The Sabres skated at Northtowns Center in Amherst on Good Friday.
After the team practice, veteran D, Robyn Regehr was asked by John Vogl of The Buffalo News whether or not he's thinking about the trade rumours that include his name.
"You're talking to the wrong Regier", quipped the UFA-to-be.
Regehr noted that he has thought about whether he would waive his no trade clause on order to expedite a trade to another NHL club. The trade deadline is on Wednesday 4/3 at 3pm.
Regehr's name is often connected to rumors involving a trade with the LA Kings and St. Louis Blues. I would not rule out Regehr and the Pittsburgh Penguins, now that Jarome Iginla has landed in The Burgh. The Pens are looking to add more grit and depth on their blue line as they hunker down and get ready to battle the Boston Bruins in the NHL eastern conference playoffs.
Vogl also noted that captain Jason Pominville has said that Sabres management has not been asked to by the Sabres to waive his no trade clause.
So, all of the Sabres, except Thomas Vanek are on the ice at Northtowns Center right now.
Concerned?
The Sabres have lost two straight one-goal games with their leading scorer on the sidelines, while he nurses an upper body muscle strain.
I'd be concerned right about now.
Vanek certainly could have helped his team in the third period of the Tampa loss, and in the 5-4 shootout loss in Sunrise. Giving away three of four points in Florida could have been avoided were Vanek in the lineup. The Sabres have played in 7 shootouts this season. Vanek has the game deciding goal in two of them. He is 2 for 3 on shootout scoring attempts. He's a game changer. His presence is sorely missed when he's in the press box.
Of his 16 goals, 50% have been scored five on five, while the other 50% have been scored on special teams. Vanek has scored 7 PPG and has added an SHG.
Vanek has scored two game winners this season.
He is their rain maker.
What if he's not ready to play against Washington? Boston? Pittsburgh?
The next three games are critical to the success/failure of the season.
Vanek's availability is a huge question mark for the back-to-backers with the Capitals and Bruins. Missing Friday's practice is not a good sign.
How far can this team go in the next 14 games without Vanek?
With the loser point in Sunrise on Thursday night, the Sabres now have 31 points in 34 games.
They need 52-53 points in order to stab their double-edged sword in the eighth and final playoff spot.
Ryan Miller is doing the math for his teammates:
There's 28 points up for grabs in the next 14 games. Go get 'em.
Thanks, sabres.com
At this point in this most frustrating of seasons, thats all the Sabres players can do.
Leaving three of four points on the table in Florida is certainly regrettable. However, the Sabres' playoff hopes are not dead yet. They are tied with Washington for 11th place in the East (31 points) and trail the eight place Rangers by four points.
Many of you fans have already thrown in the towel. Most of you are looking for the Sabres to lose-out so that the team can have a puncher's chance and drafting one of the top three franchise players in the NHL entry draft in Jonathon Drouin, Nathan MacInnon, or Seth Jones.
Seems simple, right?
Twitter pundits and message board MENSAs are calling for the Sabres to tank their remaining regular season games and give up all hopes on achieving a playoff berth. The "experts" are exulting the Sabres to stink out the joint, play losing hockey, stop caring, quit on the season, and be rewarded by a top three draft choice.
If you are expecting the team to goal 0-14 to finish the season, you've got another thing coming.
If you are one of the doomsday theorists who would just as soon see your team fail deliberately, rather than uphold its fiduciary responsibility to the fans, management, and ownership, don't hold your breath. Its not going to happen.
This team is one big trade away from turning around its fortunes and salvaging its lockout-shortened season. The GM has multiple irons in the fire right now. Don't be surprised if a deal(s) is executed in the next five days that will help the team to get its self back on the winning way. Subtract. Add. Correct the course. Achieve the stated goal of making the playoffs.
Darcy Regier has said that he is likely to be a seller and a buyer at Wednesday's NHL trade deadline. I believe that you will see a move of two that help help to buoy this Sabres team's inconsistent play while barreling down the home stretch.
