Bucky, Butler and more

A quick look at some of the NHL items from today:

*"Take a few twirls around the Northeast Division, and all but one team is either making significant attempts to improve or doing what they can to keep what’s in place," Bucky Gleason writes. "The Senators and Canadiens have playoff talent. Boston should be back near the top of the division. The Leafs will only get better.

"The Sabres are doing, well, nothing. Their idea of upgrading the organization so far has been signing Steve Montador. What, Doug Janik wasn’t available? If anything, they’re actually worse. [Jaroslav] Spacek wasn’t worth the money he’s collecting from Montreal, but dropping him and adding Montador is a net loss."

*Chris Butler was a potent defenseman and power-play cog in college at Denver, and he wants that role in the NHL. The chance is there. The Sabres lost defenseman Jaroslav Spacek to Montreal in free agency. Spacek was a special teams quarterback and the best point-producer on the blue line. Someone needs to replace his output, and General Manager Darcy Regier has already hinted Butler is the guy to do it.

"I'd like to become more of an offensive threat," Butler said.

*Williamsville's Todd Marchant re-signed with Anaheim for two years.

*Chris Pronger wanted to make sure he spent more than one season in Philadelphia, agreeing to a seven-year contract extension. (The Flyers are Cup contenders, but these long-term deals are going to hurt them at some point.)

---John Vogl

Comments

[Amy]

Ya...why the heck would we make any more moves anyway? We've made our deals. We're set, right? Now we have the formula for the winning team! Although I did read in the Toronto Sun that we were in talks with Toronto for Kaberle. Big name to Buffalo? Now that's a joke! Oh well..I give up..thanks for the advice Chad, gonna listen cause it's not like anything would happen anyway!

[Chad]

Amy, take your hand off the mouse. Step back from the rumor sites. Stop getting worked up about that garbage.

[Amy]

Just read on hockeybuzz.com (which I'm probably behind, dont yell at me!) but the Sabres are looking at Tanguay from St. Louis?? I need this explained to me...isnt he the wrong position for what we actually need?!? Shouldnt we be looking for a RW? And since when we would sign someone for more than $1 million a year!! Tommy G would never allow anything over that! Wow...I think this one is more of a laugh than anything..

[Chad]

Soupy, the Hawks are under the cap. This is the first year that bonuses are NOT counted against the cap. Last year, Kane had a cap hit of $3.725, $2.8 or so of which was bonus. This year, his cap hit is $875k. Similar situation for Keith and Toews. You can see how this new rule helps the Hawks, a team with several superstars (Keith, Kane, Toews) still on entry-level deals. They'll have a payroll of around $61 million, yet still be under the cap.

As for the Morrison rumor, those rumor sites are terrible. Stop believing them.

[Amy]

cannibalking525,

Yet again....I agree! Why are we courting soft players, and not going after what we REALLY need. I swear, our management is doing whatever they can to just get by. This is seriously ridiculous!! The sad thing is, I'm still going to watch the games, and I'd still buy tickets when I have the chance. Why? Cause I'm a fan. It's almost too bad that I am considering how the management isnt bothering to give the fans a total team.

[soupy]

Hockeybuzz.com says Hawks are $4.5 M OVER the cap right now.

[Greg]

The site is less credible than Eklund. Take it for what it's worth...nothing.

[cannibalking525]

Just what we need...another soft forward who scores 16 goals a year. PATHETIC!!!

[Sluglord]

RUMOR: Brendan Morrison to Sabres is almost done.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/214473-hockey-rumor-buzz-volume-8-morrison-to-sabres-is-almost-done

Take that for what it's worth.

[Kevin S.]

