Bill Meltzer: Star Gazing: Thoughts on Ott-Roy Trade

It was time for Roy to move, in fact it has been for a while. The Sabres have needed to change the culture of their team and Roy for Ott will help do just that.

No doubt that Roy has talent. He didn't bring it every night and fell out of favor with Sabres fans.

Trade should help both teams if Ott and Roy live up to expectations.

You will be happy with Roy. I think he will have a great season this year. Last season he had a bunch of additional minor injuries probably due to pushing his quad injury too hard. Reports around Buffalo were that Roy was busting his hump to be in better game shape to start this season.

I think the 70 point season surmised in the blog is very realistic barring injury. Roy has a reputation as a party boy, kind of like Richards and Carter, so there are some concerns about that. In a contract year at the worst he could fetch you a nice return at the deadline if he has a good year. Sorry you had to give up Ott, but we are psyched to add his gritty game to what was a soft as baby poop team.

You will be happy with Roy. I think he will have a great season this year. Last season he had a bunch of additional minor injuries probably due to pushing his quad injury too hard. Reports around Buffalo were that Roy was busting his hump to be in better game shape to start this season.

I think the 70 point season surmised in the blog is very realistic barring injury. Roy has a reputation as a party boy, kind of like Richards and Carter, so there are some concerns about that. In a contract year at the worst he could fetch you a nice return at the deadline if he has a good year. Sorry you had to give up Ott, but we are psyched to add his gritty game to what was a soft as baby poop team.
- Pierceme69

I am really not sure about him having a great season coming up in Dallas!
He is lazy, he parties too much, and most of the time, he is not inspired to play hockey. Well, now I don't have to pull my hair out watching him miss open nets anymore. Good luck Dallas, as you are going to need it with Roy.

Derek Roy will be fine if you have strong leadership on your team. I'm not familiar with your captains but if you have someone who will hold Roy accountable, he will produce. Add to that its a contract year for him so he will be extra motivated for another big payday. I think this is a win for both teams involved.

Sabres won this trade so badly

Hope this doesnt come off the wrong way but playing in a non hockey market like Dallas should help Roy out. I think the media and fans got in his head and really needed a change. I think Ryder or Benn on a wing is a huge upgrade for him in terms of scoring talent to go along with him.

You can't win with guys like Roy on your team. I get that #2 centers don't grow on trees but this guy has waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much baggage. By all accounts he was a cancer in the room and he was a turnover machine on the ice. Does he get points? Yeah, but at what cost? Contract year or not, a guy that has been the same guy for 8 years isn't just going to "get it" at age 30. Most Sabres fans would have been happy with a mid-round draft pick just to get him off the team. Getting a guy like Ott in return is fantastic.

Contract year for Roy. He will want to get paid. I think he may have a pretty good season for the Stars. Probably around 60 pts would be my guess.

It will be interesting to see him play with goal scorers

It will be interesting to see him play with goal scorers
- hubie

Second comment about scoring, trying to get a reaction from someone?

Last year and a half Richards has walked for nothing, Neal/Niskanen trade goes down and now the Ott trade, Niewendyk is underwhelming as GM.

Second comment about scoring, trying to get a reaction from someone?
- Dwight K. Schrute

no not really

Last year and a half Richards has walked for nothing, Neal/Niskanen trade goes down and now the Ott trade, Niewendyk is underwhelming as GM.
- Gunner Staal

I agree really all hes done is give up players for some picks. Still cant beleive he let Modano go.

Last year and a half Richards has walked for nothing, Neal/Niskanen trade goes down and now the Ott trade, Niewendyk is underwhelming as GM.
- Gunner Staal

He has done a good job picking up bargain basement free agents and discards who end up being effective players for the Stars. But his trades, while fitting specific team needs, have been subject to debate.

Keeping Richards in 2009-10 made sense, however. The team was in the playoff race until the final day of the season and would have made the playoffs had they won in Minnesota on final day. Made it kind of hard to simply throw in the towel on the season.

He has done a good job picking up bargain basement free agents and discards who end up being effective players for the Stars. But his trades, while fitting specific team needs, have been subject to debate.

