Darcy Regier Talks About Pat Kaleta and the Off-Season
WGR News Reporting
Sabres GM Darcy Regier joined Mike Schopp and the Bulldog following the announcement that Pat Kaleta has agreed to a 2-year contract Wednesday afternoon. Regier also updated fans on the team's offseason plans and talked about the Ilya Kovalchuk story.
Kaleta has been a role player on the team to this point, but Regier thinks the rugged forward can increase his role in Buffalo.
"We're looking to Pat Kaleta to become a better player, both in production and the obvious thing he's known for, that being an agitator. We feel he's a very good hockey player and I know Lindy's looking forward to seeing the skill development and the production increase."
The NHL rejected a 17-year contract given to Ilya Kovalchuk by the New Jersey Devils. Regier can see why the NHL needed to step in and intervene to keep teams from creating an unfair advantage in signing Free Agents.
"I think it really creates more disparity within the National Hockey League. It's more likley that the big-market clubs will take advantage of these types of contracts. It's a way to get more players underneath your salary cap. It plays heavily in favor of the big-market clubs. I'm glad to see the league step in and take the direction it had taken."
Regier went into the off-season admitting a need to alter the Sabres roster. The team acquired Rob Neidermayer and Jordan Leopold in Free Agency in moves that wouldn't be considered a major shake-up. Regier says that they've made an attempt to change the team from the inside and out.
"Some things have been altered on the outside, some things I think we've worked on successfully internally. We've had a lot of meetings with current players, more than we've had in the past. We continue to work with this group. If there's an opportunity to get better, to make changes, we're open to that. That's not always a possibility. It doesn't always work out that way."
Regier said that attempts were made to bring in some free agents that failed, not because the Sabres didn't have the right offer but because players chose different teams.
"It's very frustrating. I can tell you, in two cases, that we were either at the number that the player accepted or above the number. In one case, the player stayed where he had been. In another case, he won't home. The player went back to where he had been."
You can hear the entire interview in the WGR550.com audio vault.
Lee Stempniak!!!! You can't tell me that me would not help. Stafford who? Seriously what has he done besides give Lindy a headache!?!?!
07/21/2010 6:35PM
Hmm
Is darcy telling truth, that they tried but failed??
07/21/2010 6:53PM
He is a liar
Cutting payroll thats all
07/21/2010 6:54PM
Really?!
So Darcy comes on and explains the state of the team and the NHL in a genuinely honest manner, but is a piece of trash because he doesn't say what you want to hear.......Makes sense to me!!
07/21/2010 7:05PM
Darcy
Darcy is frustrated? What about the fans with this do nothing GM. Of course he can't accomplish anything and the team has to work internally with the same group. What a bunch of crap from an inept so-called GM. This is the only organization in the league that would keep a clown like Regier for 13 years.
07/21/2010 7:19PM
Maybe
the players didn't want to come here because of the management that is in place? Maybe the players asked Briere and Dury how they were treated during the season with their contracts, Maybe in locker rooms buffalo has been blacklisted because they do not do what is ness to win the big one, or maybe it is just because our money is no good, One question I have is that we made offer's too two players,when those were lost the next two offers we made were to NEidmayer and Leopold, right? anyone else see a problem with this?
07/21/2010 7:20PM
Success On The Horizon
REGEIR GETS FIRED!!!
07/21/2010 7:22PM
We missed on Matt Cullen
Darcy siad that one of the two forwards that we bid at equal or more dollars on went "home" That would be Matt Cullen from Anaheim to MN - he is a native. $10.5M, 3 yrs
07/21/2010 7:54PM
Lindy is the problem
Good for Mike Schopp, BTW, asking Darcy why he thought players don't want to come to Buffalo. Of course Darcy talked around the question, but at least he asked it.
Fact is, nobody of any talent level want to play under Lindy Ruff.
07/21/2010 7:55PM
Good Old Darcy
As usual Darcy talks of having more meetings with the players. That is his big accomplishment. When will he realize that the core players need to be changed to have more size, grit and heart. He admits he can't sign free agents, can't make trades. What good is he as a GM. Not only the core of trhis club needs changes but the biggest change is needed in the GM's office.
07/21/2010 8:04PM
More Meetings?
Here we go again, the biggest action from Darcy is having more meetings with the team. That is the big off season move. The meetings with the same group will really lead to the Cup. What a joke. Regier cannot accomplish any major moves so he falls back on having more meetings with his players. Unbelievable!
07/21/2010 8:11PM
softball
Alot of meatball questions from Schoop and the Bulldog. I'm sure they will go back to normal and tell it like it is after the interview
07/21/2010 8:14PM
DARCY
the only people who are inept are the fans who think they know hockey and know dick. Regeir is a top five GM.
07/21/2010 8:20PM
Stafford
Stempniak would be an upgrade over Stafford and he could potentially get moved the way Paille was moved a few weeks into the season but I think they revert back to the Vanek Roy Kennedy line they had going last year. Stafford has more value than Paille and when Philly gets desperate to get under the Cap, putting Stafford in a deal for Gagne shouldn't be too difficult. That's a way to make this team better but it won't happen.
