His 5'9", 185 pound frame, though, wouldn't exactly feel the Sabres need in the size department. Notice how I've really been big on the Sabres size issue. Well, it's kind of a big deal, at least in my opinion. However, I wouldn't mind seeing Reiger somehow get rid of Hecht and sign Cammalleri to a similar deal. The guy can snipe.
Brian Gionta, 30, RW; 2008-09 salary: $4 million (New Jersey Devils)
Like Cammalleri, Gionta's frame isn't very impressive. At 5'7", 175, he's actually smaller, but can still be a very good player in this league. With younger players like Travis Zajac and Zach Parise emerging in New Jersey, Gionta will likely find another home this offseason.
Well, for starters, he could possibly move back to the place he grew up in. The Rochester, NY native would probably be pleased with a contract in Buffalo. He made $4 million last season, but with his point production plateauing in recent years, it is very likely he could take less.
He recorded 89 points (48G, 41A) in 2005-06 for the Devils, but since then has averaged about 55 to 60 points per season. Gionta said he wishes to stay in New Jersey, but he has yet to receive an offer.
I wouldn't totally question Regier if he brought in either Cammalleri or Gionta. They both would fit in well offensively and with the salary cap. According to HockeyBuzz Eklund, the Sabres are very much a contender for either of these players. Perhaps both?
Mike Knuble, 36, RW; 2008-09 salary: $2.8 million (Philadelphia Flyers)
If I was Sabres' GM, Knuble is surely a guy I would love to bring in this summer. He is exactly a kind of player the Sabres would benefit from. At 36, he is aging, but everyone and their mother knows the Sabres lack veteran leadership. His size, and scoring ability would be a huge boost to the Sabres offense.
He scored 27 goals last season for the Flyers, and with rumors swirling in Philly about Jay Bo, it looks as thought Knuble's four-year stint as a Flyer has come to an end.
Mattias Ohlund, 32, D; 2008-09 salary: $3.5 million (Vancouver Canucks)
The next three free agents I will talk about all depend on what the Sabres do with defenseman, Jaroslav Spacek.
At 32, Ohlund can surely still play. He was one of the better d-man in Vancouver for the past few seasons and has averaged around 30 points per season in each of his 11 years in Vancouver. He's very reliable in his own end, and is capable of averaging 25 minutes of ice time per game.
Ohlund is definitely an option to fill Spacek's potential void on the blue line, but will likely demand somewhere around $3 million to $3.5 million per.
Marc-Andre Bergeron, 28, D; 2008-09 salary $1.69 million (Minnesota Wild)
If the Sabres were interested in Bergeron, it would be solely for his offense ability. Like Ohlund, he too can average around 30 to 40 points a season while playing the point. He has excellent puck-moving ability and is also a very smooth skater.
At 5'10", 200 pounds, he's not exactly small, but I strongly believe if the Sabres decided to part ways with Spacek, they may look to fill his void with a bigger, more stay-at-home defenseman.
Jordan Leopold, 28, D; 2008-09 salary $1.5 million (Calgary Flames, from Colorado)
Another free agent player that Eklund has rumored to have Regier's interest. Apparently Leopold has been a player of Regier's interest for quite sometime, seeing that he was rumored to be on his way to Buffalo at the trade deadline.
Leopold is a solid defenseman that can fill the void on the blue line at a very affordable price. He can play as a second-tier defenseman in Buffalo, and average close to 20, 23 minutes per game.
Free agent forwards Samuel Pahlson, Todd Marchant, Travis Moen and Brad May all could be in the mix as well. Like I stated earlier, one of the biggest needs in Sabreland, at least in my opinion, are with gritty, depth forwards who can play.
Brad May may be a reach, he's not exactly that type of player, but he's a fourth-line guy who isn't afraid to stick his nose in someone else's business if need be. He has a very memorable history in Buffalo ("May day, May day, May Day! Brad May!), but I don't see Brian Burke letting him go in Toronto.
Pahlson and Marchant would fit in great in Buffalo. Both have size and toughness, and can play center. Pahlson was a very vital addition to the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline, and played a very important role for them in the playoffs.
Marchant is very similar to Pahlson, and is of great value in Anaheim. I don't think he'd mind returning to his hometown, but he has received a contract offer from Anaheim, per Orange County Register. He is yet to decline or accept that offer.
Wrap up
Well, we are just one week away from the beginning of NHL free agency, and just days away from the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, which will be held this Friday and Saturday in Montreal. Pretty soon we all can expect the mayhem that comes along with free agency. Possible trades, big named players being moved, and of course, rumors.
The Sabres can either continue to stick with their core players or they can dig a little deeper this offseason and make some major changes.
Though I wouldn't mind seeing a little bit of both, I strongly believe that the Sabres should try and trade Hecht and Tallinder, and bring in one or two free agents that could help the team reach the postseason once again.
I also wouldn't mind if Regier went really overboard, and brought in a player like Bouwmeester, Martin Havlat or Marian Gaborik, but hat's probably a little out of the question.
Either way, Sabres fans have become very impatient, as they should.
The fact of the matter is, Darcy Regier and Co. have been on the hot seat since the days of you-know-who, and this is the year they need to get it right, right? Sabres fans can only hope.
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