playoff runs (2005 was the season I became a Sabres fan!) and how much fun that was, but after the Sabres failed to keep Chris Drury, and Daniel Brier that Sabres have failed to come even remotely close to those runs.
The second reason behind his slumping play, could possibly the acquisition of future first line centre Cody Hodgson. This is a bit of a long shot, but maybe Roy feels threatened by the young star. Hodgson has many years left and can possibly lead the Sabres to a Stanley cup, while Roy is running out of time and likely won't lead the Sabres to a cup.
But ultimately there is no excuse for Derek Roy's poor play this season, if he's hurt then he should get the heck off the ice and let someone (Luke Adam, who played exceptionally well with Vanek and Pommer) who can actually play take his spot, he's not helping. Whatever the case, every line Roy has played on has been brutal! So whats the common denominator? Derek Roy!

Jason Pominville

Despite leading the team with 23 goals, Pominville has gone cold and hasn't scored a goal in 6 games! Not a major drought but unacceptable from our team captain especially during this crucial west coast road trip. It's hard to blame/get mad at Pominville as he's pretty much carried the team all season, but he's picked the wrong time to get cold! Right now the Sabres are making a big push to make the playoffs and we need are captain to step up and deliver and be the leader of this team! In the game against the Ducks he was playing so poorly I was convinced he was sick. Last night, he was letting pucks dribble off his stick. He's been non-existent, invisible whatever you want to call it, he was a non factor during this road trip and the last 6 games. If the Sabres want to make the playoffs they need their captain to start scoring again!
Whether its injury or tiredness or illness, Pominville needs to step up his game again and prove that he's earned his captaincy. Ultimately he needs to lead this team!

Thomas Vanek
Much like Pominville it's tough to blame and get mad at Vanek, as he was the first half MVP for the Sabres. Vanek has just one less goal that Pominville with 22, and earlier in the season this duo was unstoppable and were leading their team like they should be doing now! He has 1 goal in the last 9 games and has just 3 goals since January 6th, odd since that's around the time Miller and the rest of the team started to play. Vanek has also been absent during the Sabres road trip, and although we've been getting through with secondary scoring, eventually we're going to need the first line to step up and help the younger players through the rough patches. Other than being paired with Derek Roy, I really don't see any reason why Vanek and Pominville are playing such uncharacteristically poor hockey. Maybe they're tired, but that's no excuse during this stretch of hockey when teams are pushing toward the playoffs, everyone is tired, and hurt. But the true good players in the league excel and step up to the plate. Which is what the Sabres need Pominville and Vanek to do!


What needs to be done

Lindy Ruff needs to take Roy off of the first line as it's effecting Vanek and Pominville. I know I said earlier that they should stay together but thats when they were playing. When lines stop producing real coaches start to fiddle with their lines, something Ruff hasn't been doing. I vote that Cody Hodgson be paired with Vanek and Pommer, Hodgson will be a future number one centre and has yet to score his first goal with the Sabres. Maybe putting the hot rookie with Vanek and Pominville will spark the first line and help them start scoring again. I mean it's worth a shot no?
I believe the first line with Hodgson would have amazing chemistry, and help get the confidence of the first line back up. Also, it looks like Ennis and Stafford are playing off each other and not necessarily getting a boost from Hodgson. Their boost may actually be coming from Roy NOT being their center!

One thing is for sure, if the Sabres are to make the playoffs they need Vanek and Pominville to start producing again! We've finally got secondary scoring which we didn't have earlier, but now our first line scoring is gone. Derek Roy is not a first line centre, replace him with Hodgson and watch the scoring begin!

Increasing trade value

Like I've said many times in previous blogs, it's no secret the Sabres have been struggling this season and because of those struggles the Sabres are likely to be sellers this trade deadline. One of the players who has been struggling most of the season is Derek Roy, but on Sunday in Buffalo against the Penguins (a game I had the pleasure of attending) Roy possibly had his best game since returning from injury last year. He scored twice and added an assist in aiding the Sabres to a 6-2 thumping of the Penguins. He was also named the first star of the game (an honor that could have easily gone to Ryan Miller).
But lately, the struggling Derek Roy has been picking up his play, which is good news for Sabres fans and Sabres management as this is undoubtedly helping increase his trade value.

