Sullivan: Miller gives Regier reason to make move
by Jerry Sullivan

Ryan Miller has made his statement. Powerful and assertive, it resounds through the hockey world, two days after the close of the Olympics. Gold medal or not, Miller showed he is one of the world's elite goaltenders, capable of leading a team on a seemingly unimaginable ride.

The next move belongs to Darcy Regier, the Sabres' general manager. The NHL trade deadline is 3 p.m. Wednesday. It's time for Regier to show his belief in his hockey team and let the world know he's serious about making a run at the Stanley Cup this year.

How close are they, really? The Sabres are only two points out of second place in the East. But they blew a 13-point lead in the Northeast Division in a month. They had three regulation wins in 17 games before the break. Outside the goalie crease, there's something missing in the competitive soul of this team.

But Miller's Olympic performance raises the stakes. There's no telling how far a team can go in the playoffs with a great goalie. We found out in 1998 and '99, when Dominik Hasek took them on long playoff runs. This team is more talented. Toughness is another issue.

Miller has a 2.16 goals-against average and a save percentage of .930 this year. Hasek's career numbers for the Sabres were 2.20 and .922. Since Jan. 1, 2009, Miller is 49-22-9, a better winning percentage than Hasek had in his Buffalo career.

So they might as well make a run at it. The Sabres weren't expected to come on this fast. The same was true in '98 and 2006, when they shocked the NHL after the lockout. Regier is a patient man and he has built a solid, youthful foundation. But you never know how long the window of opportunity will be open.

The Sabres made Miller the centerpiece of the franchise when they gave him a five-year, $31.25 contract extension. He's 29, smack in his prime. Miller has a lot of good years ahead of him. But why wait? Regier needs to add a couple of significant pieces so the Sabres can ride the world's hottest goalie right now.

Their top Eastern rivals have already made moves. The Devils rolled the dice on Ilya Kovalchuk. Ottawa picked up Matt Cullen. Pittsburgh, the defending Cup champ, acted immediately when the roster freeze was lifted on Monday, acquiring defenseman Jordan Leopold.

Regier usually makes a move at the deadline, however uninspired. It's time he made a couple of bold moves that will make the Sabres better in the playoffs.

Their top six forwards are too comfortable. They should move Drew Stafford, who has regressed since signing a two-year, $3.8 million contract before the season. It's getting tiresome, waiting for Stafford to hit his stride on a line with Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek.

Regier should go hard after Florida's Nathan Horton, a big, tough right winger who is everything the Sabres wish Stafford would become. Horton also has three more years on his contract at $4 million, which would be a nice investment in the future.

The Sabres have two defensemen who will be unrestricted free agents after the season: Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman. If they're going to let defensemen walk away, they might as well find one who can help them on the power play this spring. Joe Corvo is out there. Marek Zidlicky, who had 10 power-play goals a year ago, could be had.

This might be shooting for the moon, but Toronto's Tomas Kaberle might be ready to waive his no-trade clause to play in the East. You can't get much closer than Buffalo. After the Olympics, Kaberle might be intrigued by the idea of playing in front of Miller.

Miller has done more than raise the hopes of Sabres fans. He has made Buffalo a destination for veterans who believe this team could be close to something big. It's the GM's job to nudge them even closer.

There have been more than just rumblings, It is known now that the Buffalo Sabres have been speaking with the Florida Panthers all through the Olympics. No player names mentioned, But Sullivan is most likely correct, Horton would be the prize for Roy and Vanek to man up with.

Also, on Kaberle, it has been tweeted and whispered throughout the day that he would waive his clause if Buffalo were the team, apparantly does not want to move his family.

If indeed these are the moves that Buffalo is looking to make, I fully support them. Miller is smokin hot, the PK is on, the defensive play has improved, in my opinion, it is time, it is time the Buffalo Sabres make their statement via the trade deadline, then, make their statement on the ice. Miller deserves, Ruff deserves it, the city and fans deserve it. The iron is hot, the teams core needs these type of tweaks to make the push.

"Great moments are born from great opportunity"

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

my fingers are crossed for a good move.
please please please

Sullivan nailed it.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

I wish we could get Parise....heavy sigh...

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Miss you Schony!!
Women are Angels
And when someone breaks our wings....
We simply continue to fly.........on a broomstick...
We are flexible like that ....

id rather have getzlaf.

