Archives for February 28, 2012

'"The center position is the second-most difficult position to fill behind goaltender," Regier said before flying to California for Wednesday's game against Anaheim. "Most teams are struggling to find top-two-line centers. When we started to go through the process of 'where are we going to get centers going forward,' it became a priority."' … [Read more...] about Sabres add Hodgson, deal Gaustad in separate deadline trades

'And there's this simple question: Whom would you trust more to make the proper evaluation at this stage, Canucks GM Mike Gillis or Regier?' … [Read more...] about Regier chooses to take the long-term outlook

'“We are all aware of the odds against us,” Regier said inside the First Niagara Center before the team left on a five-game road trip. “But I think with Cody coming in he will give us a good boost on the offensive size. We certainly lose Gaus’ competitiveness, his size and thickness and his ability to play against the other teams’ top lines.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres turn heads on deadline day

'“A lot of guys take the test, they feel normal,” McCormick said inside the First Niagara Center. “They’re symptom-free. Maybe they don’t ace the concussion test and it takes a couple tries. Hopefully, that’s not my case and I can get through this test.”' … [Read more...] about Concussed Sabres winger McCormick not going on road trip

Hodgson quake has aftershocks (Vancouver Province) Gillis was listening to people in his organization (Vancouver Province) It's tough to leave, Hodgson maintains (Vancouver Province) Some room to grow for Tanev (Vancouver Province) Team trades for grit and shutdown players (Vancouver Sun) One-way ticket to Buffalo stuns Hodgson (Vancouver Sun) Hodgson-for-Kassian trade … [Read more...] about Tuesday’s Vancouver Coverage

Nashville Predators add Andrei Kostitsyn, Paul Gaustad (Nashville Tennessean) Trades excite Predators, but focus is on wins (Nashville Tennessean) Poile, Preds play beat the clock to complete deadline dealing (Nashville City Paper) Preds Acquire Paul Gaustad from Buffalo Sabres (NashvillePredators.com) Poile pays steep price, but pleased to land Gaustad (NHL.com) … [Read more...] about Tuesday’s Nashville Coverage

'Hodgson was the selected 10th overall in the 2008 draft and is playing his first full NHL season. Kassian is a physical forward, whom the Sabres selected 13th overall in the 2009 draft.' … [Read more...] about Sabres acquire C Hodgson; deal Kassian to Canucks

'“Long term, it’ll turn out to be a good day,” Regier said. “When we evaluated our team, we knew that we had to get better. And to get better, if it meant taking a minor step back, then we were prepared to do it.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres land C Hodgson in completing 2 trades

'“He was born and raised with the Buffalo Sabres,” Regier said. “But when we looked at it, we thought long and hard about whether or not to trade him, and if so, under what conditions to trade him. And we set the standard high, and the standard was we had to be able to acquire a first-round pick and if we couldn’t acquire a first-round pick in that process, then we were not … [Read more...] about Predators load up at deadline picking up C Gaustad

'Hodgson, the 10th overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, has registered 16 goals and 17 assists in 63 games this season. Kassian, the 13th player taken in 2009, appeared in 27 games for Buffalo this year, collecting three goals and seven points.' … [Read more...] about Sabres land Hodgson from Canucks

'The 6-foot-4, 229-pound Gaustad has been credited with 98 hits, 40 blocked shots and 70 penalty minutes in 56 games this season. He has also been an offensive threat, scoring seven goals and posting 17 points.' … [Read more...] about Nashville gets Gaustad from Buffalo

'So are the Sabres a better team today than they were yesterday? I think they are. They get a huge drop off in faceoffs as Hodgson doesn’t even win 45% of his draws. Gaustad has been in the NHL’s top three the past two seasons. You have a guy that is likely to be one of your top two centers for many years to come for a guy who for the last month has been one of the best … [Read more...] about Are the Sabres better?

'But you have to give him this one. Then we'll take another look a year from now, but the bottom line is, Regier is going to be around at least that long no matter what anybody outside the organization thinks.' … [Read more...] about Regier Makes His Case

'The move made sense in the long term given Hodgson, picked 10th in the 2008 Entry Draft, was stuck behind Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler on the Canucks' depth chart. But in the short term it seems more about Hodgson not being well-suited to play a shutdown role as a third line center. As soon as Pahlsson was added earlier in the day -- for prospect defender Taylor Ellington and … [Read more...] about Sabres land Hodgson in four-player deal

'"The goal was when we evaluated our team, we knew that we had to get better and get better in the event if it meant taking a minor step back, then we were prepared to do it," Regier said. "It still allows us a run at the playoffs -- we are all aware of the odds against us -- but I think with Cody coming in, he will give us a good boost in the offensive side. We certainly lose … [Read more...] about Regier says late deals left Buffalo sitting pretty