Is #21 on the table? Is #29 on the table? Is #26 on the table? Is #30 on the table?
There are several contending teams who are lurking in the shadows, following every move that the Sabres have been making for the past eight weeks. The time has come to pull off a deal or two to ignite the engine.
In the meantime, there are 14 games remaining in the regular season. 28 points are on the table. Go get 'em.
Mikhail Grigorenko did it again on Wednesday night. Grigo scored a beauty of a goal and assisted on another in Quebec's 4-0 win over Chicoutimi, to give the Remparts a 3-1 series lead. The Remparts can close the show and eliminate Chicoutimi with a victory tonight.
Grigo now has 2 goals and 12 assists in his 5 games that he has played since the Sabres returned the Russian Rifle to the Remparts on March 15th.
Not bad production for a fourth liner who was a frequent healthy scratch on a struggling Sabres team that had trouble scoring, eh?
Take a look at this sick production of Grigo's power trio in the first round playoff series vs. Chicoutimi:
Adam Erne: 2 goals, 3 assists
Nick Sorensen: 6 goals, 3 assists
Mikhail Grigorenko: 2 goals, 8 assists.
24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 5 games played.
It goes without saying that Grigo makes those players around him better
Regier and his scouts have spent a ton of time in QCity this season watching Grigo. I think the Sabres will be a better served moved forward when they draft Erne and Sorensen in this June's NHL entry draft. Grigo's linies are draft eligible and will be available in the top 13-15 picks in the draft.
Darcy Regier may want to move his aging assets at the trade deadline on April 3 in order to get his mitts on more first round and second round pick in this year's thick, productive NHL draft.
Stafford and Leopold for a first and second rounder in 2013.
Pominville and Regehr for a first and second rounder in 2013.
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Great News for Amerks fans!
Feisty winger Corey Tropp will return to the lineup tonight!
He underwent ACL surgery in mid-November.
BREAKING NEWS: Corey Tropp @ctropp25 returns to #Amerks lineup tonight. Suffered thought to be season-ending knee injury Oct. 12th. #Sabres
Amerks right winger Corey Tropp's hockey life came to a screeching, painful halt on October 12, 2012. Tropp was about to begin his second season in AHL Rochester, after playing 34 games with the Sabres in 2011-12, when he suffered a major injury.
It was then that Syracuse Crunch D, Radko Gudas, would end Tropp's season with a nasty hip check. Tropp was on fire for the Amerks in their season opener. He had already scored twice and was looking for the hatty when his knee was badly injured by the Gudas kiss.
Tropp would undergo successful surgery to repair the ACL in his right knee in mid November.
Today, Tropp was cleared for contact by the Amerks team doctors. Tropp's not ready to play in a game, yet, however, he'll continue to grind out his workouts in an effort to expedite his comeback to the Amerks lineup for the playoffs.
Who knows? Tropp may be ready to play later this month or early next.
Tropp has been skating for the past six weeks. The rambunctious winger is on his way back.
Amerks head coach Chadd Cassidy told Kevin Oklobzija of the Rochester D and C that Tropp is in the early stages of his comeback and today's news is by no means a clearance for him to join the active lineup. Yet.
“He’s skating really well, but, again, he hasn’t had guys leaning on him,” Amerks coach Cassidy said.
The former Michigan State Spartan will have to pass a series of strength tests. His left leg is obviously in better condition that his right leg. How soon until both legs are close to equal strength and dexterity? Only time and Mother Nature can tell.
“I think we all just assumed there was no chance he could come back,” Cassidy said.
Tropp, however, said his rehab and return to action are bang on to the time table that his doctors had given to him months ago.
“The progress has been going really well but there’s still a lot of steps to be taken,” he said. “There’s a big thanks to all the people in this organization that helped me get to this point
.
It will be great to see Tropp on the ice again for the Amerks in meaningful games this spring. Lets hope he can make it all the way back.
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