With the NHL trade deadline less than three weeks away, everyone in Sabres Nation is wondering what General Manager Darcy Regier will do.
During a segment on Schopp and the Bulldog this past week, Regier was asked if he will be a seller and his response was “not yet”. Regier added the Sabres might be selling and buying. He said moves might happen at the trade deadline or they could happen over the summer.
The Sabres certainly have some parts that would draw interest around the league. You have big names like Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville and Ryan Miller, all of whom will be unrestricted free agents after next season. Those three will account for just under $19 million in cap space.
You also have rental players like Robyn Regehr, Jordan Leopold and Jochan Hecht who will all be free agents this summer.
If you’re wondering about what moves the Sabres might make to improve the franchise, you must always keep in mind the salary cap.
More than $11 million in cap room will be cleared out due to expiring contracts for not only Regehr, Leopold and Hecht but Adam Pardy, Alexander Sulzer and John Scott as well.
In addition, Cody Hodgson, Jhonas Enroth, Mike Weber and Brian Flynn will all be restricted free agents and Hodgson seems like the only lock to be back at this point. Although Flynn has fared well during his brief time with the Sabres.
The Sabres can change the makeup of their defense corps since the only players under contract beyond this season are Tyler Myers, Christian Ehrhoffand Andrej Sekera.
As far as next season is concerned, the Sabres have 15 players under contract taking up a total of $50.5 million in cap space according tocapgeek.com.
Keep in mind the NHL cap will drop from its current number of $70.2 million to $64.8 for next season. That means the Sabres would have just under $14 million in cap room.
Under the new CBA rules, the Sabres could buy out a player and Ville Leino would be a prime candidate for that move. Leino, who was a major disappointment last season, has a $4.5 million cap number through the 2016-2017 season.
How do the cap and free agency impact possible Sabres moves?
Please enter your comments below.
03/17/2013 6:58AM
If I were Pegula
I would not let Regier mess this team up anymore than he has. Everyone thought Ruff was the problem. We have a new coach and this team isn't any better. There is zero chemistry on this team. This is a bad hockey team and that is on Regier. Most of these players would be 4th liners elsewhere maybe 3rd. Pegula made a mistake extending Regier and I hope he sees the light and gets rid of him.
03/17/2013 6:59AM
Sabres in deep doo-doo
That's not much room, 14 mil., to fill your roster out if your looking to add high end players. The Sabres are in a position of weakness when it comes to trading. Teams in the playoffs aren't going to trade equal value for anything the Sabres have to offer. Prospects and draft choices will be about it. This team is in a rebuilding mode. Pretty sad when you consider they are in the upper level of team payroll in the league. Pegula looks the fool when you consider he extended Regier, who oversaw the contracts handed out that created this mess.
03/17/2013 9:09AM
Darcy will do the usual
Darcy will stay joined at the hip to his beloved core of underachievers led by Captain Rink Curls. Darcy is on record saying he isnt ready to "blow this thing up" when every fan in WNY knows thats what has to be done starting with the man that assembled this soft heartless group
03/17/2013 9:18AM
In regards to this article
I don't want Darcy to do any more. Fire the bum now and bring in a new GM to dissect this team and get it back on course. Brian Burke or Rick Dudley are examples who could do it. First move is trading Mister Softee out West. He is done here. Lose at Washington tonight and FIRE REGEIR after the game and begin the paving of a new road that will make Hockey Heaven a reality. Hope they have the next GM planned already so time is not wasted to use them bulldozers to clean this joke of a hockey team up. Don't be an idiot Howard. Keep Leino and keep him at wing where he excels. Buy out Sekera if you can't get rid of him. GET RID OF MILLER FIRST!!!
03/17/2013 9:30AM
I would prefer it if he would just resign
Its unreal that Darcy will be back next year.
03/17/2013 9:37AM
Darcy!!!
Why is this clown still here!!!
