Archives for October 18, 2001

'Smehlik is also now being looked at as one of the senior members of the team. He takes it all in stride. "Six of us have been together on defense now for four seasons now," said Smehlik. "We work together very well. I just try to help out where I can."'

One of the first steps towards successful teamwork is good, solid leadership. And it looks like the Sabres have found it in Stu Barnes.

Some trades stick out in our minds more than others. Like March 23, 1999. Somehow, either through hypnosis, blackmail or use of a shotgun, Darcy Regier convinced Florida G.M. Bryan Murray to take Mike Wilson off our hands and give us Rhett Warrener and a draft pick in return. What a day! Regier had pulled off one of the most lopsided trades in franchise history.

'Any piece of mail sent to players at HSBC Arena always had been screened before being delivered. The level of scrutiny has been raised even more. "They're monitoring it for us," Warrener said. "That kind of takes it out of our hands."