Sabres Edge

As the cover of the Ottawa Sun shows, the people in Canada's capital weren't all that thrilled with deadline day. The Senators' only move was getting Martin Lapointe (though they did get Cory Stillman and Mike Commodore before Tuesday).

The Sun quotes Senators GM Bryan Murray as saying he went after the Sabres' Brian Campbell. The paper says the team may have offered prospects Nick Foligno (son of Sabres Hall of Famer Mike Foligno), Ilja Zubov or Alexander Nikulin and a pick. Instead, Sabres GM Darcy Regier sent Campbell to San Jose for Steve Bernier and a pick.

"I felt like what I offered Darcy was better than what they got from San Jose, but Campbell wasn't going to stay in the East. The Sabres wanted him to go West," Murray told the paper.

Bernier is more of what the Sabres need.

---John Vogl

This isn't exactly breaking news, but Brad Richards could be precisely the guy the Stars need to push them deep into the postseason. The Stars were in desperate need of scoring help, and Richards is one of the NHL's best playmakers when he's right. He hasn't been right for a while.

One step in getting Richards back on course is getting him out of Tampa Bay. He's become a target for fans who have grown tired of watching him underachieve the past two seasons while pocketing $7.8 million. Plus-minus isn't the best indicator of how a player is performing, but it is an indicator. And his minus-25 indicates he plays less defense than Danny Briere.

Richards' biggest problem might have been playing for John Tortorella, especially after the center became a star. Torts doesn't take to star players. He and Vinny Lecavalier have had their problems over the years. After a while, it gets suffocating.

Now, Richards can breathe again. Can he breathe life into the Stars?

--- Bucky Gleason

I'm not sure what happened with the Habs at the deadline, but it looks like Bob Gainey had a Bob Corkum moment. Let me get this straight: He traded away Cristobal Huet for a second-round pick, and that's it?

My guess is Gainey was trying to clear up some money in an effort to get Marian Hossa from the Thrashers. If that's the case, he should have made darned sure it was a done deal before relying on rookie Carey Price to carry them through.

Price has been inconsistent this season, which is expected from first-year goalies. It still amazes me that Cam Ward was able to hold it together a couple years ago in Carolina. Regardless, for them to lose a safety net in Huet and not get Hossa is a major, major blunder.

Good thing Gainey is a legend in Montreal. If he were anyone else anywhere else, it might be enough to get a guy fired. Maybe Patrick Roy is still in shape.

--- Bucky Gleason

A couple YouTube clips of Steve Bernier, including a recent intermission interview and a compilation of some goal highlights.

---Mike Harrington

Darcy Regier just met the media again. Some quick hits that really stuck out to me:

1). On this year's goals without Brian Campbell: "We expect to be good while we build. ... We still expect to make the playoffs."

2). On the offer to Campbell in relation to other contracts being signed around the league: "Three years is not enough."

Ya think? Regier obviously knew this a long time ago. Seems like he wanted to make sure the boys in the owner's box really believe him when July comes and it's time to talk to Ryan Miller.

3). On Miller's contract: "We will address it. We will find a solution [on a long-term deal]."

Let's see if Regier can live up to these words. Would be nice if Golisano & Co. would let him do his job the right way.

---Mike Harrington

Not that the Sabres could use an upgrade behind Miller. No, they don't need that (smirk). Actually, getting another goaltender or two in the organization would be a darn good idea. The Sabs soon must decide whether Miller warrants Lundqvist money. And that's hardly a slam-dunk.

---Bob DiCesare

Waiting to hear again from Darcy Regier as the deadline has passed. No word yet if there's any more deals coming from the Sabres.

On a day that was hardly normal, the players tried to have a normal day with off-ice work and then a full practice. After all, there is a game here tomorrow night against Nashville. Paul Gaustad said the mood in the room was "somber" in the wake of the Brian Campbell trade. Ryan Miller said it was another lesson in the business of the game.

The finality of it all was easy to spot. You just had to look in the corner between the lockers of Daniel Paille and Patrick Kaleta. There was an empty stall. Even Campbell's nameplate was down.

