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A quiet time in Sabreland as trade deadline day inches a bit closer |
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Do you remember those days when we, as Sabres fans, would be on the sidelines watching all of the action leading up to the trade deadline? And do you remember those trade deadline days where we'd be watching other teams jump in while we'd wait and speculate, groan at missing out, then wait and speculate, etc. etc. etc.?
And do you remember the anti-climactic, "The Buffalo Sabres have traded a second-round pick to team-X" for a second-rate player who, we would find out later, was playing with some sort of injury? Right around 3pm?
It's been a great 11 months for those of us who have wanted "out with the old and onward to the future." Sabres GM Tim Murray didn't dink and doink when it came to trading assets, he put together packages, big packages, to get it done.
Granted, the Ryan Miller trade to the St. Louis Blues just shy of one year ago had been in the works for a long time, and the recent Evander Kane/Tyler Myers blockbuster came about because of extenuating circumstances, but it's hard to imagine the previous regime having the vision, imagination and kahunas to pull off deals like the ones Murray has pulled off thus far. That's not to take away from former GM Darcy Regier's approach (however typical it was) as the bounty he received in each singular trade was nothing short of impressive. In the end, both GM's--Murray and Regier--will have had a hand in a deconstruction and rebuild of historical proportions.
With the adrenaline rush of the Kane/Myers trade gone and a rather short list of desirable unrestricted free agents on the trading block, there's not too much more to do when it comes to finishing a complete overhaul of the Buffalo Sabres.
A quick look has RW, Chris Stewart as the most coveted of the Sabres UFA's. The big, gritty winger who's picked up his game to the point where a "top-six, scoring power-forward" designation is once again apropos, will probably be the next Buffalo Sabre to go. One could assume that Murray isn't in a rush to move him and in fact an argument could be made that the team could re-sign Stewart instead of trading him if the return is inadequate. Personally, I'd like to see him get a shot with the highest-bidding contender only to have the team pursue him in the off season ala Matt Moulson.
The rest of the UFA's include a depth forward, Torrey Mitchell (another one they could simply re-sign,) three depth defensemen--Andre Benoit, Andrej Meszaros, Tyson Strachan--and one of two goalies in either Michal Neuvirth or recently acquired Anders Lindback. A return of anything more than a third round pick or mid-range prospect for any of those would end up being a minor miracle. That in mind, Murray will also need to weigh the pros and cons as to the affect moving his depth players, who are in elevated roles in Buffalo, will have on his last place team.
Buffalo has six games remaining before the March 2nd trade deadline. They are eight points back of the 29th place Edmonton Oilers and 11 points behind the 28th place Arizona Coyotes, each of whom have four games left to play before the deadline. Dependent upon what happens over the course of the next week and a half, the Buffalo Sabres could have 30th place pretty much locked up by then.
A full and final purge of UFA's, as many as six, means plenty of opportunity for players in Rochester to either make an impression with the big club for next season or get their feet wet in the NHL as the Amerks season is on the brink of being over. With last night's 4-1 loss to the Hamilton Bulldogs (MTL) Rochester is last in the division with a 22-27-4-0 record and 48 points. The loss at Hamilton put them 10 points behind the Bulldogs who are presently in the eight and final playoff slot in the western conference. The Amerks will need to jump a total of five teams with just over 20 games remaining to make it into the Calder Cup Playoffs. Possible, but not probable.
That being said, players like defensemen Mark Pysyk, Chad Ruhwedel and Jake McCabe could see some extended time with the Sabres as could forwards Tim Schaller and Mikhail Grigorenko. Known quantities like Zac Dalpe and Jerry D'Amigo may also get some time in as well. And I'd love to see defenseman and consummate good soldier Drew Bagnall (if healthy) up with the Sabres for an extended length of time.
As boring as it is right now, it's to be expected, as the deconstruction of Regier's roster will fully come to a close over the course of the next five or six months.
And that's a good thing.
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