PotentPowerPlay22

This was very necessary and important. The Sabres desperately need a couple more tough guys to protect the all the soft players that dominate the lineup. Anybody watching the playoffs at this point can see how far away the Sabres are from being a Cup contender. Too soft and not enough talent.

I think Darcy Regier has learned and evolved as a general manager over the years. Certainly, he has made many mistakes in the past, but more recently I think he finally is on the right track. Over the last year and a half the hockey department realized the flaws in the team and began to take action. I think they realized that the so called "core" of the team was not strong enough and they began to make changes. Everyone wishes the team could change overnight, but that is not possible. I think the team has finally a clear focus on upgrading the talent level to a point whereupon the team can compete for the Cup. They were never going to win with talent at the level of players like Roy, Gaustad and others too numerous to mention. I believe the recent moves and possibly near future moves(Miller and Vanek) will infuse the team with a much higher talent level over the intermediate term. (if the scouts do a great job of identifying top players) I would endorse the current path being taken. Build top talent through the draft by trading veterans who aren't part of the future success. This is a take one or two steps back to take 3 or 4 steps forward approach that I think bodes well for the future.

I think the Sabres will try to re-sign Vanek. However, if Vanek tells the team he's not interested in staying then I think they will definitely trade him. If it was my choice he would be an Edmonton Oiler right now. I've said many times I would have taken the four 1st round picks from Edmonton for Vanek years ago, but Larry Quinn was trying to save face after letting Briere and Drury leave for free so he matched the offer. Big mistake IMO. I think Miller is in a similar situation. However, I think it is more likely they move Miller this summer if the goalie market improves. If there is no market, he'll stay until the next trade deadline at least. The Sabres are paying for past sins. The team was burdened with bad ownership and management. Rigas almost killed the team completely and Golisano was only in it as a business. To a large degree they dictated what moves the team could make. If you include the arrogance and ineptitude of Larry Quinn, then I think blaming Darcy Regier for everything is slightly off base. Regier is not blame free for sure, but how much of the decision making was dictated from others above him for personnel or financial reasons? I am more encouraged now than I have been for many years because the team has finally realized the Stanley Cup is the objective, not just squeaking into the playoffs. The team needs more talent to compete at the highest level and acquiring talent through the draft is the best way to do it. If they are forced to trade Vanek and Miller then so be it. The draft picks acquired will further strengthen the team long term. Wayne Gretzky got traded. I don't feel too sorry for these players who make many millions of dollars per year. It is a pretty decent wage for playing a game.

I think they could get a 1st round pick for Pominville. The goalie market isn't strong right now so I think Miller stays. I think they want to re-sign Vanek. Myers contract makes him untradeable. Stafford has lost all value. I expect Pominville to be traded.

In general, this is a solid trade for Buffalo. Regehr was done in Buffalo just like Leopold. Darcy Regier has learned from past mistakes and was ready to receive something rather than nothing at the end of the year. I believe the current scouting staff is much better to select and build a new team over years past. These draft picks will yield good results in the future hopefully. They may be used as currency this year or next to improve a trade or draft position. I hope Regier trades more deadwood before the deadline. I believe he can get a 1st round pick for Pominville. I don't think anybody will want Stafford, but a couple decent picks for him would be a bonus. Keep dealing Darcy!

I like the deal. Leopold was done in Buffalo anyway. I think Darcy Regier got good value here. Let the clean out begin. Next up Regehr, Pominville, Stafford, and Hecht.

The Sabres will probably do well enough to just miss the playoffs and get the worst possible draft position. Darcy Regier will stay the course with the current roster and say that with a break or two the team could have made the playoffs. Next year he will re-sign several underachievers to large contracts and the cycle of mediocrity will continue. He might sign a borderline free agent and declare how tight the market has become. Sound familiar?

The best thing that could happen at this point, for the intermediate to long term, is for this team to get a top 2 pick in the draft this year. Florida seems determined to be worse than Buffalo at this point.

I would trade anyone on this team for a decent price. I would even trade multiple players. Up until this point it is a proven fact that this team is not good enough to win anything with Miller, Pominville, and Vanek. (among others for sure) If the team was good enough with them they would make the playoffs consistently. So why not acquire assets for them now before they can leave for nothing. If you decide to extend their big contracts well into their 30's you probably only extend the mediocrity a few more years. Why? I thought Regier made a nice trade when he traded Gaustad to Nashville for a 1st round pick. He should try to work some more magic like this before many of these contracts expire at the end of the year. BTW, Gaustad has played 33 games for Nashville over the last two seasons and has scored only one goal. Now that is the blueprint for clearing out the dead wood. I am still hoping for a top two pick in the draft. It is the best way this team can accumulate some top end talent.

Sabres had a total of 4 hits for the entire game (other than M Weber who had 4). How do you like the new "tougher" version of the Sabres?

I don't think it is likely. However, he may have trade value. Most of the time you have to trade an asset to get an asset in return. For instance, you won't get anything for Stafford, but you might with Miller or Myers. I would trade anyone on the roster if the price was right. As currently constructed, the Sabres are going nowhere so trading to make the team better should always be an option. Unfortunately, Regier assembled this mess and I have little confidence he can trade his way out of it. His best hope is to rely on the scouts to find talent in the draft. This won't be a quick fix. I hope they get a top 3 pick honestly.