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I agree Sullivan did nail it. I just have this same feeling I get with Darcy that we will hear about the market and the asking pirce was too much or the market value wasn't there in the guys that buffalo wants to get rid of. Stafford, MacArthur, Ldyman and Tallinder all can be moved and you can even throw in some future picks and Gerbe. But I just don't think Darcy will do much and will stay the course and pick up another mediocre player at the deadline and that's it. Nothing big. I'm not getting my hopes up. Moore for a second rounder last year was stupid especially with no intention of re-signing the guy.

but the sabres got that pick for kotalik. its almost like it was kotalik for moore.

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I get to watch alot of Ducks games being out west and it's funny with Getzlaf he has such good hands and has a excellent shot for such a big guy but he's not really that great of a skater. I'm not talking bad about the guy but he's seems like he's a lazy guy but next thing you know he's past you and it's in the back of the net. I would take Parise or Getzlaf on my team any day of the week. Both are great players.

Should have kept that pick because that team wasn't going anywhere last year anyway. Wasted a second rounder or future player possibly for nothing.

the team was a top 5 team in the east till miller went down. you cant just say "AW FUCK IT!" and take your ball and go home.

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Miller was out already and why trade for a guy if you have no intention of keeping him.

let me get this straight.

you continually come here, and blast darcy for being too conservative. now your blasting him for making a move to try to get buffalo into the post season last year. is it obvious day on camp stupid or something?

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Buffalo can't afford just to throw picks and players away for nothing. If Darcy had some balls and took a chance every once in a while I would think totally different about how he runs this team. But most of this team depends on the draft and you can't afford to throw picks away for a rental player. That's all I'm saying. If you think Moore was going to be our savior and help get this team in the playoffs your crazy. This team wasn't good enough to get far in the playoffs even if they would have snuck in.

This is why I hate trade deadline time.

People like SBF show up to tell you how terrible Darcy is. They'll complain about the fact that Darcy never makes moves, and to prove their point, they'll complain about......the moves Darcy has made.

Makes perfect sense to me!!

Next think you know, you'll tell us how the Sabres should throw games to improve their draft position!!!

Oh wait....

And, for the umpteenth time....

REGIER DID NOT THROW AWAY A 2ND ROUNDER ON MOORE. REGIER GAVE TORONTO THE 2ND ROUNDER THAT HE GOT FROM MOVING KOTALIK.

I feel like I need to make a chart or something.

That article sums it up.

Make a few trades. Horton would be a great addition.

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--Scott

Give us some hope, Darcy... please?

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Wheelhouse

I don't know if anything else could be added to what Sullivan said in that article. It's right there. In, green and.. blue?

None the less. Great read!

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

Florida wants to unload and start fresh, I really hope we plan on at least trying for Horton. And Kaberle is a 100% pipedream, but if he actually would like coming to Buffalo, make it happen Darcy! A big, tough, top 6 right winger and one of the best offensive defensemen in the game (and a nice slice of veteran presence with it).

I might drool a bit if these moves were to happen.

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I will disagree with a few things:

1) Horton is not the player that Sabres fans wish that Stafford would be. Horton is a better goal scorer than Stafford. But, Horton's physical game is almost as streaky as Stafford's and that is a big reason why the Panthers MIGHT consider moving him.

FYI, Florida's GM has said that there will NOT be a fire sale......

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/flor ... 5784.story

2) This may not be the right season to go "All In". Miller is under contract for 4 more seasons after this year. Personally, I think it may be a year or two too soon to go all in. Why? Here goes:

A) Our best defenseman is a rookie. I'd rather have him get some more seasoning.

B) Miller has a history of wearing down. He is on pace to play in 71 games this year and he had a heavy workload for Team USA at the Olympics. Next year the Sabres might be able to use Enroth more than they have been able to use Lalime this year.

C) Too many offensive leaders are having down years. Connolly has been good with 55pts in 60 games. But, Pominville, Roy, and Vanek are all having down years offensively.

3) There are no key UFAs-to-be on the roster. Grier, Mair, Ellis, Tallinder, Lydman, and Lalime are the players that are slated to be UFAs after the season. I'd like to see Grier back and you could make an argument for trying to keep Tallinder or Lydman. But, it's not like when they had Briere & Drury staring UFA in the eye making it an obvious "Go for broke" season.

Next year you have Connolly, Rivet, and Montador hitting UFA, so there may be a slight bit more pressure to do something a year from now.

4) You might have more firepower a year from now with Myers & Kennedy growing and perhaps Ennis & Kassian fighting to make the roster as well.

I'm all for going "All In" while Miller is still in his prime.

I'm just not sold on this being the ideal year to do so.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

I wouldn't geet too excited, moves wont come today, nobody called up from Portland, so trading players today probably wont happen; especially with the defending cup champions being our opponent tonight.

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"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010