Terry Pegula has announced that he is extending the contract of Sabres GM, Darcy Regier.
Sabres owners and lover of hockey, Terry Pegula, apologized to the fans for the NHL lockout.
Terms and conditions are not yet known.
Darcy Regier has been General Manager of the Buffalo Sabres since he took over the job from John Muckler in 1997, the longest tenure of any Sabres GM in the 40+ year history of the franchise. During Regier's tenure the Sabres has played Stanley Cup Finals in 1999 and back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances in 2006 and 2007 – while also managing the team through its most difficult times. He has molded the Sabres into one of the most competitive and exciting young teams in professional hockey.
Regier and head coach Lindy Ruff make up the longest GM/Coach combination in pro sports and have had more success than any tandem in franchise history.
Prior to joining the Sabres, Regier served in roles with the Islanders as: Director of Hockey Administration, Assistant Coach, and Assistant General Manager. While on Long Island, he supervised the club’s amateur development, and saw their International Hockey League affiliate win back-to-back championships (Denver Grizzlies in 1994-95 and then, after moving to Salt Lake City, the Utah Grizzlies in 1995-96). Legendary Islanders’ coach Al Arbour, along with Bill Torrey, who served in roles as General Manager, President, Chairman of the Board, and Consultant with New York, were significant contributors to Regier’s career in hockey. Regier left the Islanders organization briefly in the 1991-92 season to serve as an assistant coach with the Hartford Whalers.
Born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, he was the fifth choice (77th overall) of the California Golden Seals in the 1976 Amateur Draft. He appeared in 26 NHL games over the course of three seasons with the Cleveland Barons and the New York Islanders, totaling two assists and 35 PIM. Regier played parts of eight seasons of professional hockey and was a member of three championship teams. In 1982, he was named a First Team All-Star with Indianapolis (IHL), where he learned from one of the people he considers an influence on his hockey life, current Detroit Red Wings Senior Vice President Jim Devellano, then the team’s GM.
During his playing career, Regier was involved in the early setup of the Professional Hockey Players’ Association.
Darcy and his wife, Katherine, reside in Clarence and have three sons: Jonathan, Justin, and Jarrett.
Regier and Pegula were asked to comment on the likelihood of Ryan Miller, Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville having expiring contracts after the 2013-14 season.
Regier said that there have already been discussions inside the organization about the future of "The Big 3".
Will the Sabres re-sign all three? two of them? One of them? None of them?
I can see Vanek and Pominville re-signing in Buffalo. Miller will have multiple options available to him.
Lindy Ruff has confirmed that Grigo WILL play on Sunday vs. the Flyers. It will be the kid's first ever NHL game.
@kwsnow reports that Ruff also said that Ville Leino is hampered by an existing leg ailment and that the veteran forward's status for the season opener vs. Philly will be determined.
Leino was hobbled by the leg issue at Friday's skate. Groin?
Leino opted against playing in Europe during the lockout. Perhaps his injury is due to the increased demands on his legs at Sabres camp opposed to the shinny pace he was skating at with the boys at the Northtown Center during the lockout. Groins and hip flexors will be the injuries du jour as the NHL season opens this weekend.
We'll see Sunday morning if he plays against his former team.
Sabres owner Terry Pegula, Ted Black and Darcy Regier will address the media at Noon today.
This will be Pegula's first public commentary since the lockout ended.
NHL owners and governors were under a strictly enforced gag order by the the NHL Executive Committee during the lockout. Owners faced the penalty of a $1 million fine if they broke silence and spoke with the media regarding the lockout.
I'm very curious to hear Pegula's open, honest takes.
I'm not one for predictions and prognostications. No one cares what I have to say about the Eastern Conference.
Frankly, I'm fascinated by this 48 games sprintring to the NHL finish line. This add your grand daddy's 82 game odyssey, where teams can recover from 10-12 game losing streaks during the season, only to squeak into the playoffs on the final day of the season.
This season is different. Every game counts. Teams that leave points on the table are going to pay for it in April when the window closes on the regular season. 48 games compressed into 97 days. You win, you get in. You lose, you go golfing.
Goal tending will be critical. The team's with the hottest goalies will advance to the playoffs. The teams that struggle between the pipes will wish they had addressed their needs.
Goal scoring will be key because post-lockout NHL games are going to look frantic at first. The teams with the players who played overseas in Russia, Switzerland, German, and Austria during the lockout will have the decided advantage over the teams whose players stayed stateside and in Canada for 113 days of shinny and bag skates.
Defense will be a critical component too.l
The team trainers wil be MVP candidates as their plate will be full while they try with all their might to stretch their players and to get them the proper amount of rest, recovery, and repair with all of the bumps, bruise, groin pulls, and hip flexors.
My Eastern Conference predictions feature a couple of eye poppers, like John Tavares and the NY Islanders finally breaking on through to the other side, and the NJ Devils failing to qualify for the playoffs by virtue of the loss of their best player, Zach Parise last July. Steven Stamkos and the upstart Lightning will make the playoffs, while Ottawa, Carolina and Montreal will not make the grade.
Eastern Conference standings
1. Pittsburgh Penguins (division winner)
2. Washingtin Capitals (division winner) 3. Buffalo Sabres (division winner)
4. NY Rangers
5. Philadelphia Flyers
6. Tampa Bay Lightning
7. Boston Bruins
8. NY Islanders
_____________________________
9. Carolina Hurricanes
10. Ottawa Senators
11. Winnipeg Jets
12. New Jersey Devils
13. Montreal Canadiens
14. Toronto Maple Leafs
15. Florida Panthers
The Buffalo Sabres Friday announced that they will once again offer the “Tickets for Troops” and “Ultimate Sabres Fan Experience” programs for the 2012-13 season.
Tickets for Troops is a program made possible by Sabres forward Nathan Gerbe that provides game tickets to military service members throughout the season. Gerbe will provide a pair of tickets to a different military member from Western New York starting with Sunday’s home opener against Philadelphia, and continuing for each of Buffalo’s 23 remaining regular-season home games this year.
Military members who would like to be considered for these tickets can visit www.Sabres.com to complete the Tickets for Troops application. The seats are located in Sec 100, Row 18.
Tickets for Troops is a non-profit organization founded in 2007 to show appreciation for and give thanks to the members of the military for the hardships they endure and the sacrifices they make while on deployment.
The Ultimate Sabres Fan experience gives fans a special opportunity to experience a Sabres game like never before. Fans can win an “experience” by participating in an online auction with a winner chosen for each of the Sabres’ 24 home games in 2012-13. All proceeds of the auctions will go directly to the Buffalo Sabres Foundation.
Each “Ultimate Sabres Fan Experience” will consist of:
Two (2) tickets to a Sabres home game; Section 111, Row 1.
Opportunity to watch the pre-game skate from the Sabres’ penalty box.
Access to the VIP rope line between periods to watch the players take the ice.
Recognition on the HD video board during the game.
Opportunity to attend Lindy Ruff’s post-game press conference.
Winners will also receive an exclusive Buffalo Sabres Ultimate Fan Pack including a game program and free parking.
The Ultimate Fan Experience auction can be accessed through the Sabres Foundation auction section on NHL.com. Bidding has already commenced, and will end two days prior to the game date.
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