03/17/2013 9:46AM
miller
is it just me or has Miller lost it.he seems to let 4 goals in everytime he plays. I say let him and his giant contract out of here cause he has turned average at best.
03/17/2013 9:48AM
why?
why does everyone make out like it is Leino's fault for being overpaid? and not playing up to his potential? look at how many years Vanek played like a slug and got 7 mil?- or Miller the All World Goalie? he sure hasn't set the world on fire?Stafford? MYERS!!!!!how much? 13 mil ??? the Sabres could have signed 4 players for that much? GO LOOK AT THE OWNER AND GM- there's the problem
03/17/2013 9:50AM
Tony
This idiot has completely and single handedly destroyed this franchise. Why this owner would even consider this bozo to make hockey decisions is beyond me. Is it a joke when Jochen Hecht is mentioned as a "rental" player?? Yeah, maybe for thesenior "c" league at holiday twin rinks!! Way too many overpaid non-contributors like Stafford,Leino, Erhoff etc. There is no way a GM would want to take on overpaid dead weight....we are stuck with those players!!!
03/17/2013 9:55AM
take a hike
Regier enough is enough of you going no where
03/17/2013 10:02AM
young and tuff
young, the 2 russians,gerbe, ennis,flynn,foligno,sulzer. tuff,OTT porter, pardy,sekera. pick up 2 more players like ott and keep ehrhoff myers, hodgson, and pominville.I think we would have a good team. Vanek, well he has been playing lazy no back checking, move him to 3rd line and get balance scoring.
03/17/2013 10:12AM
What will Darcy do???
Darcy will so the same thing he always does: Nothing! Actually, this year, he might punt!!!
03/17/2013 10:17AM
Pathetic
With Darcy at the helm, it will be a complete disaster. He trades away Brennan for a 5th rounder and in his first game with Florida, TJ gets ice time, scores a goal and is second star. Darcy couldn't havekept him and gotten rid of the graet Jochen Hecht? This is the mentality that is destroying this organization. Regier has spent to the cap and is stuck with an underachieving roster. Any true GM would trade off at least two of Miller, Vanek, abd the worst captain in history Pominville and get assets before they leave like Drury and Briere. But this is the great Darcy Regier who has absolutely no vision or plan. He will probably let players walk just to get under the cap next year and we will be faced with a disastrous future especially in the realigned divisions. Mr. Pegula -- please realize that you have a disastrous GM who has spent to the cap and driven the Sabres to the bottom of the league. He has made the Sabres a laughing stock. How can you continue with this? This is not hockey heaven -- this is hockey hell being run by Darcy Regier!
03/17/2013 10:50AM
The Cap won't impact anything
If it is done right, this team could have a whole new roster. The only guy's I'd keep are Myers, Ehrhoff, Hodgson, Foligno, Leino, and Vanek. Build the rest from there. Trade both shrimps Ennis and Gerbe, Sekera, Stafford, Miller, Pomminville. The rest...WAIVE or don't re sign.. The Sabres need a new GM to do it right. From the sound of my take, its a major housecleaning. Super busy off season in UFA's to get. The Sabres could have around 30 million in cap space if that worked out via my armchair estimating. Maybe more. A buyout on one of the players that no body may want could be Sekera or Gerbe. Its MacKinnon time at the draft too. Brian Burke anybody as GM???
03/17/2013 11:16AM
Worst GM!!!
With the worst GM in hockey... this team will NEVER ever get better!!!
03/17/2013 11:23AM
darcie regier should do
sell sell sell
03/17/2013 12:18PM
Wow
This man is an idiot.
03/17/2013 12:19PM
Jochen Hecht is a rental, alright
The Sabres rented him for this season. He would have no place on the roster of a contending team.
03/17/2013 12:23PM
Clean house
Dump the big three if anyone wants them for the money. Resign Pardy cheap, watch how Leino does the rest of the year (buy him out or restructure), start Enroth more and figure out whether he's an NHL goalie. Now you got cash. Remake this team of losers.