I would like to add: NFW!!!!!!

I used Capgeek.com for the numbers. I recognize there is a difference between salary and cap hit. I recognize the numbers change from year to year. What I also recognize is that Myers is playing poorly and he is nowhere near worth what they are paying him. I am not satisfied, but I am consoled by the fact they so many people here are satisfied by what a good deal the Sabres got with Myers. I guess my big mistake was focusing on results and what my own two eyes see rather focusing on "potential" and "high ceilings". I apologize for my oversight.

Tyler Myers salary for this season is $12,000,000 !!!!!!!!!!! He gets paid more than virtually every defenseman in the league except for Shea Weber ($14 mil) and Ryan Suter ($12 mil). The next highest paid defenseman is Christian Ehrhoff at $8,000,000 this year. $20,000,000 freakin' dollars this year for just Myers and Ehrhoff. Now that is what I call value for money!!

How many teams make the playoffs with only one line that can score goals? Very,very few. How many teams are Stanley Cup contenders with only one line that can score goals? Absolutely zero. In spite of all the unfounded pre-season optimism, the fact remains that this team is not good enough. There is not enough talent on the team. Just look at the center position- there is one legitimate center (Hodgson) and a couple of big unproven question marks (Ennis and Grigorenko) and a couple fringe players (McCormick,Hecht). It is possible they might squeak into the playoffs (not likely), but the fact remains there is a deficit of talent at this time. Honestly, it could be three or four years provided they they acquire more skill. I haven't even mentioned the defensemen. Yikes.

Centers - Grigorenko, Hodgson (maybe Girgensons in a few years although he will probably be a winger), maybe Ennis, possibly Catenacci Wingers - Foligno, Armia (the others will be long gone i.e. Pominville,Vanek,Stafford,Ott) D - Myers, McNabb, Pysyk,McCabe Goalie - Ullmark,Makarov With the addition many new players and the subtraction of many underachievers, I think this team is about 3-4 years away from being contenders. Miller and Vanek will never see a Stanley Cup in Buffalo as Sabres.

He's going back to Quebec. 99% sure. He's not ready and neither are the Sabres.

The problem with Adam is that he is not good enough. Some players develop and some don't.

I noticed this also. This will cost points and games down the line. OUCH!

I honestly appreciate the optimism that springs eternal before the season starts, but in the Sabres case I think it is misplaced. First of all, the center position is dreadfully weak. Please compare the centers on the Sabres with the true contenders in the East. It is really shocking how thin the Sabres are down the middle. In addition to being thin in quantity, the Sabres are equally thin in quality. It would be a major projection to see how Hodson and Ennis can compete with the top two centers on most of the true contenders. The 3rd and 4th lines are even more uncertain. This is not a proven formula for a contender. I hope they surprise me and become a playoff team, but right now they are still a bubble team. They haven't changed too much. I wish they had accepted the four 1st round picks for Vanek when they had the chance because look at who Edmonton drafted since then Jordan Eberle,Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Edmonton is a team on the rise with great exciting young stars and the Sabres are still treading water with the highly paid and enigmatic Thomas Vanek. Thanks Larry Quinn.

The lineup you propose is reasonable, but it's not good enough. Plain and simple. There aren't enough goals in that lineup and it doesn't compare favorably to the competition. The Sabres can play well and squeak into the playoffs, but this team is no threat to win it all. Isn't the Stanley Cup the goal? Regier needs to make a couple moves to strengthen the squad. Too many borderline NHL defensemen and too few quality centers. The addition of Jochen Hecht is a clear indication that the team is not strong enough down the middle. I am hoping for the best, but I am being realistic.

Some random thoughts... The Sabres are too weak at center. Grigorenko and Girgensons are not ready for the NHL.( especially in an intense shortened season). The center position is just a sign that the Sabres are not really a contender this year. Also, the logjam at defense must be resolved. There are just too many bodies at the position and you can't keep them all. Some question marks remain unanswered like where do Leino,Gerbe,Ellis,McCormick,Scott fit? Which Stafford will show up? Are Regehr and Leopold finished? Add it all up and this is not a contender yet. However, I expect some major moves to re-shape the team by next year. I thought the draft was good last year, but it will take a couple years for that to show up in Buffalo.

Cody Hodgson -3 tonight against Grand Rapids. If he is the Sabres top center then I wouldn't like the Sabres chances even if there is a season.

Check him out

The team needs centers because the GM hasn't acquired any previously. Did Regier just wake up from a seven year slumber? Didn't he notice until now that the Sabres were terribly weak down the middle? They have to trade away their top prospect who has size and toughness to fill a hole created by the GM. The Sabres drafted Kassian to fill a need: size and toughness. The need still exists more than ever. I will agree with Regier that it is easier to acquire tough guys in the summer than it is to get talented centers. I think Hodgson can be very good so I hope this works out. I think trading Gaustad and Kassian makes a soft team even softer. In this respect I think the Sabres are thinking this year is lost because there is no way this team is built for the playoffs. Teams will try to bully the Sabres even more now until the end of the season. It could get ugly. The Sabres draft has to be excellent this year. I suspect Regier will deal one or more top picks to pick up proven NHLer's. Only time will tell who got the best of the trade.