07/21/2010 8:50PM
Failure
Here's what it is. If your team does not win a Stanley Cup, they are not good enough. Therefore, changes need to be made. Sorry, but Mike Grier is not a good player. He is not an impact player. He may be a voice in the locker room, but there are plenty of guys out there that can play hockey AND lead. the first change that the Sabres need to make is a new owner. Thanks for saving the team BTG, but we would now prefer an owner that has an interest in winning. Maybe even one who attends a game or two during the season. Next, Larry Quinn needs to be bought out of his share because he is the cancer that is killing this organization. Then we can take a look at Darcy. It's a shame though that just a few months ago Steve Yzerman was looking for a GM vacancy in the league.
07/21/2010 9:01PM
This is not NHL10 on the Playstation
I understand that fans are frustrated but none of us know the entire story.
You can't just say "I want that FA or that FA & Trade this guy for that" like on the Playstation.
Is Darcy telling the truth? Maybe, at least some of the truth. I can believe that players chose a team to either go back home or stay on the team they were already on.
Chill out people, the season hasn't even started.
07/21/2010 9:30PM
It's gotta be Darcy
Lots of former NHLers call Buffalo home , we have a solid team with the best goalie in the game and NOone ever wants to sign here. It's gotta be management. I like Ruff but it's time for a change from top to bottom in the organization
07/21/2010 11:13PM
Who did they go after??
One had to be Koivu who resigned with same team (like Darcy said) Anaheim. Wonder who the other one was that signed with home town team??
07/21/2010 11:16PM
Telling the truth
There was a video posted a few years back when Darcy pulled off the Drury trade and got him to come here. They had a camera crew in the meeting room for all of the beginning of the FA period and it really did show how frustrating it was to get deals done.
I don't see any reason to think he wouldn't be telling the truth about that now.
07/21/2010 11:44PM
While this may be true
Not being able to move our guys in trades may be due to the fact that they were signed to inflated contracts after the team had a major failing on the Drury Briere deals. So sure free agency is a huge gamble but if the Sabres are still paying for those contracts from three years ago. Good luck. Unless they can make a big enough trade to shake this team up it'll be hard getting out of the first round. But we know we know your hands are tied, question is who tied them?
07/21/2010 11:49PM
Buffalo is non-attractive
I've said this numberous of times in here, and fans still insist fire Darcy.. Darcy is doing the best anyone could ever do in Buffalo. Like it or leave town, Buffalo is a dying city.
07/21/2010 11:51PM
ALL I WAN TO KNOW IS:
DARCY PLEASE Explain how WALMART'S GOLF SEASON HAS GONE!!!
PLEASE!!!!
07/21/2010 11:56PM
ROFL
DArcy the clown doesn't understand that he and Quinn furter tainted the Sabres' reputation to the point that no reasonable free agent would make Buffalo a top choice to land even if the salary offer was the same? ROFL... Buffalo as a small, blue collar city already had enough trouble enticing top athletes to consider it home. Then you start low-balling and not taking care of your talent once they become free agents.... what did you expect LARRY & DARCY (aka Larry & Curly), you imbiciles? You two are a complete joke as well as a complete slap in the face to all true die-hard Sabres fans. Unfortunately, Golisano (aka "Moe") has his freaking blinders on and probably doesn't even know any better that these two should be purged from the organization. What does Golisano know about HOCKEY? Absolutely NOTHING!
07/22/2010 12:17AM
Excuses
Darcy, I am sick and tired of the we tried BS. Enough is enough, make this team a winner or step aside. Please, for the people of Buffalo. SanDawg
07/22/2010 12:19AM
We tried?
Enough is enough. I am tired of this we tried crap. Please step aside if you cannot get a deal done with any substance. Thank you.
07/22/2010 8:26AM
Players he wanted
He said he offered more $$ to two forwards. One that stayed with their current team (Plekanec or Koivu) and one that prefered to play in their home town (Cullen). Oh well, can't wait to hear what next year's excuse is.
07/22/2010 8:28AM
Players he wanted 2
My bad, Plekanic was signed before July 1 so it would have been either Cullen or Koivu. Would have been sweet to get a Koivu jersey.
07/22/2010 8:34AM
WHO"S NEXT
DARCY MUST GO!!!!!!
07/22/2010 9:02AM
Darcy, the off-season isn't over yet
I just thought you should know. Sometimes we forget these things. Thankfully there are still some quality players available. So know that you've got up from your nap, go out and sign Stempniak. Unless its easier to go back to bed.
07/22/2010 9:06AM
Darcy, FYI, the off-season isn't over yet
I just thought you should know. Sometimes we forget these things. Thankfully there are still some quality players available. So know that you've got up from your nap, go out and sign Lee Stempniak. Unless its easier to go back to bed.