---Mike Harrington

Sidney Crosby and Colby Armstrong are perfect complements for each other. I could see it at the end of December when I spent two days in Pittsburgh to get stories for the Winter Classic, and ESPN's Scott Burnside wrote about it very well recently. Now Armstrong's gone, and it will be interesting to see how hockey's foremost player reacts when he returns from injury.

The Penguins got the biggest fish in the market, acquiring Marian Hossa from Atlanta, along with one of this year's biggest tormentors of the Sabres, Pascal Dupuis. But the Pens gave up a ton: Armstrong, elite prospect Angelo Esposito, forward Erik Christensen and a first-round pick.

Hossa is great, but I think Armstrong had a ton of potential to get near his level. Either way, Pittsburgh is near the top of the chart that lists 2008 Stanley Cup favorites.

---John Vogl

Marian Hossa is still a Thrasher and Olli Jokinen is still a Panther. Nothing new from the Sabres about Dmitri Kalinin or anyone else.

---Mike Harrington

Steve Bernier has a very high opinion of Brian Campbell. It's going to drive him toward being a good player himself.

Bernier, acquired from San Jose today for Campbell, said he's going to use the trade as an opportunity to prove he should be traded for a two-time All-Star.

"Campbell is pretty much the best defenseman in the league, from my point of view," Bernier said on a conference call. "It's going to be tough. I'm young right now. I've got a lot of growing to do to become a good player. I'm happy to do it with the Sabres. I'm going to work hard and try to be as good as possible to make sure that trade is going to be a good trade for the Sabres."

The 22-year-old right winger is expected to arrive in Buffalo tonight and dress for the Sabres on Wednesday when they host the Nashville Predators. The Quebec City native is 6-foot-2, 225 pounds.

"My game is simple," Bernier said. "What I'm doing is try to create space for my linemates, be in front of the net as much as possible, hit."

The Sharks' first-round pick in 2003 has been in a scoring funk, much like the rest of his team. It's why they traded him for a point-producer like Campbell.

"At first I was surprised but right now I feel good," Bernier said. "I'm very excited to be going to Buffalo. I know they've got very good young players, and it's an exciting day for me right now."

---John Vogl

Darcy Regier went back upstairs in HSBC Arena after discussing the Brian Campbell deal, and the thinking is there may be more deals on the way.

Even though the Sabres traded one defenseman, don't be surprised if they trade a second. Dmitri Kalinin is in the same unrestricted boat as Campbell, though at much less money. At first notion it's crazy to trade a second D-man, but it's possible the Sabres could get a younger guy back. Keep an eye on Vancouver.

---John Vogl

Brian Campbell's last message to Sabres fans was a simple one, and it came from the heart.

"Don't boo me when I come back," the defenseman said this afternoon shortly after being traded to the San Jose Sharks.

Campbell fought back tears but also chuckled with reporters as he discussed the trade. He was sent to San Jose along with a seventh-round draft pick in exchange for 22-year-old right wing Steve Bernier and a first-round pick.

"It's life changing," Campbell said in HSBC Arena.

Campbell spent eight seasons with the Sabres, and he was informed of the trade by General Manager Darcy Regier and coach Lindy Ruff.

"Lindy and I met with him and thanked him," Regier said. "There's a lot of respect and that will continue."

Bernier was a first-round pick by the Sharks in the 2003 draft, No. 16 overall. He has 13 goals and 10 assists in 59 games for the Sharks.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder had played on the second line with Sharks center Patrick Marleau. The winger had struggled of late. He hasn't scored in 12 games, part of a team-wide problem that forced the team to look for offense. Campbell is expected to provide that, especially as the point man on the power play.

"Steve Bernier addressed an immediate need and a future need," Regier said. "He's a young player who will be able to help us now and down the road."

Bernier, who turns 23 at the end of March, had an outstanding junior career. He scored at least 31 goals all four years, led by a career-high 49.

Regier said it became clear in the past few days a deal would not be reached with Campbell and a trade was the best option.

"We would all preferred to have him or keep him here," Regier said. "But this is part of the new CBA we have to deal with.

