John Wawrow of the AP reports that Robyn Regehr isnt in the ice this morning.
The UFA to be is healthy after playing Saturday and Sunday night.
Regehr is a highly sought after veteran D rental. Los Angeles and Pittsburgh have been scouting the Sabres in Buffalo and on the road. LA need to add a lefty D to off set injuries to Willie Mitchell and Matt Greene. The Pens must replace injured D Paul Martin who had wrist surgery on Saturday.
Regehr is the owner of a no trade clause.
He would have to waive it in order to be traded.
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Thomas Vanek loves Buffalo. Buffalo loves Thomas Vanek. The Sabres' leading scorer has grown up right before Buffalo's eyes.
We got our first glimpse of his greatness when he led his University of Minnesota Golden Gophers hockey team to the NCAA college hockey championship in 2003. Vanek rightly was named MVP of the Frozen Four tournament in Buffalo, as he scored the game-winning goals in both the semifinal against the University of Michigan in overtime and in the final against University of New Hampshire. Vanek became Minnesota's first freshman to be named Minnesota's team MVP for 2003.
The Sabres saw Vanek's true value and they made him the fifth overall pick on the 2003 entry draft.
Vanek would sign his three year entry level contract in September 2004. In 2004-05, he scored 42 goals and added 26 assists in 72 games in Rochester.
Of all the talented prospects in the incubator in Rochester, Vanek captivated the imaginations of Sabres fans with his intoxicating skill set and his timely goal scoring. Roy, Pominville, Gaustad, and Miller were all impressive in their first exposure to pro hockey with the Amerks, however, Vanek was the one player who seemed to transcend them all. He seemed to have the most NHL-ready abilities. I think Sabres fans looked at Vanek at the guy who was going to lead the Sabres back to respectability on the national level.
The nineteen year old kid that was drafted with the purpose of lifting the Buffalo Sabres from the depths of mediocrity, is now a 29 year old man. He's not a college kid anymore. He's a husband, and a father of three young children. He's a Buffalo guy. He grew up here. He learned to lose, and win here. He honed his skills and learned how to play the NHL style here. He's endured heart aches and the frustration of failures like missing the playoffs. He was a key contributor to two consecutive eastern Conference Finals teams.
Its for these reasons and many more that Vanek wants stay rooted in Buffalo handful of hours remaining between now and the NHL trade deadline. Vanek said yesterday that he wants to stay and play in Buffalo. he likes Buffalo. His wife and kids like Buffalo. They call Buffalo their home.
Vanek, like Pominville and Miller, has one year remaining on his current contract. he'll become UFA in July 2015. His name is name buzzing through the NHL trade rumor mill with great regularity. His first choice is to stay in buffalo and to finish what he started. however, he wants to know which direction that Darcy Regier and Terry Pegula plan on taking the Sabres team in. If the organization is planning a a "tweak" or short term fix, then count him in. However, if they are planning a long term rebuild, Vanek may not be interested in staying.
Vanek is the type of player that NHL GMs want to draft so that they can build a winner around him. He's the perfect type of player that contending teams want to add in order to bolster their lineup to insure a deep run through the Stanley Cup playoffs. For context, when you think of Vanek, think of Marian Hossa. The Penguins and Blackhawks became better, winning teams when Hossa and his sick falre for the offensive skated into their towns. Vanek is every bit the difference maker that Hossa is. The Sabres could trade him today and receive a king's ransom in exchange. However, they can keep him, trade others, and build their future squad with Vanek smack dab in the middle of the roster.
The puck is in Darcy Regier's end of the rink right now. He has Vanek, Miller, and Pominville to deal with right now. His salary cap will shrink from $70,300,00 to $64,300,000 next season.
Thanks, sabres.com
If you ask me, I say that the Sabres will hold onto Vanek and they will discard other aging, ineffective players.
If trading Pominville to keep Vanek is the move, then sign me up.
Vanek is part of the solution. He's not a part of the problem.
Were I the GM, I'd hold onto Vanek because he's been my best offensive player since Danny Briere left town in 2007. He's consistent and accountable. he's earned the right to stay and win a Cup in Buffalo.
I'd find a trade partner and move Pominville at the deadline for a whack of assets (top six forward, a prospect, and a draft choice) that I could use immediately for the re-tool.
I'd have discussions with Miller in July about signing an extension to stay in Buffalo. I'd make him a fair and equitable offer to stay in Buffalo.
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