Buffalo, NY -- While the Blue and Gold scrimmage culminated a week of Development Camp at First Niagara Center, Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier spoke with the media during the second intermission.
While the younger players were a brief topic of conversation, the six-minute interview focused more around what the Sabres have done and what they may do as the off-season continues.
A recent news item has come out that former Buffalo center Derek Roy, who was traded to Dallas earlier this month, is going to have shoulder surgery that will keep him out of action until November. Perhaps fighting a perception that they potentially misled the Stars about Roy's condition, Regier responded to those claims.
"It could be the perception, it's not the reality and I'm very comfortable with our position," the GM responded. "It was an elective [surgery]. It was a choice. He could have played, he did play with it. It was a decision that was made by that organization."
Regier was very staunch in his opinion that Roy could have played this season without undergoing the procedure.
After the Roy trade, the GM made a comment that he believed the trade market would open up once big players like Zach Parise and Ryan Suter chose their eventual destinations. Both players chose the Minnesota Wild, and the market has stayed stagnant.
"I think the big names are still out there and as far as free agents Shane Doan is out there, but there really aren't many left. I think there will be a lot of competition for a few names," Regier said. "I think it will move at some point, but no one seems to be in a hurry right now."
As far as some of the rookies on the ice at development camp, Regier said that he has continued negotiations on an entry-level contract with first round pick Mikhail Grigorenko, but there is nothing new to report.
As far as Zemgus Girgensons is concerned, the Sabres' other 2012 first round pick has the option to go to the AHL rather than attend college.
"We'll talk to him about his desire to turn pro, to play pro," Regier replied. "It really has to be his decision and obviously he made a commitment to the University of Vermont. It really has to be up to him."
The GM also confirmed he and Lindy Ruff met with Dominik Hasek in Buffalo regarding Hasek's desire to return to the NHL. He said he informed the 47-year old that the Sabres would be moving forward with their current goaltending group.
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