The reason why Darcy is not gone and has stayed in his position so long, is because he is doing exactly what Quinn and Golisano want him to! He is keeping us fans at bay and taking the hits for them. He is being blamed and shouldering all the bashing for the cheapness of the owner, and it has their stamp of approval. Think about it seriously, you have a fan base that sells 90% of the seats in renewal every year. You have an owner that a businessman that only cares about the bottom line. You have a part owner Golisano suck up in Quinn, that says "the fans of Buffalo deserve better" yet he is not giving Darcy and firepower. You can't make me believe any different, don't you think Darcy would pull the trigger if he could? I do. But he can't! Why because he isn't allowed to. That is the real problem. Golisano holds the purse strings, he could not accept it and change this team around if he wanted to. IF the owner cared he would dictate changes be made and Quinn and Regier would fall in line. So I am going to put two and two together and put the blame squarely where it lies. Tom Golisano, either sell this team to someone who cares or do something to improve it!! Darcy is not to blame people can't pull the gun if you don't have the green light from the owne now can you? Darcy is the fall guy , that is why he stays , because he takes the hits and runs things exactly the way they want. Look at reality people and tell me why did Tom Golisano even buy the team, my bet is it's an investment that only grows in time and is a huge tax write off. So when he sells the team whenever he will net X amount of dollars from his initial investment , without spending a fortune to maintain it in the meantime. This team isn't a team, it's a franchise run on a tight budget, and Golisano will laugh all the way to the bank when he profits on it's sale in the end, because thats all he wants. Not championships , but money in his pockets and a write off in between.

[Chris]

That's right. Sabres ownership/management doesn't have to do ONE thing to make this team better.

All the ticket buyers have reinforced for them that a crappy product sells.

[Mark F]

The worst thing that could have happened was season ticket renewal was so high so early. These guys won't do anything because they have your money. It's bad, real bad. I listen to Regier talk and I just hear a lawyer or someone running for office.

[Guido]

Mike, I couldn't agree with you more. The Sabres will make atleast one other move. I'm hoping they trade either Hank or Lydman for a solid power forward.

[Mike]

Hey Buffalo Sabres fans, or should I say Hey to all my fellow Sabre Loyalist !!
We're the only ones that care...
While other teams are manuveuring and changing their rosters, to ultimatley deliver a winning team to THEIR loyal fans and a chance at winning the Stanely Cup, Sabre brass at HSBC are as quiet as the vacant factories in Lackawanna. That means you first have to get to the playoffs. Yes, Darcy, our team hasn't been there in two years and next years team is minus Jaro, plus Montador. That's it ??!!

Tommy G is cheap and now living in Florida. That's good- get him as far away from HSBC as possible. When owners get involved, teams lose. Let the hockey people run the show. Managing partner Larry Quinn needs to set a budget and get out of the way, and let Darcy do his job.

It looks like Darcy's hands are tied. The Montador deal was good. There has to be more, I'm mean comeon ??
There's plenty of opportunities out there. I'm not talking about a Pronger type deal. Jiri Hudler, a forward with Detriot last season, went to arbitration a couple days ago and just signed a deal for 2 Mil. Do the Sabres not have that kind of money ? Are the owners that cheap ? How much below the Salary cap is the Sabres' budget ? How tight are Darcy's hands tied by Larry Q?

Here's the real deal quesiton: If Regier was a GM somewhere else ( in the Northeast - Adams division) he'd be doing something closely related to what his counterparts in Murry, Burke and Gainey are doing in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal respectively.

So many questions for us loyal fans....not many answers which always equates to disspointment.

And for those fans out there that are so positive and enthused about the draft. Those guys we just drafted are two to three years out from wearing Sabres jerseys.

I've got one answer: If you don't care about the team, our Sabres, Mr. Galisano, please sell to someone that does becuase, as a Sabres fan, and watching the Sabres staff sitting on the sidelines is completely dissapointing and unacceptable.

[Maverick]

I've become numb to the hopes that anything will be done to improve the roster for this season, because this GM never does ANYTHING! This getting a guy for "good value" will only get you marginal results. It will keep you in the pack, but you won't win. It's discouraging to see good palyers sign other places for reasoanble money. We'll have this fragile crew for yet another year.

[lounotinafghanistananymore]

hey CS2: I agree about the salaries. Isn't this what lead to the lockout? sign me. I'll literally play for free, and i'll give all the fans what they've been complaining about lacking. I may not score much but i sure play hard and got awards to prove it (i learned early that you can fool people and conceal lack of skill with hard work).

[CalgarySabre2]

I love Buffalo and its people. I drove from my home in Toronto to my seats at the Aud for a long time (1971 - 1980) and I fly back from Calgary to watch games. So go be miserable, Grant, apparently this city does not miss you. Hey, I even met a Sabres fan from DC (although maybe not this message board's Sabres fan from DC) at the Mendenhall Galcier in Alaska last summer. We are everywhere. I still think the main thing the Sabres need to add is a good, reliable back up goalie (Biron? Darcy, are you calling Biron?) because with a few periods of decent rest for Miller, this team can make the playoffs. But Miller cannot play all season and the Olympics and still be fresh and healthy. Beyond that, a scorer would be nice, but the salaries being tossed around are just goofy.