03/17/2013 12:23PM
Is anybody there???
Where are the blogs and why is NASCAR on our local station??? Who actually gives a dam about it? This is Buffalose and not Carolina where the grass is greener. Get with it WGR. We got a crisis with the do nothing Sabres and Bills. Is Buddy Nix aware of what Miami and New England are doing??? Is there a good reason why crickets can be heard at One Bills Drive? On Darcy...the elevator music is continuous as the thought of playoffs dwindles nearing the abyss. Its all over hockey sites that Darcy will be fired. Let's blog and scrap NASCAR!!! Get someone in the studio and let's get to work!!! Get off the recliner Simon!
03/17/2013 12:38PM
New cap = newest excuse
This impact is simple Howard. The reduced cap will be Regier's latest excuse for putting together next year's lousy team. We will loose at least one of the few decent players we have. The upside is that it will prevent Darcy from overpaying for one more do-nothing clown on ice, although I say that with little confidence. If history repeats itself we should end up losing Vanek and Miller at the same time, and Pominville will end up with a massive contract to be our team's 20-goal scorer and the fearless tough guy captain he is.
03/17/2013 1:02PM
Anither bad move Darcy
darcy will just sign hecht to a long term deal and trade away more young talent
03/17/2013 1:10PM
LOOK AT THAT FACE!!! WHO'S "LAFFF"ing NOW?
Well NO WONDER he's extended!!! Trully STOIC looking eh?!!! Perception is EVERYTHING you know!!! So... everyone be thankful for "THE WORST FRANCHISE IN THE NHL"; and... GET YOUR GOLF CLUBS SHINED AND WASH THOSE GOLF BALLz!!! WALLMART ="LAFFin"!!! ffffffffffffffforrrrrrrrrrrrEEE!! EVER FORE EXTENDIUM REGEIRIUM!!
03/17/2013 2:00PM
re:look at that face, who's "lafff"ing now?
Dude, you have some serious issues. Go become a Habs fan or something. Being a Sabres fan is obviously causing you too much stress. Yikes.
03/17/2013 2:34PM
Need new eyes from the outside
Sabres need a new GM to assess this roster. The new GM can hire a coach of his liking. It has to start at the top. We have been below average for year after year. This team is Darcys fault. He should have been fired MULTIPLE times throughout his career here, most notably July 2nd 2007. Miller or Pommer should be traded for the return before they walk out the door and we see nothing for them. I think Miller deserves a shot at a Cup somewhere before its too late.
03/17/2013 3:27PM
Fire Darcy
That's the only way anything will ever get done in Buffalo.
03/17/2013 3:39PM
HAVE A GOOD LIFE DARCY
Nice guy but I hope to never see your face in Buffalo again. Half the posters on here are more creative. Sorry.
03/17/2013 3:47PM
Pegula is a disaster
Until Regier goes, the team will continue to move backwards. Trading Brennan was simply stupid. Pegula's reign as owner has been a complete disaster so far.
03/17/2013 4:09PM
why the negativity?
i dont get all the negativity on here. the sabres gm brought it a highly thought of rookie russian born player who is playing great.brought in another rookie from ahl who is also playing great. signed a big raise to a young highly drafted defensemen. traded a used up player to dallas for some much needed energy. got a new coach that was the right one for the players. this team was not good last year but has turned it around completely thanks to the gm. wait....wait.....wait...wait.... im sorry i was thinking of rick dudly in montreal who by the way would probably love to be here.
03/17/2013 4:24PM
FIRE REGIER
Hopefully each loss brings us one day closer to Darcy being fired!!
03/17/2013 4:49PM
Don't You Just Want to Punch That Face?