"It's unfortunate for the fans."

"We've been talking contract for a long time. It's the process that played out."

Campbell admitted he was frustrated with the negations with the Sabres. He desperately wanted a long-term deal with Buffalo, but the Sabres offered just a three-year deal.

"I can't sign a three-year deal like that," said Campbell, who pointed out that Florida's Richard Zednik could have died in the arena this month and it forced Campbell to think of how short a players' career could be. "You see what happens. You have to look out for No. 1."

Campbell joins a Sharks team that includes former Sabres Mike Grier and Curtis Brown. The defenseman also knows GM Doug Wilson from his junior days in Ottawa and grew up playing summer hockey with Joe Thornton.

"It is [sad]," Regier said. "I think it's a very sad day. These guys start as draft picks, and 10 years later you get to know them and they're part of the team."

---John Vogl

The Sabres officially have announced they acquired right wing Steve Bernier and a first-round pick from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Brian Campbell and a seventh-round pick.

Bernier was a first-round pick by the Sharks in the 2003 draft, No. 16 overall. He has 13 goals and 10 assists in 59 games for the Sharks.

Bernier, a 6-foot-2, 225-pounder, had played on the second line with Sharks center Patrick Marleau. The winger had struggled of late. He hasn't scored in 12 games, part of a team-wide problem that forced the team to look for offense. Campbell is expected to provide that, especially as the point man on the power play.

"Steve Bernier addressed an immediate need and a future need," Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier said. "He's a young player who will be able to help us now and down the road."

Bernier, who turns 23 at the end of March, had an outstanding junior career. He scored at least 31 goals all four years, led by a career-high 49.

Regier said it became clear in the past few days a deal would not be reached with Campbell and a trade was the best option.

"We would all preferred to have him or keep him here," Regier said. "But this is part of the new CBA we have to deal with.

"It's unfortunate for the fans."

Campbell spent eight seasons with the Sabres, and he was informed of the trade by Regier and coach Lindy Ruff.

"Lindy and I met with him and thanked him," Regier said. "There's a lot of respect and that will continue."

"We've been talking contract for a long time. It's the process that played out.

"It is [sad]," Regier said. "I think it's a very sad day. These guys start as draft picks, and 10 years later you get to know them and they're part of the team."

---John Vogl

TSN is reporting Brian Campbell has been traded to San Jose. The Sabres just emerged from their locker room in workout clothes and headed toward the hallway adjacent to the arena pavilion to run. Campbell was with them. More to come.

---Mike Harrington

Wade Belak, who gets plenty of cheers in Air Canada Centre when his name is announced as a scratch for the Maple Leafs, was sent to the Florida Panthers for a fifth-round draft pick. I always liked the defenseman as a person because he is one funny guy who is eager to fill a notebook.

---John Vogl

The Devils get defenseman Bryce Salvador from St. Louis for forward Cam Janssen, who is a St. Louis native and will be going home.

---Mike Harrington

The Sabres have been told to report to HSBC Arena for a mandatory 10:45 a.m. meeting. They may not go on the ice today. Brian Campbell is already here and was just spotted working on a stick and talking to longtime equipment manager Rip Simonick outside the dressing room. Stay tuned.

---Mike Harrington

Mike Comrie becomes the latest to re-sign with his team and take his name off the market. The forward, who tormented the Sabres in the opening two losses of the season but hasn't lived up to that start, reportedly signed a one-year, $4 million deal.

And, more importantly, good morning. Should be an interesting day in Sabreland. Have fun, and check back at the Sabres Edge and the breaking news home page at buffalonews.com for the latest, up-to-the-minute news, analysis and whatever else.

---John Vogl

What a brutal night. Things figure to get even nuttier on Tuesday.

By the time the Sabres play Nashville here Wednesday night, they could have quite a different look. Brian Campbell is gone. No way he's staying. He basically gave his goodbye speech in the locker room after Monday's game, waxing poetic about the city, the fans and everyone's perseverance through the bankruptcy days.

I'm not going to go on and on about the disgrace that was the 4-3 shootout loss to the previously pathetic Flyers. Suffice to say, you can't blow a three-goal lead at home to a team on a 10-game losing streak and think you're going anywhere in the playoffs.