[Mike F]

Grant,

Thanks so much for leaving town.

We never liked the few insulting big mouth losers like yourself to begin with. With one less of you... this town is much better off!

But something tells me you really miss this place... to waste time blogging about it to the locals.

PLEASE don't come back!

[Jwolfe]

The empty promises coming out of Sabreland are a huge story and the Buffalo News should be all over it. There should be a giant picture of Darcy and Larry with an article questioning their "lack of progress". Instead we get the same old Bucky blog. Are Vogl and Harrington incapable of doing a negative story? If Jim Kelley was still the beat writer he would have been all over this. Right now it's a marriage made in heaven between the News and the Sabres. The Sabre beat writers keep pouring out the "fluff" (see Butler story) and Bucky gets to be the fall guy. That way Darcy can say that Bucky has a personal agenda against the Sabres while the regular press is supportive. Can one of you guys call Larry Quinn and get an interview this week? Or maybe Golisano? Something, anything? It's not like there are a ton of stories for you to be covering right now. It's like like you're in Montreal or Toronto where things are actually happening.

[Amy]

Well, whoever is to blame, they need to get off whatever they are on thinking that this team is almost there. Ya, we may be, but if we are 'almost there,' then how are we going to 'get there' if no one does anything about it?!?

cannibalking525 -- no harm done, it's all frustrating, I agree. We all know something has to be done, but yet, no one does anything but say we are almost there, just give it another year. Well how many more other years are we going to have to wait? 2 years with no playoffs is long enough. Darcy (or whoever is slowing us down) needs to get off their lazy butts and do something!! Wake up, and smell the free agency!!

[Vandy Adam]

I think all the Darcy hate is misdirected. Quinn seems to keep tight reins on all personnel decisions and he clearly has no clue what he is doing. If I blame Regeir for anything, it's for going with the flow and allowing a non-hockey person to wield WAY too much power in the organization. It's like the Bills all over again, if the Sabres ever win anything, it will be despite lousy ownership.

[cannibalking525]

Amy-

Sorry...just frustrated with the whole thing. AND...while Regier was getting that pedicure, the Wings signed Janik! Geez Bucky...why did you have to tell the whole world Janik was available...Darcy was just about to make his move!

[Amy]

cannibalking525,

I was only pointing out that Versteeg was picked back up by the 'Hawks, and that we lost out again. You dont have to explain anything to me. I totally agree with what you are saying. I just didnt know if you realized that he was signed. Maybe you should have read the rest of the post that mentioned that Darcy was SLEEPING while the rest of the league is awake and making trades!!!I knew Versteeg was restricted, but we arent even going after UFA's. I think you need to not read into my post. I agreed with you, I wasnt against you.

[abdul]

Hearing Darcy talk just bores the hell out of me. He sounds more like a financial analyst than a GM. I know it is only a week into free agency, but I really wonder how intent the team is to make a number of moves to get the dead weight off the roster. There is a lot of players on this team that could be jettisoned tomorrow and I would not have a problem with it. The big problem with this team is they fall in love with too many players. Too many players are allowed to have their value erode (Kalinin, Kotalik, Tallinder, Hecht, Afinogenov, etc.).

[Beavis]

I don't know what I find more humorous:

The fact that some dingus named Grant can slam people for slacking on their jobs while he takes time from his awesome job outside of Buffalo to read this blog and posts comments at 11am. Just dripping with irony.

or

The fact that people think Darcy is going to do something about this roster.

Face it folks, we're stuck with this team.

[cannibalking525]

Maybe we should transfer to the Icecapades League...although Dorothy Hamill would mop the ice with Connolly.

[SabresFan in DC]

There's a good article on "The Hockey News" website about how tough the Northeast Division will be this season. But here's the only thing it says about the Sabres:

"Similarly, the Buffalo Sabres have a lot of talent on their roster, but it’s brittle. Every year we play the “if Tim Connolly stays healthy…” game and every year the inevitable injuries occur. Can you foresee a season in which Connolly can get through 12 combined games against the Boston and bulked-up Toronto defense corps unscathed?"