Man, I get steamed everytime I just see the guy now. What a tool. He has totally run this franchise down by hanging on to everybody for too long. Ruff, Hecht, Miller, Stafford, Pommenville, Leopold, Gerbe....all should have been gone before the season began. To enter the season with the lineup we had at center was grounds enough to get this clown fired and instead he gets extended. His comments the other day on the radiop..."we may sell we may buy...". Who lets this guy get anywhere near the trigger after the trainwreck he has put on the ice night after night this year. The play awful in part because they know they're no good. There is zero confidence. Pucks generally go in for them by pure happenstance. Copnversely, other teams methodically wear them down in their zone and score off designed plays and rebounds of those plays. The Sabres seemingly run around with no design to their game. It's a mess...and he has ochestrated it with this team's makeup. They're small and play soft which means they are weak minded. It shows in their collective effort. They don't need a new coach as much as they need a roster enema and Regier is hopelessly unqualified to do it.
03/17/2013 4:51PM
Unbelievable - Coming up Short & Hoping for 8th Place
I have been a loyal sabres fan since 1971 and witnessed the sabres coming up short against the senators. A senators team that came in loaded with key injuries ready to be beat... and the sabres come up small again. There is a theme here...the roster still has too many undersized players and lacking enough bug gritty players that hate to lose. What you get are results like this... coming up a bit short in the end. This sabres team over the last couple years reminds me of the mid 80's sabres (Barasso = Miller, Andreychuck = Vanek, Housley = Erhoff, Ramsey = Regehr, Hartman = Kaleta, Ruff = Ott). Both teams come up short in critical moments and both teams lack true 1st line offensie forwards. The 80's sabres got knocked out by the Nords with Statsny and the Bruins w/ Neely etc - sound familiar? That didn't change until Mr. Lafontaine arrived (a first line talented & gritty forward) If you don't have 1st line forwards then you better have MANY big, gritty, nasty forwards that can outskate and outwork the other guys. The mid 80's and this edition were/are lacking enough of them. Dear Mr. Pegula and Black, I certainly hope you read and respond to Mr. Gleason's article in the sunday Buf News as it was spot on. I actually beat Bucky to the discussion about Brennan and Campbell comparison in a prior post here. Why obtain a fifth rounder for a second round guy who just needs a little more time at the NHL level (just like Grigorenk) & can help an awful powerplay...when is this regime going to realize that Pominville and his shot is and have been ineffective at the point for 4 years now. Shooting for 8th is not the goal here anymore. Why not let go some of the other non performers who did not and sometimes still do not show up or make a difference...Leopold, Hecht instead of Brennan? Leopold cost the sabres 3 games failing not to pick up open men in the slot in front of Miller. So thats okay? Myers cost them 4 games, but he is still young and should get a second chance, but not the old vets. Where has Vanishing Vanek been...he's not a first line forward. Don't you think 15 years of hoping for eighth decisions by Darcy are enough? Virtually everyone I spoke with does. Why trust him with any decisions. His history is there...Corkum, Moore, Gratton, Torres, Zubrus, and on and on. This borders on ridiculuous. The 99 team was primarily Muckler creation no Regier's. Until the sabres move in a different direction to bring in a GM with Stanley cup credentials (e.g maybe Dudley)...you will hear the boos and catcalls grow: "Darcy must go" and "42 years" (with no cup). A season ticket holder about to become ex. Congratulations to Bucky Gleason for scoring a bullseye.
03/17/2013 5:26PM
Howard....
using the phrase "Sabres nation" is sooooo stupid. Please stop posting because it seems like you have brain damage.....
03/17/2013 5:28PM
No....
the Leafs will always be the laughing stocks you dumb Canadian ba sta rd. We should of taken over your country along time ago.
03/17/2013 5:58PM
sigh
this team just makes me wanna die
03/17/2013 8:29PM
Wake up
Why can't they dump Darcy now? This team is soooooo screwed up. they look lost and look like they are already on the golf course. Just like the Caps looked like last year when they gave up on Boudreau. Where is the owner????? Don't let darcy make these decisions!
