Two or less Posted January 28, 2010 Report Posted January 28, 2010 Sorry if this needed to go into another thread, but i figured i'd save the clutter in the other speculation trade thread and have this one since it's actual quotes. Pierre LeBrun from ESPN keeps getting asked about possible Sabres trades and asked Darcy Regier about it. I spoke with Sabres GM Darcy Regier on Monday, passed on the many urgings from Sabres fans/readers for him to pick up more offense at the trade deadline, and he said he and Sabres coach Lindy Ruff may have helped fuel this desire from their fans by criticizing the production of their top-six forward group at times. "We think that there's more to get from our top-six forwards," Regier told me from Vancouver, where the Sabres played Monday night. "Right now, Tim Connolly's line with Jochen Hecht and Jason Pominville has actually been very good. The other line with Drew Stafford, Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek has been more inconsistent, although I see that line competing harder than it has and getting more chances. ... "It's about getting more from the six guys we have. Roy and Vanek are two prime examples of that. They are two guys who have offensively struggled. It's more a focus of getting them back on track than it is looking on the outside and finding somebody you'll bring in and solve it for you; and who knows what you have to give up to acquire that, as well." In other words, Sabres fans, don't get your hopes up for trade deadline day. Link- http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4860527&name=lebrun_pierre Is Darcy playing a "poker face" or is he serious? I mean, truthfully speaking, i don't think they need to add much either. I still want to add a 3rd liner, most preferably Ethan Moreau but take it for what it is i guess.
tom webster Posted January 28, 2010 Report Posted January 28, 2010 Sorry if this needed to go into another thread, but i figured i'd save the clutter in the other speculation trade thread and have this one since it's actual quotes. Pierre LeBrun from ESPN keeps getting asked about possible Sabres trades and asked Darcy Regier about it. Link- http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4860527&name=lebrun_pierre Is Darcy playing a "poker face" or is he serious? I mean, truthfully speaking, i don't think they need to add much either. I still want to add a 3rd liner, most preferably Ethan Moreau but take it for what it is i guess. First, like you hinted, its not like Darcy is going ot say anything publicly anyway. Only Burke seems to l iek doing that. Second, he is actually right. If Roy, Vanek and Stafford play like top 6 forwards and score, this team doesn't need anything upfront. However, that's a big if. The real question going forward is whether Reiger is willing to put his job on the line by counting on that. This organization knows it can't do nothing at the deadline and lose in the first round because of an inability to score. Third, I disagree that they need anymore 3rd and 4th liners. I want a veteran center great on face offs and a veteran point man for the power play assuming they aren't going to upgrade the top 6.
Two or less Posted January 28, 2010 Author Report Posted January 28, 2010 Third, I disagree that they need anymore 3rd and 4th liners. I want a veteran center great on face offs and a veteran point man for the power play assuming they aren't going to upgrade the top 6. My one weakness with this Sabres team is i think Tim Kennedy has run out of gas and I don't think bringing Matt Ellis to the 3rd line or playing Adam Mair in that spot is a smart move. I like the Ellis/Goose/Kaleta fourth line. Vanek, Stafford and Roy I like. Connolly is doing well right now with Hecht and Pommer but who knows how long that will last. It leaves us with Mike Grier, Kennedy, Mair and Clarke MacArthur. I think that line can use some bulk and the team could use a leader. I wouldn't mind Moreau or a Matt Cullen (although i would want a bigger guy). Only negative is Moreau would need to be the C, not sure how he's been or whens the last time he played center.
nobody Posted January 28, 2010 Report Posted January 28, 2010 If only the top 6 forwards were actually top 6 forwards.
X. Benedict Posted January 28, 2010 Report Posted January 28, 2010 Although everyone likes a big splash at trade deadline..... I would expect Darcy to go for depth. If there is no market for Tchuck I think he makes a deal. But the Darcy move is to ask about Eric Belanger.
LabattBlue Posted January 28, 2010 Report Posted January 28, 2010 But the Darcy move is to ask about Eric Belanger. I'd be okay with that. I have wanted Belanger for the 3rd line for a couple of years now. :)
spndnchz Posted January 29, 2010 Report Posted January 29, 2010 p p p poka face p p p poca face he'll wait it out, when those players hit, assuming they do, it'll be big. If they don't, and we have a run on it, why wait? Is it the opposite of the question "blow it up it to get a future" from last year. This year it's "blow up a possible future to take a good run".
X. Benedict Posted January 29, 2010 Report Posted January 29, 2010 I'd be okay with that. I have wanted Belanger for the 3rd line for a couple of years now. :) He'd be a solid addition. Most fans would hate the move.
tom webster Posted January 29, 2010 Report Posted January 29, 2010 My one weakness with this Sabres team is i think Tim Kennedy has run out of gas and I don't think bringing Matt Ellis to the 3rd line or playing Adam Mair in that spot is a smart move. I like the Ellis/Goose/Kaleta fourth line. Vanek, Stafford and Roy I like. Connolly is doing well right now with Hecht and Pommer but who knows how long that will last. It leaves us with Mike Grier, Kennedy, Mair and Clarke MacArthur. I think that line can use some bulk and the team could use a leader. I wouldn't mind Moreau or a Matt Cullen (although i would want a bigger guy). Only negative is Moreau would need to be the C, not sure how he's been or whens the last time he played center. I would put veteran center on third line and play Kennedy with Goose and Kaleta on 4th line. I go back and forth on Kennedy. I want him to get playoff experience withour being a weak link in line up. They definitely someone other then Gaustad to take draws. Connolly is so bad they have Hecht taking them and obviosly Kennedy is a ways away from being even average.
BetweenThePipes00 Posted January 29, 2010 Report Posted January 29, 2010 It definitely would be out of character for Darcy to admit weakness or need, thus giving others leverage. If he had been the GM in 1996-97 I suspect he would have said the same thing about Derek Plante, Jason Dawe and Michal Grosek. So I don't know if we can really believe they are totally satisfied. That said, the flip side is that perhaps the GM talking about needing to add offense keeps his players from getting comfortable and motivates them ... but that is just not Darcy's style. A veteran center who can take draws and hold his own against opponents' top lines would be great ... part of the problem for the "top six" is that they too often get caught against other top lines and pinned in their own end ... even when they do OK and keep things outside and don't give up a chance, they end up having to change and get nothing going.
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