Let's think positive and it's easy to do when you look around the league. Dan Boyle (Tampa Bay) and Barret Jackman (St. Louis) re-signed with their current teams Monday night. Think Campbell took note of Boyle's six-year, $40-million deal? Uh-huh. But that actually helps the Sabres. I'm betting the offers Darcy Regier will get for Campbell are going to be even juicier since No. 51 is now the top available defenseman on the market.

(Dan Boyle got $40 million? $40 million???!! Exactly why did this league shut down for an entire season?)

Regier should take this thing right to 2:59 p.m. and maximize the haul he can get for Campbell. It should be a big one, a deal that could help the Sabres for a long time. No way Campbell was getting six years and $40 million or anything close. He's not worth that either.

Make the deal, Darcy.

---Mike Harrington

The man most linked with Brian Campbell leading up to the trade deadline, Tampa Bay defenseman Dan Boyle, is staying with the Lightning. The 31-year-old signed a six-year deal worth $40 million. That's $6.66 million per year, plus a no-trade clause.

With those numbers in play -- and it was no secret it was those type of numbers at play -- there was no way Campbell would have taken the three-year deal that Buffalo offered. Hockey contracts are guaranteed, and if a player knows for sure he can get a paycheck for five, six or seven years, then three is nothing.

---John Vogl

Brian Campbell just took the ice for the pregame warmup in his normal spot directly behind Ryan Miller. There has been talk the Sabres would scratch him with a trade apparently imminent. That could, of course, still happen but we'll have to wait for the lineups to be announced in a few minutes.

---Mike Harrington

Just like the Avs did with Peter Forsberg, the Red Wings added a familiar name when they signed Darren McCarty to a one-year deal announced late this afternoon. McCarty was the grit on Detroit's three Stanley Cup champions and scored a spectacular Cup-winning goal in the '97 final as the Wings swept Philadelphia to end a 42-year title drought.

Of course, McCarty is 35 now. He scored just 13 goals combined over the last two years with Calgary. Detroit had stockpiled him in the AHL with Grand Rapids just to see if he could still play. Apparently the Wings liked what they saw enough to formalize the deal. They need something, as their current 1-7-1 slide would attest.

The Wings, by the way, are in town to meet the Sabres Sunday night. It will be their first trip here since Dec. 10, 2003.

---Mike Harrington

Colorado just added one of the biggest names as the trade deadline approaches, and it didn't even have to give anything up. Peter Forsberg, a Stanley Cup and Olympic gold medal-winner, has returned to the Avalanche.

If his feet are healthy enough, he may be the biggest deadline move.

---John Vogl

Brian Campbell is certain to be traded, his agent, Larry Kelly, has told The News. Fans of Soupy have less than four hours to think of a way to say goodbye before tonight's game against Philadelphia in HSBC Arena.

Is it a good move to get rid of him before you lose him for nothing? It's clear the Sabres and Campbell were not going to reach an agreement on a new contract. The money wasn't that far off, but a recent offer of three years was deemed insulting for a player in his prime. Deals nowadays are much longer.

And who do you want for him? Young forwards? Prospects? An established player and a pick?

---John Vogl

Brian Campbell made of point saying he hopes to be around after Tuesday's trade deadline, so I asked him if the Sabres should add a player to bolster the roster. He said they just need their injured players back. That means Drew Stafford, Maxim Afinogenov and Jochen Hecht.

"If you go down and look at what you can do with four lines when you get everybody healthy, I think this team is equipped to make a stab at it," Campbell said.

Do you agree? Here's what the lines might look like with everyone healthy and no one gone.

Thomas Vanek-Derek Roy-Ales Kotalik

Tim Connolly-Jochen Hecht-Jason Pominville

Daniel Paille-Paul Gaustad-Drew Stafford

Patrick Kaleta or Clarke MacArthur-Adam Mair-Maxim Afinogenov

Is that a lineup that can succeed? And of course, you can change the lines. I did about five times as I was writing them.

---John Vogl