03/17/2013 11:01PM
DO NOT blow this team up
Yes this team has a lack of chemistry. That is because there are some cancers on this team that are destroying the rest. Cancers such as Ryan Miller, Drew Stafford, and all of our defense excluding ehrhoff and myers should be kicked out the door. Keep Leino give the guy a chance he's been hurt all year. Also this team is missing one or two stud forwards. Thomas Vanek can be one of them when he's at his best, but no Cody Hodgson and Jason Pomminville are not top line forwards. Look at all the teams at the top and look at the superstars they have. Pittsburgh- quite obvious, Boston- Seguin bergeron chara, Chicago- Kane toews sharp Keith Seabrook, Anaheim- Perry getzlaf Ryan.. even Detroit still has datsyuk and zetterberg even though they are aging
03/17/2013 11:03PM
DO NOT blow this team up
Oh and hecht is gotta go he shouldn't even be in the
NHL anymore
03/18/2013 7:36AM
Team is amazingly bad for the payroll
The team is horrible, plain and simple, despite having one of the highest, if not highest, payrolls in the NHL. Buffalo's best players would have trouble cracking the 2nd or 3rd lines on teams like Chicago, Anaheim, Pittsburgh, etc. The lack of talent and depth is Regier's responsibility. He's had FAR more time than he deserves for what he has produced. Pegula needs to pull the plug like he should have done when he first took over.
03/18/2013 8:08AM
If I were Pegula
EVERYONE didn't think Ruff was the problem. Many of us viewed both Ruff and Regier as the problem for some time.
03/18/2013 8:28AM
noi abbiamo bisogno di un nuovo capitano
la nave sta affondato!!!!!!!!!!!! any help will do please mr regier take one of dose cruse to no were
03/18/2013 8:43AM
Discouraged
Mr.Pegula is beginning to lose credibility with Sabre fans. He needs to stop taking advice from the wrong hockey people. This core group veteran players will never bring him a Stanley Cup.
03/18/2013 9:09AM
HIRE RICK DUDLEY
Hecht stays? Brennen is given away? I REST MY CASE
03/18/2013 10:59AM
Regier created this mess
Why would any sane person think that the guy who created this mess would and should fix it? The first thing that needs to happen is Regier getting fired. Actually it should have happened 9 years ago. At the very least he should have been given the boot at the same time Ruff was. The so called "handcuffs" were taken off of Regier and low and behold he still does not know how to get the right mix of players. This is arguably the worst mix of players in the entire NHL. The only handcuffs put on Darcy Regier were his own. He does not need anymore time. He does need anymore money to spend. He should be forced to resign once the Sabres are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
03/18/2013 11:11AM
Darcy Your Time Has Expired
Mr. Pegula I am amazed that you actually extended a GM who is the definition of mediocrity. His team exhibits his personality. Nice guys, but just not good enough. Too many years with no real progress. No, this isn't hockey heaven. Mr. Black is a great PR guy and promoter, but his words are very stale at this point.
03/18/2013 11:17AM
Re: The Cap won't impact anything
Very nice comment! And you didn't mention Grigorenko and his "ton of talent" that every other person in Buffalo seems to cling to. He MAY have talent, but showing it in the shooting gallery known as the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League isn't like showing it in the NHL. I would love to see the Sabres do what you said although Weber isn't a problem so much as the guys he plays with.
03/18/2013 11:42AM
Boom, goes the dynamite!
Please - Just blow it to pieces and start over!
03/18/2013 2:17PM
give up
I finally saved enough money to take my 17 year old daughter to her first game.we got our moneys worth for one period.I work six days a week and will never go to another game with this captain that has no heart.We will go to the zoo next time.
