NHL Trade Rumors: Buffalo Sabres Must Get Fair Value in Return for Derek Roy

Having lost 13 of their past 16 games, the Buffalo Sabres are in need of change. Trading center Derek Roy is one possible solution, but it shouldn't be done simply for the sake of making a trade.

According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, general manager Darcy Regier and the Sabres' front office may be entertaining the thought of moving Roy at some point prior to the trade deadline. That notion in and of itself is perfectly reasonable, but there must first be an advantageous deal on the table.

Roy has only 25 points in 45 games this season, and while some of that may have to do with a shoulder injury he was battling early on, it certainly isn't the type of production he is capable of. Prior to last season Roy had at least 69 points in three straight campaigns and had 35 points in 35 games last year prior to getting injured.

On top of that, Roy has a very reasonable cap hit of just $4 million through next season. When you take his salary and body of work into account, Roy is actually a very valuable commodity on the trade market. Despite that, many fans are calling to get rid of him at any cost.

There is a perception that Roy is a selfish player who likes to freelance, and that may be true at times, but there is also a perception that he is a locker-room cancer. While that is possible, there is no evidence to back up such a claim.

The argument being made by many with regards to trading Roy is that it would be "addition by subtraction." That is a notion that many subscribe to, but I'm not one of those people.

If the Sabres were to trade Roy for a couple draft picks or mid-level prospects without getting an impact player in return, the Sabres certainly wouldn't get better. Moving the unquestioned most talented center on the roster and not getting one back would leave Jochen Hecht and Luke Adam as Buffalo's top-six centers.

Hecht is a very nice player to have around, but he has no business centering the top two lines. Adam may have that kind of potential, but he has really fallen off since a dynamite start to his rookie year. With that said, I have no problem trading Roy in the right deal, but a center had either better be coming back in that trade, or in a separate trade.

Unless a miracle takes place, the Sabres aren't going to be reaching the postseason after making it the last two consecutive years. That means that any impending free agent or player who is not in the team's long-term plans should be available leading up to the deadline.

Some players such as Hecht or Brad Boyes can be moved for little compensation simply to get cap relief, but in the case of an actual talent like Roy, fair compensation must be given.

I understand that the Sabres' fan base is restless after new owner Terry Pegula's promise of a Stanley Cup in the near future, but Regier is taking the best approach right now. There's no reason for him to dump Roy on a whim when there may be a legitimately good deal out there soon.