Marty’s Better

This is the third of a five part series previewing the Northeast Division.  After a long hiatus, I continue today with my choice for 3th place - my hometown Buffalo Sabres.

Buffalo Sabres (founded 1970)
2007-08 Record: 39-31-12, 90 points
(4th in division, 10th in conference)
Goals For/Against: 251/233
Official Website :: Roster :: Cap Figures

Key Additions: D Craig Rivet (trade – SJ), D Teppo Numminen (return from heart ailment), G Patrick Lalime (FA - CHI)
Key Subtraction: D Dimitri Kalinin (FA - NYR), RW Steve Bernier (trade – VAN), D Nolan Pratt (UFA), G Jocelyn Thibault (UFA)

Darcy Regier is not a puppet anymore.

After a regular season full of more questions than answers, the longest tenured GM (right) in the NHL finally cut the strings from puppetmasters Tom Golisano and Larry Quinn.  Staunch policies of not negotiating new contracts during the season alienated several prominent ex-Sabres, and threatened to do the same to several others a mere couple years away from unrestricted free agency.  The fans had enough of managment sitting on thier hands and doing nothing, and Regier got tired of becoming the scapegoat for the blunders of Golisano’s shrewd ownership.

Regier laid out his off-season priorites much like Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points plan after World War I.  The list was simple, but achieving all goals were anything but.

1. Draft in positions of need.
2. Sign key prospects and develop them in the minor leagues.
3. Acquire a veteran physical defenceman and goaltender.
4. Resign players that make up the core of the Buffalo Sabres.

For goals one and two, it’s safe to say that the future looks bright…on paper.  Buffalo managed to lock up three of the most talented players from NCAA hockey - Nathan Gerbe of Boston College, Chris Butler from Denver, and Buffalo native Tim Kennedy from Michigan State.  Add Felix Schutz, Dennis Persson, and Jhonas Enroth to the mix, and you have a very solid core to build around in Portland.

From a draft standpoint, Regier made a huge gamble of drafting 6′7″ defenceman Tyler Meyers with the 12th overall pick.  Myers was regarded as one of the top ten North American skaters in the draft, but still has a long way go in order to become a top notch defenceman.  The selection of Tyler Ennis with the 26th overall pick addressed the need of wingers for the farm system.  In all, Regier drafted 4 defencemen and 4 wingers this year - the two positions Buffalo really needed the most.

The biggest question that now lies with goals one and two is this - Does video scouting really work?  The Sabres have used this tactic the past three years, and now players that were selected back in 2005 are making their way to Portland.  If it is a success or a failure, the next couple years’ worth of prospects will be the ultimate answer for critics of the system.

For the third goal, Buffalo addressed one via free agency and the other through a trade.  The lone free agent signing is netminder Patrick Lalime (left) from Chicago, best known for his “Marvin the Martian” goalie mask (one of my all-time favourites).  This is a more solid choice over Jocelyn Thibault, who didn’t impress many people with his lackluster performances.  Lalime, signed for the next two seasons, can also take over the number 1 spot in case Ryan Miller does get injured - another added bonus.  The only question is if his knee can still hold up after undergoing reconstructive surgery in 2006.  So far, he seems okay, but time will only tell.

The other acqusition was veteran Craig Rivet (below right) via a trade from San Jose.  Buffalo had to part ways with Steve Bernier, who was shipped to Vancouver in order to acquire Rivet.  Rivet is an instant upgrade over Dimitri Kalinin (who signed with the Rangers), and should be either the #1 or #2 defenceman alongside Jaroslav Spacek.  Rivet, like his one-time defence partner Brian Campbell, can move the puck well and play the point on the power play.  Unlike Campbell, Rivet hits and hits often.  He brings the body each and every night and clears the oppoising players in front of the goaltender when needed, something former #1 blueliners Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman don’t do.  This is exaclty what Miller needed, and the entire defence corps in general.

The final goal was Darcy Regier’s defining moment under the Golisano era.  Regier needed to determine who the core players are on this franchise, and lock them up to long term contracts.  Tom Golisano and Larry Quinn aren’t major proponents to long term deals, prefering to broker contracts in the vicinity of 1-3 years in legnth.  Regier had to pretty much convey that in the NHL, if you want your club to be a contender night in and night out, you must commit to a core of players for the long term.  Regier had to cut the strings that Golisano and Quinn used to control the past 3 years.

Pinocchio became a real man in front of our eyes this summer.

With Derek Roy (6 years), Thomas Vanek (7 years), and Jochen Hecht (4 years) locked up for the long term, there were at least three other players Regier identified as being the centre of the franchise.  Fan favourite Paul Gaustad (aka “Goose”) has embodied the lunch pail mentality of Western New York for his overall work ethic and play.  He was rewarded with new a 4 year deal to continue that trend.  2nd leading scorer (and former Daniel Briere understudy) Jason Pominville had his breakout campaign last year, and a new 5 year pact starting in 2009-10 as a reward.  Finally is the all-USA goaltender in Miller (left).  Sure, he still not amongst the elite goalies of the game, but he is still one of the best.  He won’t be going anywhere for the next six years.

With the core locked up, there are still questions to be asked about the front 12 forwards.  Will Ales Kotalik, Tim Connolly, and Maxim Afinogenov return to their former selves and break out of their offensive slumps?  All three are in thier contract seasons, and most critics agree that all three could be gone at any point this season.  The Sabres might move one of these three forwards if certain prosepcts develop quickly in Portland, and I see that happening.

With all the goals accomplished, Regier made the most important signing at the very end - his very own two year extension he recieved at the start of training camp.  While I feel confident that the state of the franchise will be strong for the next several years, the here and now is what counts the most.  Head coach Lindy Ruff has always made something out of nothing, and that’s exactly what this year’s club has the potential to do.  I expect the Sabres to make the playoffs, and pay tribute somewhere down the road to Buffalo’s favourite son - Tim Russert.

Go get ‘em.

BuffaSlug’s Predictions (W-L-T, Pts.   GF/GA   Leading Scorer Predictions)
1. September 29th
2. September 27th
3. Buffalo         42-31-9        93         248/230        Vanek – 81GP 46-39-85 74PIM
4. Ottawa         40-30-12    92        261/253        Spezza – 82GP 36-71-107 53 PIM
5. Toronto         29-38-15, 73 pts.        217/245        Antropov – 78GP 23-38-61 91 PIM

Tomorrow, a look at my choice for 2nd place in the Northeast.  Hint - I’m shipping off to find my wooden leg.

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