03/18/2013 2:47PM
SABRES:
DOESN'T MATTER, DARCY REGIER IS STILL HERE SO FORGET ABOUT THINKING HE'S GOING TO IMPROVE THIS TEAM. PEGULA JUST DID ANOTHER CON JOB TO THE SABRES FANS (SUCKERS). HE, JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER OWNERS, TELLS THIS TOWN HE'S GOING TO DO BETTER, AND LIKE EVERY SEASON THE TEAM IS NOT NHL QUALIFIED TO COMPETE IN THIS LEAGUE. SO FREE AGENCY WHATEVER DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING NO MORE. FAKE....FAKE........FAKE
03/18/2013 3:51PM
RE: No....
TOO FUNNY! Actually DDick Cheney wanted to bomb Canada too, but DUBBYA said NO! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!!!
03/18/2013 3:51PM
NO WHERE ELSE ---- ONLY IN BUFFALO !!!!!!
Trade MILLER to any potential playoff Team, he will probably have a few shutouts and keep other teams to less than 2 goals. Trade VANEK & POMENVILLE they will start scoring goals like crazy. The Sabres won't get anything worthwhile for GERBE, ENNIS OR STAFFORD.
Is it possible to bring Razor, Perrault, Robert and Gare out of retirement ? Where's Ted Nolan ? Is there any decent GM that would even consider coming to Hockey Heaven ?
SOMEONE HELP US PLEEEEAAAZZEEE !!!!!!!!!!!
03/18/2013 6:54PM
what happened to captain crunch?
To fix the sabres, the first thing you have to do is get a competent general manager that can give fans a team that works hard every game, not a fast and timid team that doesn't finish their checks.If not, they will never be able to compete in the playoffs.Second they need a actual hard nose captain like almost all the other teams in the league,unlike our stick swinging captain that wouldn't finish his checks if his spot on the team counted on it.I saved up to go to the Ottawa game and was so disappointed that I wasted my hard earned money that I refuse to go to another game until they get a team we can be proud of.
03/18/2013 8:43PM
Say What- I mean Nothing
When ever this clown opens his mouth, absolutely nothing positive or worth while happens to the Sabres. For God sakes Pegula, get rid of this useless GM !
03/19/2013 12:17AM
Do it right
Do it right !!! FIRE Regier and bring in Dudley.
03/19/2013 7:30AM
A Ruff Go
I said for the last two years, that they needed to change up part of the coaching staff. The assistant coaches have big in-game responsibilities and we have had the same ones for too long. Some of our senior players played with or against most of our staff.....anyone see a problem here?
Good example, Baltimore Ravens fired their Offensive Coordinator at their bye week and won the Super Bowl. Our assistant coaches run the special teams and our have been real special this season.
Before canning Ruff, they should have overhauled our assistant coaches. Look at the early 2000's, we had 4 or 5 guys go from assistant coach to head coach in the league. Something is missing with Patrick, Numminen, and Adams.
03/19/2013 10:02AM
this is mr.pegula
forget it sabre suckers i mean my "DEAREST" customers,as long as the center is filled, marcy oops i mean "my darling darcy" is like stove top stuffing>>>> HE'S STAYING!! by the way I LOVE MY NEW YACHT!!! keep those season ticket renewals a coming!!! next a new island in the south pacific!
03/19/2013 11:18AM
soft team
this team will never be tough as long as Darcey is in charge.Cody down in Rochester,and Scott sitting all the time,get real.Darcey has to go and take his look alike Ron with him.Lets get a tough GM and coach in here,we did have a tough team at one time and Darcey ripped it apart.His stay here is long over do.
03/19/2013 12:44PM
How does the cap impact???
It don't. Get rid of the trash, there will be plenty to spend. Start now by trading Miller. End of story.
03/19/2013 8:16PM
gm for a day
Trade captain no-contactville to Columbus for the other Foligno,give captain to Vanek,and find more Steve Otts.Bring up McNabb from rochester .This city deserves a hard working team.Can we get Chris Neil for play-sometimes Stafford!
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