The Sabres drafted Roy back in 2001 and he has been a solid player, but in the last year of his $4 million contract it is possible that his days in Buffalo are numbered. The Sabres have been shopping Roy around and are more than willing to trade him. But with him riding a 4 game point streak and just notching his 34th point of the season, why trade him if they can't get anything decent in return? With Roy starting to play like his old self the Sabres are no longer desperate to trade him. Not to mention Roy wants to stay in Buffalo, this team is finally starting to play. Players are coming back from injuries, big contract players are starting to earn their money, and Miller is playing like Miller again. But if this team is healthy next season are they going to be dangerous? Heck if they manage to squeak into the playoffs do they stand a decent chance to exceed expectations?

It came as a bit of a surprise to most that Roy found himself on the top line with Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville, but this move was originally just to showcase him to help get some more attention, score some points and get a deal done. But the unusual threesome seems to have some chemistry, so why trade Roy when he is enjoying success on the top line? Part of the reason Roy was not having much success this season, was his status on the depth chart, which also has been hurting his trade value. Instead of playing with Vanek and Pominville, Head Coach Lindy Ruff decided to bury him on the third line with newly acquired Ville Leino and veteran Drew Stafford. Roy is a decent playmaking center who thrives outside the number 1 line, so it would make sense if he was traded to a team that needs a winger who likes to dish the puck. The fact that he plays center is an asset for the Sabres, most teams are eyeing Blue Jackets center Rick Nash. However, 29 teams want Nash, but there is only 1 of him to go around, so the Sabres could get lucky and find teams that lose the bid for Nash over reaching for Roy. He's a veteran and a potential point a game player who would be a solid second liner on any team and a stop-gap liner on some (Like the Sabres). Now I may be biased but Derek Roy is the second best center on the market, behind Nash.

But the Sabres don't necessarily have to trade Roy, he's got two 70 point seasons and 3 seasons with at least 30 points. He can produce, when he's paired with the right wingers. The Sabres are currently 6 points out of 8th and have gone 7-3-2 in their last 12 games, Derek Roy's resurgence has definitely helped turn around this Sabres team, Roy has 2 goals and 5 assists during this stretch. So If Darcy Reiger can't get anything decent in return for Derek Roy, then he should hold onto him. With Roy playing well it gives Reiger the upper hand, if he doesn't receive any decent offers he can keep Roy and not regret it. However, as most Sabres fans know, decent return to Reiger mens something different than what it means to other GMs.  Having Roy centering Vanek and Pominville seems to be working, he's always had chemistry with his long time Sabres teammates. So if someone needs to spike Lindy Ruffs coffee to make sure he doesn't screw up this chemistry then so be it! But back to the Roy trade, what Reigier should be asking for is a solid NHL ready player and a high draft pick, not just draft picks that we have to wait 3 years to see how good/bad they will be. For teams that want to compete and win the cup, they don't trade for the long term future they trade for now, a player that can help push the team into the playoffs.

Any team would be more than happy to acquire Derek Roy, which is good news for the Sabres as we control what can and will happen to Roy. He's tough 2 way hockey player that can put up 60 points, plays the penalty kill and would fit nicely on any teams 2nd line. Although the present isn't nice to look at it, it's his history, always been a solid leader and playmaker. Roy picking up his play does two things for the Sabres; it makes Roy's trade value go up, as teams see he still has what it takes to be a solid player/playmaker. It also gives the Sabres the option to keep Roy. I'm extremely excited to see what the Sabres will do come trade deadline, If I was the GM I would ship Roy out of town, I think a change in scenery would be great for him. Plus I'd net a solid player and a good pick in return that will help the team make a push to the playoffs.
But when push comes to shove, we'll just have to wait and see what Darcy Regier has planned for Derek Roy, is he part of the Sabres future?