The Buffalo Sabres: Darcy Regier’s Next Steps

Skilled, smart, speedy, undersized, full of heart, visionary, attacking, entertaining, talented, cocky, clutch.  Sound Familiar? It should to fans of the post-lockout Buffalo Sabres. 

This was the type of hockey Sabres management decided to build before the lockout.  Darcy Regier made deft moves, through trade or through draft and development, to create a core of players which twice allowed the Sabres, to make significant runs for the Stanley Cup. 

The 2007-2008 campaign left a lot to be desired, as the team finished out of the playoffs for the first time in the New NHL while the NHL reintroduced a physicality once thought lost in the game. 

The Sabres were not prepared for this Sea Change, and more recently, Regier’s moves have come under fire.  His misunderstandings of the marketplace and of placing too much faith in player loyalty have led to the Sabres losing more firepower than they have gained.  And the continual drain of leadership leaving the team became unbearably evident over the team’s misguided season. 

So what now? 

Team President Larry Quinn and Regier manage with a small market vision. It is this belief that keeps the team competitive, marketable and stable in financially downtrodden city. 

Many believe, however, that this practice has let too many key players get away either without adequate compensation or leaving a bad reputation with fans, teammates or other players across the league. 

Now through the 2009 off-season will show if management still has the commitment to run a legitimate franchise in the NHL. 

The group of Sabres on the ice this upcoming season can no longer us youth, inexperience or fatigue as excuses.  The team knows each other, as very few changes have been made – the only move being the addition of gritty defense man Craig Rivet as another veteran presence. 

Otherwise, the defense remains intact, and the top four are all going to be over 30.  The forwards are younger, but not lacking in experience.  This team and group has played together, and knows each other. 

They are the remaining pieces of the 2005-2007 team, and in simple terms, this season is the final charge of the first brigade of post-lockout Sabres. 

Veterans Max Afinogenov, Ales Kotalik, Tim Connolly, Jaroslav Spacek and Andrew Peters are all facing unrestricted free agency.  All but Peters will play critical roles for the team and take up significant space on the Sabres’ Salary Cap.  

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