07/22/2010 9:33AM
Its time for a change
Sorry...no sympathy for ya Darc!!! Hey maybe things like this do happen from time to time. Cullen wants to be in Minnesota has connections there so on and so forth...Koivu just wanted to stay put. Thing is these fallouts don't just happen from time to time for the Buffalo Sabres. Its ALL THE TIME! See players around the league look at the botched negotiations that Regier is responsible for starting with Peca, Hasek forcing a trade, the Drury and Briere disaster...all of that gets noticed. This is failure at the front office level. When you have a GM that can't attract players for whatever reason and close deals he needs to go. He needs to go now, the only place this organization is going is into a dead end!!
07/22/2010 9:50AM
nhl guys love buffalo
many guys stay there after they retire and love it. what thhey dont like is no depth and low pay
07/22/2010 10:33AM
Get Stempniak and Sutton
and I'll be happy. Then there is plenty of time to move Connolly, Stafford, and Sekera and maybe land Kaberle somehow and extend him.
07/22/2010 12:06PM
KOIVU AND CULLEN
Koivu resigned with Anaheim and Cullen went to Minnesota (his hometown)
07/22/2010 12:42PM
2 guys
I speculate it was David Perron and Olli Jokinen.
07/22/2010 1:44PM
Re: nhl guys love buffalo
which nhl guys? i think your missing something that most of these pros meet their WIVES here, and if the wife wants to be here with family well guess what - that nhl, or nfl guy is stuck in town.
07/22/2010 2:48PM
Doesn't matter
It doesn't matter what the Sabres do, everyone will just say they should have done something different. How about stop complaining and enjoy the product. The team was almost gone 5 years ago. If you don't like the product, don't watch, don't follow, and shut your mouth. Problem solved. Its entertainment, and its Buffalo sports. All your dreams aren't going to come true, but atleast the team will be competitive.
07/22/2010 3:03PM
Go Get...
Patrick Sharp! I don't care what we give up as long as it's within reason.WAKE UP MARCY!
07/22/2010 3:06PM
2 Guys and a Cup!
... I mean, 2 impact guys from a "Stanley" Cup! Alas, this will never happen until the 3 stooges in management are ousted.
07/22/2010 3:17PM
re: doesn't matter
hey and Tommy G Thanks you lemming! BBBAAAAHHHH hope you don't need that money you waste every year on bad entertainment
07/22/2010 3:32PM
Re: Doesn't matter
Darcy,
I've caught you posting again! Get off this site and get back to work. Try to find some way to improve the team (other than holding a meeting with one of your core players or improving the fourth line. why don't you go ahead and go take a nap. That apparently is what you're best at doing.
07/22/2010 4:43PM
Whatever...
Today is Thursday July 22 and it is winding down to another lackluster day on Sabres hockey. No Stempniak and Sutton announcements or trades.
FIRE REGIER!!!
07/22/2010 5:04PM
Fire Darcy
Fire darcy
07/22/2010 5:06PM
Fire Darcy
Tom Galisano wasted 5 Mil on politics. Can we get a forward. Another D guy? Butler couldn't start for Lafayette H.S.
07/22/2010 9:16PM
Doesnt matter guy
I'm the doesn't matter guy. I don't live in Buffalo anymore so I won't be spending any money on the Sabres. I'll catch the games on my slingbox, and yes I will enjoy them. I bet you guys will be watching too! and complaining anonymously on here after. A little optimism goes a long way - i know the city is snakebitten but cmon, grow up and stop your complaining.
Why don't you guys share your insight on what it will take to win the cup? i mean atleast add substance to the conversation rather than crying about things. not so easy huh?
Sincerely,
Sabres "lemming?"
ok.....
07/23/2010 12:09AM
Buffalo Jam
Here's the deal guys. Quinn is the problem. I don't know how you can't see that. Lindy is a great coach. I know players and other NHL orgs that think that. Look at his book of work in Buffalo with the players he has had. I'mnot big on this locker room. I thought CD & DB where the heart of this team and they got ripped out. Never been a big fan of Vanish or Roy. But they aren't going anywhere. I blame Tommy G and the Q.
07/23/2010 8:49AM
re: doesn't matter
Typical loser mentality post. The trouble is that Darcy is the same type of loser.
07/25/2010 10:03AM
HOW ARE WE DYING CITY?
WE ARE A DYING CITY BUT NOT IN HOCKEY??? WE SELL OUT EVERY GAME AND APPAREL COME ON WE WERE #1 IN ALL OF SPORTS. GIVE UP THE MONEY AND BRING A CUP HOME ALLREADY!!!
07/29/2010 12:10AM
Make a Move
sign Stempniak and Mitchell; trade Stafford for Savard...then let the team play
07/29/2010 12:15AM
Kaberle
Kaberle is only worth a trade for Tim Connolly straight up; if we got Savard and Stempniak playing with or Ennis, this might be a good second line and push Vanek, Roy and Pomminville; No one is pointing out that the window to trade Kaberle is only up to August 15, after that he will become a free agent next July 1....patience may be avirtue this time....Connolly for Kaberle; Savard for Stafford and we have new chemistry
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