Keeping Richards in 2009-10 made sense, however. The team was in the playoff race until the final day of the season and would have made the playoffs had they won in Minnesota on final day. Made it kind of hard to simply throw in the towel on the season.
- bmeltzer

Richards situation is never easy, especially in a playoff race but his trades have not made the Stars better. Switching Ribiero to Roy as the #2 center is a lateral move at best let alone losing an asset like Ott to accomplish that. They couldnt get a player that isnt a pending ufa for Ott? I find that hard to believe. Really head scratching move there.

The point about less money isn't exactly the way it seems. Roy has a back-loaded deal, and is owed 5.5 million in real money this year. Cap hit is lower, however, as Bill pointed out.

Richards situation is never easy, especially in a playoff race but his trades have not made the Stars better. Switching Ribiero to Roy as the #2 center is a lateral move at best let alone losing an asset like Ott to accomplish that. They couldnt get a player that isnt a pending ufa for Ott? I find that hard to believe. Really head scratching move there.
- Gunner Staal

Maybe he wants the cap space next year to pursue guys like Getzlaf or Perry. Or some other big fish.

I wouldn't want Roy on my team... at all. The fact that Dallas gave up Ott to get him to me is just a backwards move. Baffles me really. You win with guys like Ott, guys who battle, guys who won't let anything get in their way to win. Roy's even a local kid and is probably the only kid from ottawa I have zero use for. I wouldn't trade for Roy for anything, I just wouldn't want him. Is he a skilled hockey player? Sure, he's got skill. Whoopity do. His attitude sucks, his on ice personna is that of a coward, spends more time laying on the ice than a faceoff dot and you better hope to god Morrow beats this kid into growing a spine. The Sabres stole Ott flat out from Dallas and it angers me that the Sabres improved signficiantly today without giving up anything that concerns me.

Maybe he wants the cap space next year to pursue guys like Getzlaf or Perry. Or some other big fish.
- Dwight K. Schrute

Ribiero is a pending UFA. His $ was coming off the books anyways.

Dallas has 24M in cap space right now.

I wouldn't want Roy on my team... at all. The fact that Dallas gave up Ott to get him to me is just a backwards move. Baffles me really. You win with guys like Ott, guys who battle, guys who won't let anything get in their way to win. Roy's even a local kid and is probably the only kid from ottawa I have zero use for. I wouldn't trade for Roy for anything, I just wouldn't want him. Is he a skilled hockey player? Sure, he's got skill. Whoopity do. His attitude sucks, his on ice personna is that of a coward, spends more time laying on the ice than a faceoff dot and you better hope to god Morrow beats this kid into growing a spine. The Sabres stole Ott flat out from Dallas and it angers me that the Sabres improved signficiantly today without giving up anything that concerns me.
- Lohaus

but hes from ottawa doesnt everyone wants players from the hometown?

Ribiero is a pending UFA. His $ was coming off the books anyways.

Dallas has 24M in cap space right now.
- Gunner Staal

I'm just playing devil's advocate here. But he did gain a 2nd rounder plus rid himself of Pardy's 2 mil. Perhaps Dallas has some things in the works or he is working under the owners mandate to shed some salary ala Golisano.

I'm just playing devil's advocate here. But he did gain a 2nd rounder plus rid himself of Pardy's 2 mil. Perhaps Dallas has some things in the works or he is working under the owners mandate to shed some salary ala Golisano.
- Dwight K. Schrute

Maybe all of that is true but basically they traded Ott to acquire the same exact player they wanted to get rid of.

but hes from ottawa doesnt everyone wants players from the hometown?
- hubie

Its true... so it helps put the exclamation point on the hate I feel for that kid. I also know that some of my friends knew this guy growing up and it doesn't help Roy's case either. Outside of being skilled, he brings zero to the table in my opinion. I doubt Sabres fans will miss him at all.

Its true... so it helps put the exclamation point on the hate I feel for that kid. I also know that some of my friends knew this guy growing up and it doesn't help Roy's case either. Outside of being skilled, he brings zero to the table in my opinion. I doubt Sabres fans will miss him at all.
- Lohaus

I'm thrilled he is out of WNY and I won't have to hear about him anymore and I don't even like the Sabres.