[cannibalking525]

Amy,

I know Versteeg now has a contract with the 'Hawks. He was a restricted FA anyway. I'm saying he's on the trade market because the 'Hawks can't afford all of the contracts they just signed up. They're right at the salary cap max and they don't have a back up goalie...get rid of Lalime and hand it over to Enroth. Pick up a couple of their mid-level contracts, give 'em back a D now, a prospect D and a pick and sabertooth if we have to...I'M SAYING THE TRADES ARE RIGHT THERE FOR THE TAKING AND OUR GM IS HAVING TEA OR GETTING A PEDICURE OR SOMETHING...we know he's not working the FA market, but he told us he was working the trade market...by the way, you should have clicked on the link and read the article and I wouldn't be explaining this again. Maybe you should take D'arcy up on that date so he can explain...he is however, developing the waterfront right now, though.

[dwight in philly]

i comprehend the 'let the kids play" ideology, but it gets mgmt off the hook.there are guys out there that could add toughness and come cheap. travis moen comes to mind, i am waiting to hear exactly what the "plan" is, if in fact there is one. it is criminal how the mgmt treats the fans. the arrogance on their part should not be tolerated.

[Bill K. - West Hartford, CT]

A quick message to our very good friends Grant and Darcy Regier...You are both douchebags!!

Grant, we're glad you left, so start following your own advice and never look back!!

Darcy we want you to follow Grant out of town and never look back either!!

[Brad K]

It's easy.............If you can't sign any big name FA's, and nobody wants to trade you for the mediocre talent that you have, then lets start over and see if anyone has any passion left.

Let ALL the kids play. By that I mean: Gerbe, Kennedy, Myers, and Weber. Give them all prominent roles on the team and see what happens. It's obvious that what we have right now doesn't excite anyone or instill the passion to succeed. Let's throw the kids in and have some fun. At least their gaining experience and the coaching staff is gonna see what we really have!! Maybe Darcy will even save his job because we might find out that these kids can really play!!!! It's a much better choice than another listless boring season with the same uninspired players(not all), but they know who they are!!!

The passion and the determination of the kids mixed in with the few quality pros that we have might turn out ok, and even if it doesn't, what's the worst that can happen, we miss the playoffs again while being entertained???? there was nothing even remotely entertaining about last year

[chuckster]

Grant is probably living in a city like Atlanta or Washington or Tampa where the taxes are half of what they are here but the cost of housing is triple what it is here in Buffalo. And the cost of living is 10% more on top of that. And he probably spends 2 hours a day trying to get to his job that pays $10K more a year than what he would get in Buffalo. Yeah, that's progress for all those folks looking for a better living.

[vinny]

Grant -- if you hate Buffalo so much, why in the world are you reading The Buffalo News? Do us all a favor and stay away, cut all ties, let it go, and pledge your allegiance to suburban Florida or North Carolina or whatever warm but culture-less s***hole you live in now...

[Larry]

Hey Darcy-this is your owner Larry-get off the internet and help me develop the waterfront. I said NOW!!!

[D'arcy]

Hey Amy, what's your number? Wanna get some dinner and maybe talk some transactions? We can even talk a little about hockey if you want.

[Amy]

Cannonbalking525: Versteeg is officially off the market.. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=436500

Way to go Darcy!! The rest of the NHL is making moves while you sleep. Way to get our team to where we need to be. You are a tool!

[lounotinafghanistananymore]

my friends always ask me why i'm so angry. it's usually because i get so bothered by all the idiots in this country (see michael jackson funeral where a child molester death gets more sorrow and more coverage than a soldier's death). Buffalo has been afflicted with some unfortunate historical events (industrial decay re: st. L Seaway, etc) and ALOT of poor leadership. There are positives happening because of the work and vision of ordinary citizens. I'm not going to wish karma on anyone, God will take care of that, but what is it that makes someone go out of their way to bash something they obviously don't have an interest in? It's sad. Go fight the GWOT if you're looking for something to do. PS I Don't live in Buffalo; returning first chance I get.

