BUFFALO – Yes, general manager Darcy Regier acknowledged, the Sabres’ strong season, one which has them ranked first in the Northeast Division and third in the Eastern Conference, puts the club into the Stanley Cup contender category.

That doesn’t, however, mean the Sabres will mortgage their future, ditch draft picks and acquire the biggest name available before the March 3 NHL trade deadline. With the embargo rapidly approaching, Regier’s objective remains the same: to improve the Sabres from within.

“The focus isn’t to look right now for outside help,” Regier said Thursday after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s tilt against the Carolina Hurricanes. “It’s how are we getting better internally? I think we’re all focused on that.”

As usual, Regier said, there’s plenty of chatter between general managers. But he doesn’t believe it will mean heavy deadline action around the league. Too many teams still have a strong chance to make the postseason.

Only five points separated the sixth and 13th spot in the gridlocked Eastern Conference as of Thursday afternoon.

“It doesn’t feel any different than other years,” Regier said. “The names are out there. There’s not as many names this year. Because of the (salary) cap … I don’t think there’s going to be enough sellers.  In most cases, they’re not going to want to give up players off their roster with the chance of making the playoffs.”

Of course, many thought last year’s deadline could be quiet, and then a record 47 players changed teams in 22 trades.

While Regier has made at least one late deal each season since 1998, he’s no fan of them.

“More often than not, the trades don’t work,” he said. “If you look at the history of trade-deadline deals, it’s something that is probably more entertaining than it is productive.”

That’s one reason Regier wants to make strengthening from within the No. 1 priority. Adding to the roster during the season offers little flexibility from a limited player stock.

“Most of the flexibility comes during the offseason, when contracts expire and players are available,” Regier said. “So I think you’re always looking for ways internally within your own organization, first and foremost, how you can become better.

“You’re looking at your club,” he said. “You’re looking at players in positions, which is one of the things (coach Lindy Ruff’s) doing. Then we sit down and talk about how we can become better internally or on the outside.”

But Regier never ruled out a big trade, or what’s commonly referred to as “going for it.” He’s done it in the past.

In 2007, he sent the Sabres’ first-round pick to Washington for Dainius Zubrus, a rental player who performed well during the team’s run to the Eastern Conference final.

But sacrificing draft picks is difficult and risky. The NHL has morphed into a young man’s game again. With free agency coming at a younger age, teams must constantly pump fresh, inexpensive players into their system from just a seven-round draft.

“What’s happening is there is a premium put on draft picks, and fewer teams are going to move, especially the first-round picks,” Regier said.

The Sabres do hold some tradable assets. The organization is stocked with defensemen.

If the Sabres swing a big deal, Regier must exercise extreme caution.

“You need to do it in the most opportunistic way, which is you probably need to be in the upper echelon of teams, which historically has been a top five team in order to win the Stanley Cup,” Regier said. “I think you have to measure those things and decide whether that player’s available, and whether or not you’re willing to spend it.”

Regier obviously likes the Sabres’ current makeup. Their one glaring weakness could be the lack of an offensive superstar, although center Tim Connolly has 29 points in the last 20 games.

Despite getting exploited by their opponents’ studs during recent losses, Regier thinks the Sabres possess their own big guns to compete. He cited Connolly’s explosion and the recent offensive breakthroughs from other top forwards.

“If you look at (Connolly’s) numbers through those games, you have to put him in the upper echelon of players,” Regier said. “I think we were slow starting. I think we’re starting now to see … the players are starting to come around.”

Notes: Ruff said Daniel Alfredsson’s late game-winner in Ottawa’s 3-2 win here Wednesday still stung a little. “It’s a tough night sleeping,” he said. “Obviously, guys are upset. You got to put it away and get ready.” … It’s expected backup goalie Patrick Lalime will start this weekend, most likely Saturday in Columbus. Lalime hasn’t played since allowing four goals in 10 minutes Jan. 19 in Anaheim. … Ruff wouldn’t say whether defenseman Andrej Sekera, who replaced Steve Montador on Wednesday, would play again tonight.