[SabresFan in DC]

I was born and raised in Buffalo but moved 12 years ago (due to my career). I've lived in Texas, Ottawa, Michigan, and now DC. Yeah, Buffalo has its problems, so does everywhere. But it will always be home. I agree with tim and dwight. Any city you go to, if you meet someone from Buffalo there's an instant connection.

But that still doesn't change the fact that Darcy is a complete tool and needs to go! Again, he's doing nothing in the off-season. At this rate it's going to be another long, harsh season.

Not for nothing, but I actually had Morris Titanic's autograph on my hockey helmet when I was a kid.

[elephant]

Its all about the losing mentality, people are too nice there, and losing wears on them, bills no playoffs in 9 years/ drunks at the games and sabres, stingy gm and players dont want to go to buffalo. Marchant whos actually from wny? why cant we land big names? Pronger? remember ron francis?. At least you'll have the middle aged women still buying ticks. This was a waste of time, why did I write this? I was curious to see what was going on in buffalo sports and also I'm taking a break from my high paying job in another city.

[dwight in philly]

i agree with tim. every time i come back to buffalo i feel like a kid on xmas morning. the lifestyle of buffalo is so comforting, as are the people. it is a crying shame that the loyal hockey fans of the town are held hostage on a regular basis by an excuse-making, non-performing gm.

[jan]

If Chris Butler wants to be a "cog" in the power play, then he needs to show the coaches he can fill that position. If he does well in camp, he'll force the Sabres to give him the spot he wants and the ice time in games.
It would be hard to convince me that the Sabres' poor performance in the past few years has anything to do with the Buffalo area. Other cities (Detroit as an example) are also going through hard economic times, and they have a good team. I feel it's how Sabres' management has dealt with players, etc. in the past that is the reason why players aren't willing to play here.
It's not the fans-- some of the best hockey fans are here in this area- but we expect that when we spend our hard-earned $$ on tickets to Sabres games, the players will earn their big paychecks by playing with some grit, heart, etc. during every shift in every period in every game.

[lounotinafghanistananymore]

i hope your mom burns to the ground

[tim]

Grant,

I moved to one of the Mid-west's next up and coming cities after growing up in a Northern Suburb of Buffalo and going to College in Ohio.

I live in Columbus, Oh (for job reasons) and it is a town that is actually growing. There isn't a day that goes bye that I don't miss my home, Western New York. Ohio or some place where else will only be where I live. Buffalo will always be my home.

Everytime I corss the border back into New York on 90 at Ripley I start to smile. When I cross under the the rest stop at Angola I get excited and when I drive past the Galleria on the 290, I am almost home.

If you feel the way you do about Buffalo, I'm glad you left too. And I'm glad you won't be looking back. I for one, look back all the time.

[sickofitall]

I agree with Grant this city sucks. Sabres suck, Bills suck. I can't find work cuz our leaders suck. I'm looking for work in other cities and when I find it I'll never look back. I hope Buffalow burns to the ground.

[Bob]

Grant

Your a idiot. Thank God you moved away. Don't have the stones to say where you moved to huh??? Hopefully you moved to Iran.

[lounotinafghanistananymore]

Grant, are you the Grant I went to school with and took a dump in your locker? I'm sorry man, I didn't know it would turn you into pathetic loser. Save yourself, don't associate with us on these boards.

I'm gonna go waste my invaluable time on the Hurricanes message board because I'm an idiot and have nothing else to do so I'll go call them losers.

[Bob]

Darcy says free agency isn't the way to go. He would rather make trades to improve the club. Well. he tried to trade to move back into the 2nd round of the draft. Couldn't do it. What NHL team would be interested in anyone we currently have on our roster besides Miller, Vanek, Roy or Pommiville???? Most of our players are overpaid underachievers.

[Morning Joe]

Grant,

You sound pretty happy to have gotten out of town a decade ago and be done with Buffalo. Yet you feel the need to read the local paper and comment on its blog.

The only thing worse than the type of people you describe are people like you who insist they're glad to be gone yet can't help rubbing that fact in the face of those who still reside.

[Sal]

Grant, will you be my boyfriend?

[dwight in philly]

hey grant, i moved from buffalo to a real dump!.. philly.. this town sucks.. food sucks.. people are miserable.. it makes buffalo look a lot better!.. grow some and tell me what town you moved to, then we can compare notes.